A good board pack does two things: it builds trust that you know your numbers, and it focuses the room on the decisions that matter. A bad one buries both under noise. The goal is consistency and candour, not volume.
The core financials
P&L, balance sheet and cash flow — actuals against budget, with a short variance note explaining the two or three numbers that moved and why. Same format, same dates, every month, so your board can compare at a glance.
The metrics your board actually watches
- Cash balance and runway, in months.
- Monthly burn and net burn, with the trend.
- Revenue, gross margin and the direction of travel.
- The operating KPIs specific to your model — CAC, retention, order book, utilisation.
- Receivables ageing and collections.
The forward look
A rolling forecast, the near-term risks, and any decisions or approvals you need. Boards fund the future, not the past — show where you’re heading and what you need decided.
What to leave out
Vanity metrics, unreconciled figures, and anything you can’t defend if questioned. One credible number beats ten impressive ones.
A Virtual CFO builds this once and then produces it on the same date every month, so board prep stops being a scramble. See how our Virtual CFO engagement works →