Q2 2026 Finance Plan
Status: Draft
Created: 2026-03-24
Updated: 2026-03-24
Author: Cursor Agent
CSO: Luke Scorziell
Related: Executive Q2 Planning Operating Model
Quick Links:
- Linear Finance Team
- Q2 Budget + Planning Transcript
- Q2 Spend Alignment Sync Transcript
- Delivery & Finance Analytics Plan
1. Context & Problem Statement
Current State
- Finance team actively working on spend alignment and budget tracking
- Transition happening in sales/marketing departments creating budget variability
- Spend tracking has multiple sources (Tableau, Omni, manual spreadsheets) with 10% variance
- Affiliate spend reconciliation ongoing between Finance and analytics teams
Problem Statement
- Multiple spend tracking systems creating confusion (Tableau vs. Omni)
- Affiliate spend not consistently captured in all reports
- Q2 budget planning complicated by department transitions
- No single source of truth for real-time spend vs. budget
Goal
Establish Finance as a strategic partner with reliable, real-time financial visibility that enables leadership to make informed Q2 decisions and sets foundation for H2 financial planning.
2. Connection to Broader Goals
Company Q2 Goals
- Support quantifiable metrics bet with accurate financial tracking
- Enable leadership with real-time spend visibility
- Ensure vendor payments align with budget forecasts
- Provide financial foundation for Q2 hiring and growth decisions
Delivery Standards
- Weekly financial review with clear variance explanations
- Documented financial processes and reconciliations
- Clear handoffs between Finance, Operations, and Delivery on spend tracking
3. Work Phases
Phase 1: Q2 Financial Foundation (Weeks 1-2: Late March)
- Reconcile Tableau vs. Omni spend tracking variance (10% gap)
- Standardize affiliate spend reporting across all systems
- Lock Q2 budget by department with leadership sign-off
- Define daily/weekly/monthly financial reporting cadence
Phase 2: Systems & Visibility (Weeks 3-8: April–May)
- Implement single source of truth for spend (likely Omni per direction)
- Build automated budget vs. actual reporting
- Create vendor payment forecasting aligned with cash flow
- Train department leads on spend visibility tools
Phase 3: Optimization & Planning (Weeks 9-10: Late May)
- Review Q2 spend patterns and variances
- Build Q3 budget framework based on Q2 learnings
- Document financial processes and controls
Phase 4: Ongoing (Weeks 11-13: June)
- Weekly finance review with leadership
- Monthly department budget reviews
- Quarterly financial planning cycle
4. Success Metrics
| Metric | Before | Target (End of Q2) | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spend tracking variance (Tableau vs. Omni) | 10% | <2% | Luke |
| Real-time budget visibility | Delayed/manual | Automated dashboard | Luke |
| Department budget compliance | TBD | >90% within variance | Luke |
| Financial report accuracy | Occasional errors | 99%+ accurate | Luke |
| Days to close monthly books | TBD | <5 business days | Luke |
5. Risks & Mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| System reconciliation takes longer than planned | Prioritize top 3 spend categories first | Luke |
| Department transitions create budget chaos | Weekly check-ins with transitioning departments | Luke |
| Vendor payment timing misaligned with cash flow | 30-day payment forecasting | Luke |
6. Open Questions
- Is Omni the final source of truth for spend tracking? — Need confirmation from leadership
- What is the Q2 total budget and department breakdown? — Need locked Q2 budget
- What are the top 3 spend categories to prioritize for reconciliation? — Need alignment with Operations
7. Next Steps
- Review and approve plan (owner: Luke Scorziell) — Due: 2026-03-28
- Resolve Tableau vs. Omni variance (owner: Luke + Zoran) — Due: 2026-04-04
- Lock Q2 department budgets (owner: Luke + Uttam) — Due: 2026-04-04
- Create Linear initiatives for Finance work (owner: Luke) — Due: 2026-04-04
8. Sign-offs
- Team Lead — Scope, outcomes, resourcing — [ ] Signed off? (Owner: ________________)
- Executive Sponsor — Alignment with company goals — [ ] Signed off? (Owner: ________________)
9. Related Resources
| Resource | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 Budget + Planning | Transcript | Luke, Rico, Kaela, Robert, Uttam discussion |
| Q2 Spend Alignment | Transcript | Mitesh, Zoran spend reconciliation |
| Delivery & Finance Analytics | Plan folder | Related financial analytics work |
| Operations Q2 Plan | q2-operations-plan.md | Coordination on spend tracking |
Last updated: 2026-03-24