Budget versus actual

Budget vs Actual compares planned spend with recorded actuals by cost center. It ranks variance and lets the reader open the contributing plan lines. The summary points to the exact spending decision that needs review.

Budget vs Actual ranks the gap between planned and recorded actual spend by cost center. A reader can open a cost center to see the contributing plan lines. Use the plan version and dates to keep a comparison tied to the same planning decision; a ranked total alone cannot explain which spend category drove the gap.

• Comparison. FP&A Planner starts in Budget vs Actual and opens a cost center from the ranked summary.
• Source line. The planner checks planned amount, actual amount and variance on the contributing lines.
• Decision. Finance Leader reviews the same plan version before asking for an explanation.

Agree which plan version and period represent the approved comparison, and who enters actual amounts on plan lines. Keep the organization and cost center names consistent so the same spend is not split across labels.

Choose the plan and version used for each review and agree who enters the actual amount on its lines. Keep cost center spelling consistent across lines. Check that the totals shown in the ranked comparison reconcile to the opened lines before presenting a difference to Finance Leader.

Take a cost center whose actual amount exceeds its plan amount. Open it from the ranked list and inspect the spend categories and line descriptions. Ask the planner to explain the line driving the gap; Finance Leader can then decide whether the plan needs a new version or whether the variance belongs in the operating review.

FP&A Planner opens the ranked cost center and traces the gap to the Software line. Finance Leader checks that line’s amount and actual amount against the plan version in review. If the apparent variance comes from a line assigned to another plan, correct its reference and rerun the comparison before discussing the result.

• Budget vs Actual — Ranks cost center differences and opens their source plan lines.
• Approved Plans — Shows approved plan versions for a later spending review.

See the related process for the operating sequence. Use the data model to check references before importing records and roles to agree who can act.