CFO Series - 360 Degree Budgeting (E2209053)

Develop an understanding of the following areas:

• Complex issues involved in the annual budgeting process and best practices for improvements with a solutions-based approach
  
• Advantages and value of a flexible budget model
  
• People issues that complicate every budget process
  
• Effectively communicating

Understanding and Preventing Common Budget Calamities
The traditional budgeting process can produce stale results and fatigue amongst both accounting and cross-departmental leadership. Learn the keys to successful budgets and how to balance the important technical and human components of the process. We will discuss these keys in an engaging manner with thoughtfulness towards understanding our flaws and strengths, including how to build on these characteristics towards an enjoyable solutions-based method and effective results for your organization. Topics will include:

• What are the flaws in the budgeting process?
• Does your budget need an overhaul or just a tune up?
• What are the steps to budget for economic and external factors beyond our control?
• How to understand your own leadership tendencies and apply them to your strengths
• How to make the budget flexible
• How to apply traits of the balanced scorecard approach to your budgeting
• Common budgetary problems and discussion of solutions
• 12 steps towards a better budget and maybe even a better you

Building Flexible Budget Models
View fundamental budget issues through a detailed modeling process intended to improve your organization’s financial planning. From the beginning of the accounting process – ‘the chart of accounts’ - to the end of the process – ‘the valuation of the company’ - we'll review the budgeting cycle via a live case model and discuss best practices of successful companies. Topics will include:

• Build a flexible budget model that works
• The right chart of accounts can simplify your work
• Build a volume-sensitive model
• Budgeting to GAAP and for the board to understand
• Efficient modeling of payroll and benefits
• Identify controllable and uncontrollable expenses
• Key variables to stress-test your budget

Managing Budgeting’s Soft Side: Avoiding People Iissues
Understanding what makes you and others operate can enhance your understanding of the entire organization and build upon the respect and influence needed to navigate and lead the budgeting cycle. Review a case study that measures an individual’s personality type and then explore how to use strengths and weaknesses to create a better budget process. Topics will include:

• Understanding core personality types
• Learning what type of person you are
• Managing and coping with the budget team
• Effectively dealing with the A, B, C and other players
• Connecting through disconnection

Presenting and Communicating Your Numbers
There are several key guidelines in successful budget presentations and we will identify key problems in how people often communicate financial plans. Topics will include:

• Identifying the ‘big picture’ and your role in communication
• Communicating so others can understand us
• Understanding a presentation’s anatomy
• Tips and tricks for budget presentations