Board Forecast Bridge Analysis: How CFOs Explain What Changed and What to Do Next
How CFOs reconcile changes in EBITDA forecasts, distinguish temporary setbacks from structural risks, and turn board reporting into better investment decisions.
How to Calculate Price, Volume, and Mix Variances Without Fooling Yourself
Learn price volume mix analysis with a practical example, Excel formulas, reconciled revenue bridge, and guidance for better FP&A decisions.
How to Calculate Whether a Sales Discount Is Worth It (Before You Give Away Your Margin)
Learn how to calculate the extra sales needed to offset a discount, protect contribution margin, and decide whether a promotion is worth it.
How to Calculate Break-Even Sales for Multiple Products (And Why the Mix Matters)
Learn how to calculate break-even sales for multiple products, use weighted contribution margins, and see why changes in sales mix affect profit.
How to Forecast Accounts Receivable Collections Without Pretending Every Customer Pays on Time
Learn how to forecast customer payments using AR aging, payment history, and invoice-level cash projections—with practical examples and fewer surprises.
When Should I Hire a Controller? Look for the Ownership Gap
When should you hire a controller? I’d look past revenue thresholds and ask whether someone clearly owns the close, balance sheet, accounting judgment, and reporting quality.
Can My Business Afford Another Employee? Model the Gap Before You Hire
Can my business afford another employee? I’d model the gap between the first paycheck and the point where the hire’s benefit actually reaches cash.
How Much Cash Should a Small Business Keep in Reserve?
How much cash should a small business keep in reserve? I’d start with what the cash has to survive—not a generic number of months.
Contractor+ Is Growing. I’m More Interested in What the Cash Has to Do Next.
Contractor+ grew FY2025 revenue 35% and is now raising growth capital. The SaaS story I’m watching is how an Orlando company turns strong gross margins and a growing run rate into durable cash economics.
Private Colleges Have a Revenue Problem That Looks Familiar
Private colleges are facing a smaller pool of traditional students and more price-sensitive buyers. Strip away the campus language and the business problem looks very familiar.
Sarah Schlott
FP&A consulting, forecasting, accounting support and finance strategy for CFOs and growing finance teams.