Build a KPI Dashboard
This guide explains how to build a KPI dashboard in Model Reef that surfaces key financial and operational metrics, using the model as the single source of truth for definitions and time series.
Before you start
You should have:
A model with the main financial statements and core drivers in place.
Clarity on which KPIs matter for your organisation, for example:
Growth metrics.
Margin metrics.
Cash and runway.
Unit economics.
If needed, review:
Build a Unit Economics Model
Build an Executive Dashboard
What you will build
A dedicated KPI dashboard page containing:
KPI cards for headline metrics.
Supporting charts for context.
A consistent mapping between KPI definitions and model series.
Step 1: Choose a small set of primary KPIs
Focus on three to ten primary KPIs, for example:
Revenue growth rate.
Gross margin percentage.
EBITDA margin.
Cash runway in months.
Net revenue retention or churn.
Contribution margin per unit.
Write down the precise definition of each KPI so that you can implement it consistently.
Step 2: Map KPI definitions to model series
For each KPI, decide which model series or formula represent it, for example:
Revenue growth rate:
Growth in total revenue between periods. (You may calculate this outside the engine if you need explicit percentage change over time.)
Gross margin percentage:
Gross profit divided by revenue.
Cash runway:
Minimum of closing cash divided by current or planned burn rate.
Use existing variables, categories and valuation outputs where possible to avoid duplication.
Step 3: Implement KPI cards and charts
KPI cards for point-in-time metrics
Create KPI cards for point-in-time metrics, for example:
Current year revenue.
Current year EBITDA margin.
Minimum cash balance in the forecast.
Each KPI card should link back to a clear model series or simple formula using the arithmetic capabilities of the chart engine where appropriate.
Step 4: Group KPIs into logical sections
Organise the dashboard so that related KPIs sit together, for example:
Growth:
Revenue, customer count, new vs existing business.
Profitability:
Gross margin, EBITDA margin, contribution per unit.
Liquidity:
Cash, net debt, runway.
Efficiency:
Spend per unit, revenue per employee where available.
This makes the dashboard easier to scan and interpretations easier to share.
Step 5: Align KPIs with external reporting
If you report KPIs to investors, lenders or other stakeholders, ensure that:
Definitions in Model Reef match those external definitions.
Any differences are documented and explained.
The KPI dashboard can serve as the primary internal reference for those metrics.
This reduces confusion and misalignment between internal and external numbers.
Step 6: Keep the KPI set stable but adjustable
KPI dashboards are most useful when they are consistent over time, but your business may evolve.
Keep the core set stable across reporting periods so that trends are meaningful.
Add or retire KPIs only when your business or strategy changes materially.
Document changes so that future readers understand why they were made.
Use tags or naming conventions inside Model Reef to track which variables are used as KPI sources.
Check your work
Each KPI has a clear definition traceable back to model series.
Dashboard layout is understandable in a few seconds.
KPI values match any external reports that rely on the same definitions.
The dashboard works at the period aggregation level your audience uses.
Troubleshooting
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