Board/Investor Reporting for Clients

This use case shows how an accounting firm or advisor can use Model Reef to produce recurring board and investor reporting for many clients, using a repeatable structure and shared templates rather than ad hoc spreadsheets.

The idea is to let each client keep a live planning model inside Model Reef, and use that model as the engine for every board or investor pack.

When to use this pattern

Use this pattern when:

• Your firm helps clients with regular board packs or investor updates.

• You want consistency in what you present across clients, while allowing for customisation.

• You would like to reduce manual work building decks from scratch each time.

This pattern works well when combined with the Client Forecasting Packs pattern.

Architecture overview

1

Client models

Each client has a Model Reef model that contains historical actuals and forward forecasts.

2

Board pack templates

You maintain a standard structure for board reporting that can be reused across clients.

3

Investor pack templates

Where appropriate, maintain a separate structure tailored to investors.

4

Update workflow

At each cycle, refresh the model and regenerate charts, tables and narratives.

Step 1: Define standard pack structures

Agree a set of standard sections for:

• Board packs, for example:

  • Executive summary.

  • Performance vs plan.

  • Cash and runway.

  • Major initiatives and capex.

  • Risk and downside view.

  • Decisions required.

• Investor packs, for example:

  • Growth and unit metrics.

  • Margins and unit economics.

  • Cash runway and funding.

  • High level valuation view where appropriate.

Document these structures and use them as a template when designing charts and reports in Model Reef.

Step 2: Build core dashboards and reports for each client model

Within each client model, create:

• One or more dashboards that reflect the agreed pack structure.

• Custom reports for P&L, Balance Sheet, Cashflow and Cash Waterfall views that match board or investor preferences.

• Optional scenario models (separate models) where downside or alternative strategies need to be discussed.

Use the same layout and naming patterns across clients so your team can navigate quickly.

For implementation details, see:

• Build a Board Reporting Pack

• Build an Investor Update Pack

Step 3: Set up Budget vs Actuals views

For each client:

1

Maintain a Budget or Plan model that represents approved expectations.

2

Maintain a Live Actuals or Latest Forecast model.

3

Use exports from both models to build Budget vs Actuals comparisons, focusing on:

• Revenue and margin.

• EBITDA or operating cashflow.

• Cash and debt.

4

Present these comparisons in clear tables and charts.

Remember that scenarios are separate models, so treat Budget, Actuals and Forecast as distinct but related models in your process.

Step 4: Establish a quarterly or monthly reporting cadence

For each reporting cycle:

1

Refresh actuals in the Live Actuals model (for example using Xero or QuickBooks).

2

Update forward assumptions in the planning model if new information has emerged.

3

Regenerate all relevant charts and reports inside Model Reef.

4

Export charts and tables or capture screenshots into your preferred slide or document tool.

5

Add narrative commentary tailored to the client and audience.

Try to reuse the same report set each cycle to build familiarity with the structure.

Step 5: Manage stakeholder specific variations

Boards and investors sometimes require different levels of detail or emphasis.

To handle this efficiently:

• Use shared base outputs (for example the same P&L and cash views) for both audiences.

• Create separate dashboards or report configurations for board and investor variants, modifying:

  • Level of operational detail.

  • Inclusion of valuation information.

  • Depth of scenario discussion.

This avoids maintaining completely separate models for different audiences.

Step 6: Standardise internally across the firm

To deliver this service at scale:

• Teach staff to navigate Model Reef models using common conventions.

• Maintain a library of favourite charts and report configurations that can be copied between client models.

• Use your GitBook site to document the standard board and investor pack structures, with references to the underlying guides.

Over time you can refine these standards as you learn what works best with your client base.

Check your work

• Each client that uses this service has a clean, up to date Model Reef model.

• Board and investor packs are grounded in the same numbers used for internal planning.

• The process for each cycle is clear, repeatable and time bounded.

• Your team can move between clients without having to relearn entirely new structures.

Troubleshooting

Inconsistent pack formats across clients

Re-align them to your standard structures and gradually migrate legacy formats as you renew engagements.

Numbers in packs do not match other reports

Ensure the Model Reef model you use for packs is the same one used for management reporting, or clearly explain any intentional differences.

Preparing packs still feels labour intensive

Identify manual steps that can be removed or templated, and ensure you are fully reusing Model Reef charts and tables instead of rebuilding them externally.

Related guides

• Build a Financial Statements Reporting Suite

• Build an Investor Update Pack

• Aggregate Categories

• Autocomplete Behaviour