What is a Rolling Forecast?

Rolling forecasts are becoming a popular add-on or an alternative to the traditional approach of annual budgeting in organizations.

Definition of a rolling forecast

A rolling forecast is a report that uses historical data to predict future numbers and allow organizations to project future results for budgets, expenses, and other financial data based on their past results.

The idea is that instead of managing the business based on a static budget that was created in the prior year, creating a rolling forecast is used to revisit and update budgeting assumptions throughout the year.  This enables organizations to adapt plans and resource allocations based on changes in the economy, the industry, or the business.

In their purest form, rolling forecasts allow organizations to project future results based on a combination of actual YTD financial results and the original budget, or updated revenue and expense forecasts for future periods.  The future forecast period can extend to the end of the fiscal year, but in most cases, the rolling forecast period typically extends out 4 to 6 quarters into the future.  

The technique relies on an add/drop approach to financial forecasting that creates new forecast periods on a rolling basis. Businesses establish a set period, such as quarters or months, to update their forecast. At the end of every period, a new period is added to the forecast, so businesses can regularly adapt their financial planning to reflect recent trends.

What are the benefits of a rolling forecast?

This approach provides organizations with the agility to re-allocate resources based on changing business decisions and conditions.  It also provides the organization with a head-start on budgeting for the next fiscal year since the work is done in advance and considers the latest results and assumptions about the business going forward.  In some cases, organizations that have adopted and executed a rolling forecast process have eliminated the need for an annual budget.  This concept is promoted by the Beyond Budgeting Roundtable, which is led by industry guru Steve Player.

Planful’s rolling forecast software solution allows your organization to create continual forecasting for more accurate financial planning, increased agility, and optimized financial results.