FP&A (Financial Planning)

Build an annual budget for [company/department]:

Scope: [company or department]
Fiscal year: [year]
Budget approach: [zero-based, incremental, driver-based]
Strategic priorities: [key initiatives]
Historical performance: [baseline]
Constraints: [limitations]

Budget components:
- Revenue forecast by segment
- Headcount plan and compensation
- Operating expenses by category
- Capital expenditures
- Working capital requirements
- Cash flow projection
- Key assumptions documented
- Sensitivity analysis
- Phasing by quarter/month
- Budget vs strategic plan alignment
- Approval process and timeline

Update the rolling forecast for [period]:

Current forecast: [what exists]
Actuals through: [last closed period]
Remaining periods: [forecast horizon]
Changes since last update: [what's new]
Planning assumptions: [drivers]

Forecast update:
- Actual performance vs forecast
- Revised assumptions and drivers
- Updated revenue projection
- Updated expense forecast
- Key changes and rationale
- Risks and opportunities
- Scenario analysis
- Resource implications
- Strategic initiative impacts
- Variance to budget
- Recommendations for management

Develop a business case for [initiative/investment]:

Initiative: [description]
Problem/opportunity: [what this addresses]
Investment required: [cost]
Proposed approach: [solution]
Alternatives: [other options]

Business case structure:
- Executive summary
- Strategic alignment
- Current state analysis
- Proposed solution details
- Financial analysis (costs and benefits)
- NPV and IRR calculations
- Payback period
- Implementation timeline
- Resource requirements
- Risks and mitigation
- Success metrics
- Recommendation and next steps

Calculate ROI for [project/investment]:

Project: [description]
Investment: [total cost]
Timeframe: [period]
Benefits: [expected returns]
Costs: [ongoing costs]

Analysis:
- One-time investment breakdown
- Ongoing costs (annual)
- Quantified benefits by category
- Benefit realization timeline
- ROI calculation methodology
- Simple ROI percentage
- Annualized ROI
- Payback period
- Net benefit over period
- Break-even analysis
- Sensitivity to key assumptions
- Risk-adjusted ROI
- Comparison to alternatives

Perform sensitivity analysis for [financial model/decision]:

Model/decision: [description]
Base case scenario: [assumptions]
Key variables: [which inputs to test]
Decision criteria: [what determines success]
Risk tolerance: [acceptable variation]

Analysis structure:
- Variables to test (5-7 key drivers)
- Range for each variable (+/- %)
- Impact on key outputs (revenue, profit, NPV, etc.)
- Tornado diagram data
- Break-even points
- Most sensitive variables
- Scenarios of concern
- Risk mitigation for sensitive factors
- Monitoring recommendations
- Management implications

Create board presentation materials for [purpose]:

Purpose: [quarterly review, approval request, etc.]
Audience: [board composition]
Time allocated: [presentation duration]
Key message: [main takeaway]
Decision needed: [if any]

Presentation structure:
- Executive summary slide
- Financial performance overview
- Key metrics and trends
- Progress on strategic initiatives
- Current period highlights
- Outlook and guidance
- Risks and mitigation
- Request/recommendation (if applicable)
- Appendix with details

Keep slides visual and data-driven.
Include talking points.

Create a headcount plan for [department/company]:

Scope: [organization scope]
Planning period: [timeframe]
Current headcount: [baseline]
Growth plans: [business drivers]
Budget: [compensation budget]
Constraints: [limitations]

Headcount plan:
- Current state by role/level
- Attrition assumptions
- Growth hiring by period
- Role justifications
- Salary and benefits cost
- Ramp time considerations
- Contractor vs FTE strategy
- By department breakdown
- Phasing and priorities
- Hiring timeline
- Impact on P&L
- Approval workflow

Develop a capital allocation framework for [company]:

Company: [description]
Available capital: [amount]
Strategic priorities: [priorities]
Investment opportunities: [pipeline]
Stakeholder expectations: [returns, growth]

Framework components:
- Capital allocation philosophy
- Investment categories and criteria
- Hurdle rates by category
- Approval thresholds
- Evaluation methodology
- Prioritization framework
- Portfolio balance targets
- Review and monitoring process
- Capital deployment timeline
- Performance metrics
- Reallocation triggers
- Communication approach