What to Send Your Report Designer Two Weeks Before the Board Meeting

Most delay in quarterly report work comes from incomplete definitions, not from design revisions. Two weeks before board is the last comfortable moment to fix that.

Figures

Current-quarter actuals in spreadsheet form, with the same row labels as last quarter. If labels changed, send a mapping table. Do not assume we remember your segment rename from Q1.

Definitions

For each KPI in the pack: formula, source system, rounding rule, and whether prior quarter was restated. A one-page definition sheet beats a thirty-minute call.

Calendar

Board date, print deadline, and who signs off on commentary. One approver is strongly preferred — split approval between CFO and board secretary doubles revision loops.

Prior art

Last quarter's PDF, even if you dislike it. We need to see footnote conventions, tab order, and which charts the chair skipped.