The system’s budgeting capability enables companies to prepare and revise budgets with a minimum of effort. Up to nine budgets can be used during the budget preparation and revision process.
Budgets can be entered directly or computed automatically or a combination of these techniques can be used.
To automatically generate a budget, prior year actual or budget data can be selected as a base. This data can then be carried forward; adjusted by a percent; and spread over the new year using a seasonal pattern including an increasing or decreasing trend.
The budget can then be revised using the above techniques or by applying an adjustment to the existing budget. The budget adjustment percent can be automatically computed using such things as year-to-date variance between budget and actual.
Budgeting and forecasting use identical controls and computations so a forecast can be converted directly into a budget. Both dollars and statistics can be budgeted.
Both bottom-up and top-down budgeting are supported. Budget Turnaround reports are produced to facilitate budget preparation.
Special online screens are also provided for entry of budget information or budget journals can be created and posted online.
The method of budget creation can vary from one account to another.
Budget calculation default controls are specified in the Company Description (CD) record and can be overridden at the account/center level specified in the Account/Center (HC) record.