What is Rolling Budget?
Rolling means continuous. The rolling budget is continuously updated by adding further accounting periods when the earlier accounting period is completed. It has a dynamic approach. Instead of a static budget of 12 months, it rolls forward by a quarter or a month.
A rolling budget is the extension of the existing budget. Hence, it requires more effort to update and implement than a static budget. It requires time and effort in preparation.
Another name for rolling budget is continuous budget.
Approach
As the name suggests, the rolling budget follows the “incremental” approach. The budget for an incremental period is added to the previous budget. This is a “short-term approach.” It helps in micro-planning and management. The preparation of the rolling budget for the new period is not only on the basis of the previous assumptions. However, it considers the fundamental changes in the assumptions.
Factors Affecting a Rolling Budget
The organization shall segregate the financial drivers in the below areas;
Variable Expenses
Variable expenses vary on the basis of the volume of the production and sales. Hence, variable expenses can be updated regularly. The volume of sales and production is decided on the basis of external factors and internal factors.
Fixed Expenses
Fixed expenses are easy to forecast. It has the most compelling evidence. As an illustration, office or factory rent is easy to predict. There is a remote possibility that it will change.
Other Expense
It also considers the following expenses;
- Payment to shareholders by way of dividends
- Interests paid on loan from the bank or
- Any other non-operational expenses
Example/Illustration
X Ltd has prepared a budget for 2017 from January to December (12 Months).
Once the January 2017 month passes, the original budget extends up to January 2018. Hence, now the budget is again 12 months. Let us call it RB1.
Likewise, once February 2017 passes, the RB1 extends up to February 2018. Accordingly, the budgeted period shall remain 12 months only.
The cycle keeps on moving. Hence, it is a continuing process.
Rolling Budget Vs. Traditional budget
The differentiation helps in understanding the concept better.
The organization prepares the traditional budget on a yearly basis. On the contrary, a rolling budget is prepared yearly but updated monthly or quarterly.
The preparation of a traditional budget for the next year begins in the fourth quarter of the year, while the rolling budget is a continuing process.
Another key point of difference is Traditional budget cannot be changed upon approval. However, if there is a change in underlying assumptions, improvements can be made in the rolling budget.
Based on proper and in-depth planning, the forecast is prepared.
Advantages of Rolling Budget
Planning and Control
A rolling budget helps in planning and controlling more accurately. Therefore, It helps in reducing the uncertainty of budgeting. Rolling budget plans for the near-term future instead of the long-term. It helps management know where the company is moving in terms of sales and profitability.
Adaptation of change
12 months period budget can be considered a long term. This is because of technological advancement. Technology changes at a rapid rate. It may lead the organization to change with the latest technology. The budget also needs to be updated based on assumptions.
Spending wisely
The managers tend to spend more money even when the expenditure is not really required. In contrast, a lower-level executive may need to spend money on identified opportunities. It helps as a guiding tool to spend the money with wisdom.
Disadvantages of Rolling Budget
Time Consuming
It requires more effort, time, and money. Employees spend a large number of hours to prepare the budget. A budget is a tool that helps in decision-making. Without a doubt, it cannot run the business.
It is a best practice that a team of a few people is involved in preparing and updating the rolling budget.
Demoralize Employees
An employee may feel that the budgetary targets are constantly changing. Spending much time on preparation of budget may lead to demoralizing the employees.
Undoubtedly, all the fundamental assumptions shall be considered while preparing the budget. Accordingly, It helps in archiving the objective with less time.
Uneven Update
The biggest disadvantage of rolling budgets is not updated for the entire period. It is updated only for the incremental period. But The incremental period may have some new assumptions. These assumptions are not considered in the original budget.
Indeed, The organization shall always try to align the incremental budget with the previous period’s budget.
Read more about other Types of Budgets.
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