[Programs](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/>) / [Finance & business intelligence](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/>) / [Use cases](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/use-cases/#main>)

[The finance engine](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/#look-inside>) [Start a review](<https://www.thekeating.co/contact/?source=discovery&landing_path=%2Fprograms%2Fcommercial-reporting%2F&intent=discovery&cta_page=%2Fprograms%2Fcommercial-reporting%2F&cta_placement=navigation&program=commercial-reporting>)

# Eleven jobs inside your finance engine. Start with one, or build the whole thing.

Each one is designed, built in your accounts, then run by us or handed to your team. They share the same data, so each one you add makes the others work better.

1.  [Trusted records **2**](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/use-cases/#area-records>)
2.  [Margin **2**](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/use-cases/#area-margin>)
3.  [Cash & commitments **2**](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/use-cases/#area-cash>)
4.  [Payables & receivables **2**](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/use-cases/#area-payables>)
5.  [Reporting & decisions **3**](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/use-cases/#area-reporting>)

01

## Trusted records

Every payout reconciled, in the right month.

-   Payout reconciliation
    
    ### Reconcile every payout to the books, in the right month
    
    Every payout traced to its orders, refunds, fees and tax, and booked in the month it belongs to, with an owner on anything left over.
    
    1.  Collect
    2.  Match
    3.  Explain
    4.  Book
    
    [Reconcile every payout to the books, in the right month](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/revenue-reconciliation/>)
    
-   Month-end close
    
    ### Close the month with every balance supported
    
    A close where every clearing balance is reconciled or has a named owner, and the open items are on the page where everyone can see them.
    
    1.  Prepare
    2.  Reconcile
    3.  Review
    4.  Sign off
    
    [Close the month with every balance supported](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/month-end-close/>)
    

02

## Margin

Every cost in every margin, by product and channel.

-   Contribution diagnosis
    
    ### Explain contribution margin by product and channel
    
    What every product and channel really keeps, with each cost in the margin and each estimate labeled, so decisions rest on the closed books.
    
    1.  Gather
    2.  Cost
    3.  Explain
    4.  Decide
    
    [Explain contribution margin by product and channel](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/contribution-diagnosis/>)
    
-   Landed cost
    
    ### Put true landed cost into every margin number
    
    Freight, duties and handling in the cost of every product, with each estimate trued up when the bill arrives.
    
    1.  Collect
    2.  Estimate
    3.  True up
    4.  Publish
    
    [Put true landed cost into every margin number](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/landed-cost/>)
    

03

## Cash & commitments

The low point seen weeks ahead, while it can still change.

-   Cash scenarios
    
    ### Forecast cash across inventory and growth plans
    
    The cash low point, seen weeks ahead across purchase orders, receipts and growth plans, while the order can still change.
    
    1.  Gather
    2.  Model
    3.  Test
    4.  Decide
    5.  Review
    
    [Forecast cash across inventory and growth plans](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/cash-scenarios/>)
    
-   PO cash check
    
    ### Test a purchase order against your cash buffer
    
    A purchase order tested against your cash buffer before it locks in, with the options laid out while the supplier can still change terms.
    
    1.  Frame
    2.  Test
    3.  Compare
    4.  Decide
    
    [Test a purchase order against your cash buffer](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/po-cash-check/>)
    

04

## Payables & receivables

Bills matched to what arrived, and deductions recovered.

-   Invoice matching
    
    ### Match supplier invoices to what actually arrived
    
    Supplier bills checked against the order and the receiving record, so short deliveries and duplicates reach a person before anything is paid.
    
    1.  Capture
    2.  Match
    3.  Resolve
    4.  Pay
    
    [Match supplier invoices to what actually arrived](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/invoice-matching/>)
    
-   Retailer deductions
    
    ### Recover retailer deductions that shouldn’t have been taken
    
    Every short payment tied to its invoice, valid promotions accepted, and the rest disputed with proof of delivery attached, before the claim window closes.
    
    1.  Read
    2.  Classify
    3.  Dispute
    4.  Collect
    
    [Recover retailer deductions that shouldn’t have been taken](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/retailer-deductions/>)
    

05

## Reporting & decisions

What changed, what to trust, and who’s on it.

-   Trading brief
    
    ### Run a weekly trading brief that ends in decisions
    
    A Monday brief that shows what changed, what to trust and what needs a decision, and ends with a named owner for every action.
    
    1.  Gather
    2.  Check
    3.  Explain
    4.  Decide
    5.  Follow up
    
    [Run a weekly trading brief that ends in decisions](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/executive-trading-brief/>)
    
-   Management pack
    
    ### Produce the monthly management pack from verified figures
    
    The monthly pack built from the closed books, with variance commentary drafted from the evidence and reviewed before it goes out.
    
    1.  Pull
    2.  Draft
    3.  Review
    4.  Publish
    
    [Produce the monthly management pack from verified figures](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/management-pack/>)
    
-   Governed answers
    
    ### Answer finance questions on agreed definitions
    
    Plain-language questions answered on agreed definitions, each with an as-of date and a status, and “unavailable” when the data isn’t there.
    
    1.  Define
    2.  Ask
    3.  Answer
    4.  Review
    
    [Answer finance questions on agreed definitions](<https://www.thekeating.co/use-cases/governed-answers/>)
    

## Not sure which job comes first? A finance review finds it.

[Start with a finance review](<https://www.thekeating.co/contact/?source=discovery&landing_path=%2Fprograms%2Fcommercial-reporting%2F&intent=discovery&cta_page=%2Fprograms%2Fcommercial-reporting%2F&cta_placement=closing&program=commercial-reporting>) [**Talk it through first**15 minutes](<https://cal.com/nkeating/15min>)

We reply within one business day.

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Source: [https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/use-cases/](<https://www.thekeating.co/programs/commercial-reporting/use-cases/>)

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