Timing Modal Overview

This article explains the Timing modal in Model Reef.

You will learn:

• Where the Timing modal is used.

• Which fields live inside it.

• How it connects to accrual, payment timing and schedules.

The Timing modal is the main UI surface for configuring when things happen in the model.

1

Where the Timing modal appears

You will see the Timing modal when you:

• Open a variable in the Variable Editor and click the Timing section.

• Use presets that include timing or payment term settings.

• Review imported variables where payment terms were inferred.

The modal opens as a focused panel so you can adjust timing without losing context.

2

What the Timing modal controls

The Timing modal controls three core aspects:

• Accrual timing

  • When revenue or expense is recognised in P&L.

  • Driven by start date, end date, frequency and schedules.

• Cash timing

  • When cash is actually paid or received.

  • Driven by payment terms and delays.

• Patterning across periods

  • Whether values are spread evenly or follow a schedule or seasonal pattern.

Together, these settings determine the link between P&L, Cashflow and working capital.

3

Main sections inside the modal

The Timing modal usually contains sections such as:

• Start and end dates The first and last dates that accrual can occur.

• Frequency and schedule Whether the variable occurs daily, weekly, monthly or on a custom schedule.

• Payment terms and delays How long after accrual cash is paid or received.

• Seasonality inputs Optional seasonal patterning on top of the base frequency.

• Preview A small chart or grid showing how accrual and cash timing play out over the model horizon.

Each section contributes to the final timing behaviour.

4

Relationship with the timing engine

The modal is a user interface for the underlying timing engine. When you save changes:

• The engine recalculates accruals per period.

• It recalculates receivables and payables.

• It updates cashflows, working capital and statement outputs.

You do not need to write timing formulas. You just configure the fields in the modal.

5

Best practice for using the Timing modal

To use the Timing modal effectively:

• Start by confirming the correct start and end dates.

• Choose a frequency that matches the real world pattern.

• Set payment terms that reflect contract reality.

• Add seasonality only where it matters, to avoid unnecessary complexity.

• Use the preview to confirm that the pattern matches your expectations.

Small changes in timing can have large impacts on cash, so treat this modal as a core modelling control.

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• Timing Preview

• CSV Import

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