What Implementation Covers
Platform implementation
Kaufman Hall and comparable budgeting and forecasting systems, configured to how the organization actually budgets.
Operating budget construction
Budgets built from volume, payor mix, and staffing assumptions supported by the people accountable for them.
Rolling forecasts
Forecasts updated against actuals through the year, so variance is a signal, not a surprise in month eleven.
Capital planning models
Capital request evaluation and prioritisation, including the operating cost that follows the capital.
Forecasting accuracy and visibility
The reason to implement at all: leadership is able to see ahead more confidently than the spreadsheet allowed.
Benchmarks and accountability
Volume and productivity benchmarks are attached to the budget, so it functions as a management tool.
How a Budget Build Runs
Budget work is seasonal, so implementation is scoped around the organization’s own calendar and usually starts well before budget season opens. The first cycle is the heavy one, because the model, the assumptions, and the approval path are all being built from scratch. After that, the ongoing load is modest, with most organizations able to carry it with their own team.
Common Questions
Which systems do you implement?
When should we start?
Do we need to keep you on afterwards?
Will the budget actually be used?
Can you do capital planning too?
The Kaufman Hall implementation at that ambulatory network increased forecasting accuracy and leadership visibility. The budget it produced then survived the year nobody had modelled.