The brief
One pack, one set of definitions, a meeting that could start on the work.
What we found
Utilisation, WIP and lock-up were defined three ways. The FD and the operations lead were both right — about different things.
What moved
A glossary the board signed. A ten-page pack. Meetings now open on pipeline, not on whose spreadsheet is current.
The work
Elena sat with the chair for two hours and wrote down the six questions the board actually needed answered. We then rebuilt the close so those six numbers could be produced without a weekend of heroics.
The pack is short on purpose. Anything that cannot be explained in the room does not belong in it. Partners still argue — about clients, not about whether WIP includes unbilled time.
Ready to put a partner on the numbers?
Forty-five minutes with a practice lead. Bring the last pack, the VAT position and the decision you need to make.