The system
How do I get started?
Click Start now, then use Proto to configure Budgeting & Forecasting for your business. Set up your workflows, import your data and invite your team.
How are actuals loaded?
The configured ledger integration stages a closed-period batch with a source identity and cutoff. Reconcile mappings and totals before publishing the complete snapshot. A retry must not duplicate actuals or post a journal.
Can we change the system with Proto?
Yes. Use the canonical specification and paired app skill to configure the application on a reviewed branch. Verify permissions, calculation identity, connector reconciliation and decision evidence before runtime release.
Processes and approvals
Does a forecast change the approved budget?
No. BudgetVersions and published RollingForecast snapshots retain separate identities. A new outlook does not overwrite the locked plan. Transfers and structural revisions follow their own authorization paths.
How are budget transfers approved?
FP&A Director decides up to and including the configured cycle threshold; CFO decides above it. The exact revision must satisfy the source-availability and period policy. Applied transfers add balanced deltas while retaining the locked baseline.
What happens when the budget is zero?
The absolute variance remains visible and the percentage is null. Currency and optional percentage thresholds are evaluated separately using the effective account settings.
Does approving a board pack approve the budget?
CFO packet approval permits distribution of that exact artifact. External board authorization is recorded separately. A board-mandated budget change requires a new draft revision and renewed decisions before locking.
Pricing and implementation
Can departments see each other’s proposals?
Cost-Center Heads work within their permitted entity scope. Finance has the authorized consolidated view. Scope also applies to exported data, files, formulas and derived totals.
Is there a per-user fee?
There is no per-user fee for the base account and ordinary manual work in the official interface. Machine work, retention above the included allowance, model usage and implementation follow the published pricing terms.