Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “update the weekly cash forecast”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

60 min
typically, once a week
55%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Feed the cash forecast from bank and ledger data automatically

Cash forecasting tools connect to your bank and AR/AP so the weekly forecast starts from today's real balances.

Typically saves about 50% of the time3 h to set up
  1. 1Try Float, Agicap, Trovata or the forecast in Fathom, or build an Excel model using Power Query from your bank export and AR/AP aging.
  2. 2Set categories once (payroll, rent, tax, customer receipts).
  3. 3Each week, adjust only the big known items.
  4. 4Compare forecast to actual monthly to improve it.

Tools: Float · Agicap · Trovata · Fathom · Excel Power Query

Fix 2 of 2

Automation

Build the report once so it refreshes itself

Connect the spreadsheet or dashboard straight to the source so next week's report is already done.

Typically saves about 80% of the time4 h to set up
  1. 1List where each number comes from.
  2. 2Use Power Query (Excel), a connected sheet, or a Google Data Studio or Power BI dashboard pulling from the source.
  3. 3Schedule the refresh and send the link instead of an attachment.

Tools: Excel Power Query · Power BI · Google Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) · Google Sheets connectors

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Controller / accounting managerFP&A analystCFO / finance manager

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

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Other common tasks for Controllers / accounting managers