prepare-a-budget-summary

name	prepare-a-budget-summary
category	money
description	Turn budget and actual figures into a concise, reconciled decision summary. Use when a manager or committee needs the current position, main drivers, and requested actions.

prepare-a-budget-summary

Procedure

1. Confirm audience, period, currency, accounting basis, source systems, and decision deadline.
2. Reconcile opening budget, approved changes, actuals, commitments, forecast, and remaining amount.
3. Compare the same scope and period rather than mixing cash, accrual, or stale snapshots.
4. Identify material favorable and unfavorable drivers with evidence and owner input.
5. Separate recurring trends, one-time timing effects, errors, and unresolved items.
6. Summarize forecast range, risks, opportunities, and decisions needed.
7. Add source date, assumptions, caveats, and links to controlled detail.
8. Obtain finance or budget-owner review before distribution.

Guardrails

• Do not hide unfavorable variance through aggregation or selective periods.
• Label estimates and unknowns instead of presenting them as booked facts.
• Keep payroll, vendor, grant, and personal detail within authorized reporting.

Done

• A budget report and summary reconcile budget, actuals, commitments, forecast, and remaining amount
• Material drivers, assumptions, uncertainty, and requested decisions are evidenced
• Source date and reviewer approval are recorded