Imperfect Dashboards Are Better Than Waiting

By TED ROSE, ROSE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

In today’s fast-paced business environment, waiting for fully reconciled numbers at month-end can be a costly delay. Growing businesses need timely insights to drive decisions, and waiting for perfection can often mean missing critical opportunities to make an important decision earlier. This is where dashboards with imperfect—but actionable—data become an essential tool for business owners, finance teams, and decision-makers.

The Reality of Real-Time Decision Making


Business leaders don’t operate in a vacuum. They need information constantly to make informed decisions about hiring, resource allocation, customer engagement, and cash flow. If you rely solely on month-end reconciliations, you might be making decisions based on outdated data.


Instead, embracing real-time dashboards that may include estimated, yet directionally accurate, data allows businesses to adjust strategies on the fly. Even if the numbers aren’t perfect, they provide a critical pulse check on the company. 


The Truth About Management Estimates


Business finance has never been solely about exact numbers—real-world financial management relies on management estimates. These estimates help businesses anticipate expenses, revenue trends, and cash flow needs before the hard numbers are in. Key examples include:


  • Accrual-based revenue recognition estimates
  • Forecasted expenses based on historical or or cost estimate
  • Expected customer payments and receivables
  • Projected tax liabilities


These estimates are not only acceptable but necessary for maintaining operational agility. A dashboard reflecting these figures—even with some margin of error—provides valuable insights that businesses can act on immediately.


Why Imperfect Data Beats No Data


Waiting for fully reconciled numbers before taking action is like driving a car while only looking in the rearview mirror. The landscape of your business is constantly shifting, and historical data alone won’t provide the foresight needed for proactive decision-making.


Benefits of Dashboards with Imperfect Data:

  1. Faster Decision-Making – Imperfect data allows businesses to adjust pricing, staffing, and cash flow strategies in near real-time.
  2. Early Trend Identification – Even with estimates, dashboards can reveal patterns that require attention before they escalate. It can take 6-7 repetitions of data for most people to see patterns. 
  3. Increased Value – Dashboards can be structured to provide proactive insights and data relationship rather than reactive reports.
  • Operational Agility – Business conditions change quickly; having real-time information allows for more accurate predictions... Read more in the ROSE Community.

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In 1994 Ted Rose founded Rose Financial Solutions (ROSE), the Premier U.S. Based Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Firm. In 2010, the Blackbook of Outsourcing named ROSE the #1 FAO firm in the world based on client satisfaction. As the president and CEO of ROSE, he provides executives with financial clarity. Ted has also acted as the CFO for a number of growth companies and assisted with various rounds of financing and M&A transactions.

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September 4, 2025
Rose Financial Solutions (“ROSE®”), a pioneer in Finance as a Service ( FaaS ), today announced new strategic partnerships designed to empower fractional CFOs and CPA firms to support clients with scalable financial infrastructure. Through alliances with Apex Finance Solutions, CFO Advisory DC, CTM Partners, and Rubino & Company , ROSE is expanding access to scalable, AI -enabled solutions that simplify financial operations and amplify the value advisors deliver to growing businesses. “Fractional CFOs and CPA firms are critical growth partners for businesses, but they shouldn’t have to build financial infrastructure on their own,” said Ted Rose, President, CEO, and Founder of ROSE . “With these partnerships, we’re giving them access to enterprise-grade tools that drive efficiency, scalability, and insight—so they can remain focused on their most important role: trusted advisors.” At the center of these partnerships is ROSE’s Finance as a Service ( FaaS ) model, which integrates People, Process, Technology, Organization, and Data . This framework simplifies back-office operations while empowering financial leaders with real-time insights, audit-readiness, and proactive decision-making . All four partners now gain access to Easby ® , ROSE’s AI-powered, enterprise-grade automation platform that seamlessly integrates with accounting systems to transform financial data into actionable intelligence. Meet the Partners Apex Finance Solutions : Guides high-performing entrepreneurs with executive-level financial leadership. With Easby®, Apex enhances its strategic advisory capabilities through real-time data insights. CFO Advisory DC : Brings a global perspective from private equity, impact investing, and strategy consulting. Easby strengthens its ability to deliver operational excellence and scalable growth strategies. CTM Partners : Specializes in driving scalable growth and operational efficiency through financial leadership. By leveraging ROSE’s FaaS model, CTM expands client visibility and decision-making agility. Rubino : A Maryland-based CPA firm delivering audit, tax, and CFO consulting expertise (through their CAS – Client Accounting Services). By integrating Easby, Rubino enhances compliance readiness while delivering deeper client insights. “This is just the beginning of our CFO and CPA partner network buildout,” added Rose. “Our goal is to ensure every growth focused organization in the nation has access to the same level of sophistication and scalability as enterprise finance teams—without the cost or complexity. Our nationwide network will reshape the way financial leaders deliver trusted, data-driven advisory services.” About Rose Financial Solutions ROSE is a leading provider of Finance as a Service (FaaS – next generation of finance and accounting outsourcing) , helping businesses simplify financial operations by aligning People, Process, Technology, Organization, and Data . Its enterprise-grade AI-enabled automation platform, Easby® , transforms financial data into actionable insights, enabling companies to scale with confidence and agility. With ROSE and Easby, organizations achieve audit readiness, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making—redefining the future of finance and accounting. To learn more about how ROSE and Easby® can transform your financial operations, visit www.rosefinancial.com and www.easby.ai . Ready to empower your firm with enterprise-grade financial infrastructure? Contact us today to explore partnership opportunities.
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