Finance: check the numbers behind a board report

Use a small, inspectable example before you rely on a larger workflow.

All prefilled examples are synthetic. These tools are original editorial exercises, with arithmetic checked where applicable. No client results or professional endorsement are implied.

Try a source-backed board-report calculation

The fictional quarter contains $10 million budget revenue and $9.4 million actual revenue. Cost of revenue is $6.2 million budget and $6 million actual. Change a number and inspect the result.

Budget revenue, USDActual revenue, USDBudget cost of revenue, USDActual cost of revenue, USD

Catch the claim that does not follow

A draft that says “gross margin increased by two points” fails this example. The margin falls from 38% to about 36.17%. A draft that blames competitor pricing also exceeds the evidence: no pricing, volume or competitor data was supplied.

The workbook keeps a claim ledger separate from totals. Its separate monthly cash example starts with $450,000, adds $950,000 collections, and subtracts $400,000 payroll, $350,000 vendor payments and $125,000 capital spending. Ending cash is $525,000. That is a cash-timing calculation, not profit. A second sheet doubles synthetic cohort churn from 10% to 20%, holding the starting cohort and revenue per retained customer fixed.

Run the vendor test on your own terms

Use the same approved source packet for every candidate. Ask for source references, then introduce one missing field. Record what happens, how the error is exposed and who must correct it. Review the actual product tier, contract, permissions and retention settings before using private data.

Download the working files

What supports this approach?

The references support specific principles such as verification, explicit assumptions and measuring review. They do not validate these exact worksheets or certify your results.

Read the task guide

Work through your own next decision

AI-generated editorial scene: Florian Rolke facilitating a seated group reflection on a sunlit Andean terrace. People and settings are illustrative. — An imagined group reflection with Florian facilitating. AI-generated editorial scene.