NUMBERS & JUDGMENT / UPGRADED EXCEL TOOL
The board finance brief.
A Board Finance Dashboard that brings liquidity, reserves, the year-end outlook, and the decisions required into one coherent view.
8 workbook tabs · Monthly trend chart · Adjustable thresholds · Decision log
Free Excel download. No sign-in or email signup required. Open the Start Here tab before editing the inputs.
The decision
Where should the board focus its attention now? Start with available cash and cash coverage, then connect the reserve position, forecast result, revenue concentration, and near-term cash movement. Detailed reporting supports the discussion rather than replacing it.
What is upgraded
Monthly Data, Model, and Trends feed a concise Dashboard. Inputs control the reporting month, minimum cash coverage, reserve policy, concentration threshold, and result target. A separate Decisions log records the issue, owner, due date, and status. Start Here and Methods explain the calculation conventions and limitations.
The worked example: almost balanced does not mean resilient
The fictional organization has $1.378 million of unrestricted cash, approximately 2.9 months of cash coverage, and a forecast annual deficit of only $1,100. Its designated reserve is nevertheless $140,500 below the entered reserve target. The dashboard makes those different signals visible together.
Use it in three steps
- Replace the fictional monthly data with actual revenue, expense, cash, reserve, concentration, and remaining forecast information.
- Set thresholds from your own policy and operating circumstances. Review the difference between total cash and cash available for operations.
- Use the dashboard to identify the decision, then record its owner and timing in the Decisions tab.
Important boundaries
Cash coverage uses year-to-date average cash operating expenses and may not capture seasonality. The model tracks one largest revenue source or concentration category supplied by the user. The 90-day cash movement requires three forecast months within the entered year; it is not fabricated beyond that horizon. This dashboard is not a full cash-flow forecast or audited financial statement.
Related analysis: A Balanced Budget Can Still Hide a Cash Crisis →
Free educational model. No email signup is required for the download. All examples and warning thresholds are fictional; adapt them to your organization and obtain appropriate professional review.
