# Fictional monthly management-report input

This fixture is fictional. It contains no client or personal data.

## Approved report structure

1. Executive summary: maximum 90 words.
2. Performance table: actual, budget, variance and prior year.
3. Commentary: revenue, gross margin, operating expenses and cash.
4. Decisions and follow-up questions.

## August 2026 source values (USD thousands)

| Measure | Actual | Budget | Prior year | Approved context |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---|
| Revenue | 2,240 | 2,100 | 1,980 | North region delivered 140 above budget; other regions were on budget in aggregate. |
| Gross profit | 851 | 819 | 752 | Actual gross margin was 38.0%; budget gross margin was 39.0%. Freight expense was 22 above budget. No other cause has been approved. |
| Operating expenses | 612 | 640 | 585 | Hiring started later than planned, producing a 34 favourable payroll variance. Marketing was 6 above budget. Other operating expenses were on budget in aggregate. |
| Closing cash | 1,460 | 1,520 | 1,310 | A 95 customer receipt expected on 29 August arrived on 3 September. No liquidity concern has been approved for reporting. |

## Reporting rules

- Use only the source values and approved context above.
- Do not invent causes, forecasts, risks or management actions.
- Preserve section order and headings.
- Express USD values in thousands.
- Label favourable and adverse variances from the company's perspective.
- Put unanswered questions in “Decisions and follow-up questions.”
- The controller must approve the final report.