Budgets

Budgets are a foundational tool for financial planning and accountability in the not-for-profit sector. At The Breakthrough Office, we work with clients to prepare annual budgets that align with funding agreements, strategic goals, and operational needs. These budgets guide spending, support grant reporting, and enable clear variance analysis throughout the year.

Our process includes reviewing historical financials, drafting program and organisation-wide budgets in Excel, and uploading the approved budgets into Xero for tracking. Budgets must align with the client’s chart of accounts and reflect realistic expectations based on known income and expenditure. Once in place, we help clients use their budgets effectively—supporting decision-making and compliance throughout the year.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you should be able to:

• Explain the purpose and structure of client budgets.

• Draft accurate, program-aligned budgets based on historical data and expected funding.

• Use TBO’s standard Excel templates and load approved budgets into Xero.

• Reconcile budgets with funding agreements and strategic plans.

• Support clients in monitoring variances and updating budgets when needed.