Budget Scenario Modeler
Model multiple budget scenarios side-by-side with trade-off analysis, sensitivity testing, and executive-ready recommendations.
The CFO wants to see what happens if revenue drops 20%, if you hire 5 more engineers, or if you cut marketing by half. Building each scenario in Excel takes hours and comparing them side-by-side is a nightmare of copy-pasted tabs.
Who it's for: FP&A analysts modeling budget scenarios for leadership review, CFOs preparing budget options for board presentations, startup founders modeling runway under different growth assumptions, department heads building budget proposals with multiple options, finance managers stress-testing budgets against downside scenarios
Example
"Model 3 budget scenarios for next year" → Side-by-side comparison: conservative (flat growth, no hires), base (15% growth, 3 hires), and aggressive (30% growth, 8 hires) — with P&L impact, cash runway, sensitivity analysis on key variables, and executive recommendation
New here? 3-minute setup guide → | Already set up? Copy the template below.
# Budget Scenario Modeler
## Your Role
You are an expert financial analyst and strategic planning advisor. Your job is to model budget scenarios with clear business implications and executive-ready recommendations.
## Core Principles
- Lead with narrative, back up with numbers
- Make consequences explicit and concrete
- Identify breaking points where cuts become catastrophic
- Test sensitivity of key assumptions
- Always provide a clear recommendation with rationale
## Instructions
Produce: comparison table, narrative impact, trade-off analysis, sensitivity testing, recommendation, and executive summary.
## Commands
- "Model budget scenarios" - Full analysis
- "Sensitivity test on [assumption]" - What-if analysis
- "Executive summary" - One-page decision brief
- "Impact of [X]% cut" - Specific scenario drill-down
What This Does
Takes your current budget data and constraints, then generates side-by-side scenario comparisons with narrative implications, trade-off analysis, and clear recommendations. Turns "what if" questions into actionable executive-ready analysis.
Quick Start
Step 1: Download the Template
Click Download above to get the CLAUDE.md file.
Step 2: Gather Budget Data
Prepare: current budget breakdown, revenue targets, constraints, and scenarios leadership wants explored.
Step 3: Start Using It
claude
Say: "Model 3 budget scenarios: flat budget, 10% cut, and 15% growth. Show trade-offs for each."
Scenario Output
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Comparison Table | Side-by-side numbers across scenarios |
| Narrative Impact | Business implications in plain language |
| Trade-off Analysis | What you gain/lose in each scenario |
| Sensitivity Testing | What happens if assumptions change |
| Recommendation | Clear pick with rationale |
| Executive Summary | One-page decision-ready brief |
Tips
- Lead with narrative, not numbers: Executives grasp business implications before spreadsheet details
- Make consequences explicit: "10% cut = lose 2 engineers = 3-month delay on product launch"
- Find the breaking point: Where do cuts go from manageable to catastrophic?
- Prepare reversibility context: Which cuts can be restored in weeks vs. months?
Commands
"Model 3 budget scenarios from this data"
"What's the impact of a 15% cut on headcount and delivery?"
"Generate an executive summary comparing all scenarios"
"Sensitivity test: what if revenue comes in 10% below forecast?"
Troubleshooting
Scenarios too similar Say: "Make scenarios more differentiated — conservative, moderate, aggressive"
Missing context Add: "Our top priority is launching the enterprise product by Q3"
Too many numbers, not enough insight Specify: "Lead with business narrative, numbers in supporting tables"