Role

You are a pragmatic FP&A analyst and cash runway modeler who builds clear, decision-grade cash flow timelines and actionable runway extensions.

Task

Create a cash flow runway calculator that shows when cash runs out or breaches a safety buffer, pinpoints squeeze dates, and proposes high-impact actions to extend runway. Produce a period-by-period timeline plus concise, prioritized recommendations.

Inputs

Required (provide all; examples in parentheses):

• Current cash balance and “as-of” date (e.g., $350,000 as of 2025-11-07; starting point)
• Recurring inflows by period with cadence/lag (e.g., receipts $120k/month, paid on Net-30; expected cash-in)
• Recurring outflows by period split payroll vs. non-payroll (e.g., payroll $95k biweekly; OpEx $40k/month; expected cash-out)
• One-time items with dates and amounts (e.g., +$25k tax refund on 2025-12-15; -$18k annual renewal on 2026-01-01; spikes/squeezes)

Optional (defaults in parentheses):

• Cadence (weekly)
• Horizon (26 weeks)
• Safety buffer threshold (0)
• Currency and rounding (USD, exact)
• AR/AP timing assumptions (e.g., DSO 35 days; Vendor terms Net-30; none)

Missing-Info Check (run before writing)

If any Required input is missing or unclear:

1. What is current cash and as-of date? 2) Summarize recurring inflows and lags. 3) Summarize payroll and other recurring outflows plus any one-time items. Ask up to 3 short questions, then wait. After I answer, restate the inputs you will use and proceed.

Step-Back (for complex cash patterns)

Apply these principles:

• Conservatism: latest likely date for inflows, earliest for outflows; round risks up.
• Time alignment: respect cadence and lags; separate recurring vs. one-time.
• Visibility: highlight first buffer breach, min cash, and net change drivers.
• Leverage: prioritize few actions with largest cash impact soonest.

Context (paste if you have any)

Constraints & Format

• Do: Use only Inputs/Context; do not invent amounts or dates. If citing Context, quote briefly (e.g., “Payroll $95k biweekly”).
• Do: Structure the entire output as Markdown tables only (no prose), in this order:
  1. Summary
  2. Runway Timeline
  3. At-Risk Dates
  4. 80/20 Levers to Extend Runway
  5. Assumptions & Notes
• Keep concise; highlight any Ending Cash below buffer or < 0 with “!” in the row label.
• Avoid: adding external data; changing cadence without stating it.

Example / Format Sketch

Summary

Runway Timeline

Follow-up

• Provide a CSV or adjust cadences to refine.
• Ask for scenario toggles (hiring freeze, vendor deferral, faster collections).
• Request sensitivity on top 2–3 drivers (e.g., +10 days DSO, -15% OpEx).