After five years working closely with SMEs at Vital Addition, and many more in big business before that, I’ve learned that how a budget is built matters just as much as what’s in it.
I’ve seen this play out more times than I can count. The budget gets set in June and by September, it’s completely ignored. So, what is going wrong?
Often, it’s not about the numbers. It’s about the process.
Budgets fall apart because they’re built in a silo. The finance team crunches the data, but operations, sales, and delivery aren’t looped in. Assumptions get made. Optimism wins out. And before long, there’s a disconnect between the budget and the business.
When budgets don’t reflect operational reality, people stop trusting them. That’s when the business starts running month to month, and teams lose direction.
The solution?
📍 Cross-functional input
📍 Realistic assumptions
📍 Built-in re-forecasting checkpoints
At Vital Addition, one of the most valuable things we do for clients is help them build a budget that reflects their business as it really is, not just how they wish it would be.
A good budget doesn’t lock you in. It gives you a clear track to run on and the tools to adjust when the landscape shifts.
EOFY isn’t just about closing the books. It’s a chance to reset. If your budget hasn’t been serving you, now’s the time to build one that will.
Want to get started? I’d love to help: https://vitaladdition.com.au/contact/