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Personal Cash Flow Budget
Build a 3-month personal cash flow for a graduate earning R18,000/month.
12-Month Cash Flow for a Fictional SME
Build a defensible 12-month cash flow forecast for a small business.
Cash Flow Under Distress
Model cash flow for a business facing a 40% revenue drop and design a survival plan.
13-Week Direct Cash Flow Forecasting & Working Capital Management
Cash flow management is the lifeline of corporate and SME operations. Financial analysts demonstrate value by building 13-week direct cash flow models, optimizing working capital timing (Accounts Receivable DSO vs Accounts Payable DPO), and evaluating cash runway under revenue sensitivity scenarios.
1. 13-Week Direct Cash Flow Forecast Model
Dynamic Excel forecast model (.xlsx) projecting weekly cash inflows, payroll, vendor disbursements, and net cash balances.
2. Working Capital & Liquidity Audit Memo
Executive memo analyzing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), inventory holding periods, and vendor payment term negotiations.
3. Cash Runway & Sensitivity Scenario Report
Sensitivity analysis detailing cash runway durations under best-case, base-case, and downside revenue contraction scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions (Cash Flow Forecasting)
What is the difference between Direct and Indirect cash flow forecasting?
Direct cash flow forecasting tracks actual cash receipts from customers and cash payments to suppliers weekly. Indirect forecasting starts with net income and adjusts for non-cash expenses and working capital changes.
How do you calculate Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)?
DSO = (Accounts Receivable / Total Credit Sales) * Number of Days. Lower DSO indicates faster cash collection from customers.
How do you manage cash flow timing mismatches in South African SMEs?
Implement strict 30-day credit terms, offer early settlement discounts, request upfront customer deposits, and negotiate aligned payment terms with key suppliers.
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