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[Company]’s Finance Playbook,


the operating guide for Corporate Finance.

2021 | Confidential for [Company]


1. Finance at [Company]
• Mission & Vision
• Operating Principles
• Goals

2. Calendar
• Board Meeting Schedule

Contents Annual Calendar



• Monthly Calendar

3. Organization Structure
• Finance Team
• Business Partnerships

4. Process & Technology


• Process
• Tech Stack
“ Our mission is to partner with the
business to execute on our strategy
and financial plans.
“ Our vision is to be the most helpful
and insightful partners to decision-
makers across the business.
Operating Principles

• We collaborate like an extension of our business partner’s team.

• We maintain an accurate source-of-truth of the past and future.

• We’re accountable and operate on a disciplined cadence.

• We’re coaches not scorekeepers.

• The score takes care of itself.


Goals

• Complete audit-ready financial statements in 5 business days.

• Complete planning updates in 3 business days.

• Provide financial guidance with a +/- 2% margin of error.

• Maintain a business partner NPS of > 40.


1. Finance at [Company]

2. Calendar
• Board Meeting Schedule

Contents •

Annual Calendar
Monthly Calendar

3. Organization Structure

4. Process & Technology


Board Meeting Schedule
FISCAL-YEAR END: JANUARY 31, 2022

QUARTER HORIZON MEETING

Q1–2022 February 2020 to April 2020 May 21, 2021

Q2–2022 May 2020 to July 2020 August 24, 2021

Q3–2022 August 2020 to October 2020 November 19, 2021

Q4–2022 November 2020 to January 2020 February 22, 2021


Annual Calendar
BOARD MEETING FINANCIAL PLAN SUMMARY

•Approve the annual budget.


February Annual Budget
•Discuss operating priorities and goals for the year.

Rolling Forecast •Operationally focused meeting on high priorities.


May
(Q2 to Q4)
•Confirm or revise financial forecasts for the rest of the year.

•Focused on strategy and long-term planning.


August Long-Range Plan (LRP)
•Set guidance on the following year’s financial frameworks.

Rolling Forecast •Review bottoms-up operating plans and roadmaps.


November
(Q4 to Q4)
•Discuss priorities and trade-offs for next year’s budget.
Monthly Calendar
BUSINESS DAY ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

• Share insights from previous month’s operating data.


3 Operating Review
• Discuss changes to tactics and strategies.

• Record all transactions and complete financial statements.


5 Accounting Close
• Update reports, analytics, and financial models.

• Share insights from the previous month’s financial performance.


7 Finance Review
• Audit existing commitments and discuss new requests.

• Following quarter-end, complete quarterly planning cycle.


9 Planning Close
• Other months, complete rolling forecast.
1. Finance at [Company]

2. Calendar

Contents 3. Organization Structure


• Finance Team
• Business Partnerships

4. Process & Technology


Finance Organization

CFO
(Executive)

VP of FP&A Controller Head of Procurement Head of IT1


(FP&A) (Accounting, Treasury, Tax) (AP, Procurement) (IT)

Head of Corp Dev International Controller


(M&A, Fundraising) (Int’l Accounting, Treasury, Tax)

1
IT might be managed under CFO as well as other G&A functions such as Office Management, Legal, HR, etc.
Jobs by Function
FUNCTION CORE JOBS

• Manage the planning and budgeting process.


• Provide financial analysis and support business partners on critical decisions.
FP&A • Track key metrics and identify opportunities to improve performance.
• Work with the business to improve operations and execute with a high degree of accuracy.
• Manage M&A and fundraising initiatives.

• Record keeping for quote-to-cash and procure-to-pay processes.


• Manage bank relationships and treasury risk.
Accounting • Manage internal and external audit processes for compliance.
• Manage the collections and disbursements of cash (i.e., payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable).
• Manage tax requirements and maintain compliance with tax authorities.

• Sourcing vendors and manage projects for proposals and quotes.


• Negotiate contracts and manage the lifecycle of purchasing.
Procurement
• Manage vendors and help mitigate 3 rd party risk.
• Analyze and optimize spending to maximize ROI.
Business Partnerships
DEPARTMENT BUDGET OWNER FINANCE PARTNER

Customer Success Amy Smith Sophia Rodriguez

Account Management John Adams Sophia Rodriguez

Sales Quincy Jefferson Grace Chu

Marketing Shawn Tracey Grace Chu

Product Alexis Donahue Steven Murphy-Andrews

Engineering Sandra McKesson Steven Murphy-Andrews

Finance Walt Andrews Pia O’Leary

Legal Michael Jeffrey Pia O’Leary

HR Vincent Matthews Pia O’Leary

Office Management Jessica Garcia Pia O’Leary


1. Finance at [Company]
2. Calendar

Contents 3. Organization Structure


4. Process & Technology
• Process
• Tech Stack
Submit finance requests for your resource needs:

Key Features: Key Features: Key Features:

Purchase Requests Hiring Requests Project Requests

Security & Legal Reviews Contractor Requests Project Tracking

Vendor Management Hiring Plans Reporting

Contract Management Headcount Management

TRACE PURCHASE → TRACE HIRE → TRACE PROJECTS →


See your Finance Dashboard for real-time performance:
Appendix
Types of financial plans:

Plan Planning Horizon Use Case

Long Range Plan Next 3 years Set long-term financial targets and capital plans.

Target Next 4 quarters A top-down financial target for planning guidance.

Operating Plan (Budget) Next fiscal year Set budgets and operating targets.

Continuous Plan Next 4 quarters Readjust budgets and operating targets as required.

Monthly Best Estimate Next 12 months Provide a best guest estimate from the Finance team.
Approaches to creating financial forecasts:

Types Planning Horizon Use Case

Top-Down Next 3 years Set big-picture financial plans at the executive level.

Bottoms-Up Next year Create detailed plans with collaboration at many levels.

Rolling Forecast Next 4 quarters Readjust bottoms-up plan with latest actuals and business updates.

Committed Forecast Next 3-12 months Project the real-time impact of approved or pending decisions.

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