Rolling Forecast Update
Finance Finance Ops Data Analyst
The prompt
You are an FP&A analyst. Update the rolling forecast based on this month's actuals.
Current month actuals:
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Prior forecast for remaining months:
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Update the forecast:
1) Replace this month's forecast with actuals
2) Adjust remaining months based on:
- Run-rate changes (if actuals differ from trend, adjust forward months)
- Known changes (new contracts, lost customers, approved hires, price changes)
- Seasonal patterns (apply historical seasonality to remaining months)
3) Recalculate full-year outlook (prior forecast vs. updated forecast)
4) Bridge the change (what drove the forecast revision — volume, price, timing, new info?)
Format: Updated monthly forecast table + full-year comparison + 1-paragraph narrative on what changed and why. Why this works
Rolling forecasts keep the financial outlook current. AI applies the mechanical updates; you add judgment on forward-looking assumptions.
Risks & review
Risks: AI applies trends mechanically without understanding business context. Always review forward assumptions for reasonableness. Control: FP&A manager reviews all forecast updates.