Hi guys, really in desperate need for some help. I've built a model from scratch for the first time and it doesn't balance, I've been staring at it for some time and idk what to fix. Would appreciate anyone kind enough to help me with it 🙏
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I can help! I think you can attach the model to your discussion thread.
This is a rite of passage and you should probably try to figure out what’s going on by yourself. Just go down the cash flow statement line by line and make sure the balance sheet is picking up each one (other than through the net change in cash).
If that doesn’t work, you might have balance sheet lines that are changing without any impact to the cash flow statement
Agree with above. Doesn't matter if it takes a day or a week. Don't panic and get through this right of passage.
Agreed. Back when I was starting, usually the problem for me was that not all of the BS items were reflected properly on the Cash Flow. Once I got rid of that, never again I had to worry about balancing the BS. See if that's the problem maybe.
Post the model, would love to see it.
Hi everyone, thanks for the replies, I really appreciate them. Unfortunately, I cannot post a link to my model as I do not have enough points to do so. Can I kindly DM a kind soul to help me with it?
You can DM me, I'd want to see it
Hi thank you so much, I have DMed you
If your model doesn’t balance it’s because you didn’t build the cash flow statement correctly, assuming it’s a basic model without cash sweep or debt paydown assumptions feeding BOP cash balances.
Check that you didn’t accidentally flip the signs on balance sheet items. (Negatives as positives)
Check that as asset increase, cash decreases.
As L&E increase, cash increases.
Check that your cash / revolver is wired into the balance sheet correctly and you have accounted for cash draw to fund revolver if you have negative cash flows
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