Rolling Forecasts and Variance Analysis in Aimplan.

20 Jan

Why modern FP&A teams are moving beyond static budgets.

Traditional budgeting is struggling to keep up with today’s pace of change. Annual budgets become outdated quickly, forecasts require heavy manual effort, and variance analysis often explains the past rather than guiding future decisions.

That is why more finance teams are shifting towards rolling forecasts and continuous variance analysis.

In an upcoming webinar, KOKAI and Aimplan explore how this approach works in practice – directly inside Power BI.

From static budgets to continuous steering

Rolling forecasts replace fixed annual plans with frequent, forward-looking updates. Instead of rebuilding models from scratch, finance teams extend the forecast horizon and adjust assumptions based on actual performance.

This creates:

More relevant forecasts throughout the year
Faster response to changes in demand, costs, or capacity
Better alignment between finance and the business

When forecasts are continuously updated, they become a management tool – not just a reporting exercise.

Why variance analysis needs context, not just numbers

Variance analysis is often reduced to tables and percentages. The real challenge is understanding why deviations occur and what actions are required.

With an integrated planning approach:

Actuals, budget, and forecast live in the same model
Variances are visible instantly at account, cost centre, or business unit level
Explanations and comments are captured where the numbers are analysed

This turns variance analysis into a structured dialogue between finance and operational teams.

Webinar: Rolling Forecasts and Variance Analysis in Aimplan

In this practical webinar, Ola Ruud Elvestad shares hands-on insights from real FP&A environments and demonstrates how modern finance teams work with rolling forecasts in Power BI using Aimplan.

You will learn how to:

Build and maintain rolling forecasts based on actual data
Compare actuals, budget, and forecast in the same Power BI reports
Identify and analyse variances early
Collect explanations and business context through comments
Reduce reliance on Excel and manual processes

The session is designed for CFOs, controllers, and FP&A professionals who already use Power BI and want to improve planning, forecasting, and performance management.