A plain-English finance glossary for EOS companies.

Finance terms that come up when you run on EOS — defined simply, and connected to the EOS language you already use.

Month-end close: The process of finalizing a month's financial records so the numbers are complete, accurate, and locked. In EOS terms, a reliable close is what makes the Data component trustworthy — nothing on your Scorecard is dependable if the close underneath it isn't. More on month-end close →
Controller: The finance role that owns the close, reconciliations, and reporting — making the numbers trustworthy. For most growing EOS companies, the controller is the finance seat they need before a CFO. More on controller →
Financial measurable: A number on your Scorecard drawn from your financials. Good ones are leading, weekly-meaningful, and trusted. More on financial measurable →
13-week cash forecast: A rolling, week-by-week projection of cash in, cash out, and ending balance over one quarter. The projected 13-week ending balance makes an excellent forward-looking Scorecard measurable. More on 13-week cash forecast →
Accrual: Recording revenue or an expense in the period it's earned or incurred, rather than when cash changes hands. Accruals are part of what separates a real close from "the bookkeeping is caught up."
Reconciliation: Matching your records to an outside source (like a bank statement) to confirm they agree. Skipped reconciliations are a common reason numbers can't be trusted.
Gross margin: Revenue minus the direct cost of delivering it, as a percentage. A company can grow revenue while margin quietly erodes — which is why margin trend is worth watching.
Accounts receivable (AR): Money customers owe you but haven't paid yet. Growing AR can hide a cash problem behind healthy-looking revenue.
Working capital: The cash tied up in running the business day to day — receivables and inventory, less payables. Growth often consumes working capital, which is why a profitable company can still be short on cash.
Fractional controller / CFO: An experienced controller or CFO who works with your business part-time, giving you senior finance capability without a full-time hire. Common for growing EOS companies that have outgrown a bookkeeper but aren't ready for a full-time hire. More on fractional controller / CFO →
Data component (EOS): One of the six key components of EOS — running the business on a handful of objective numbers rather than emotion. It only works if the finance function underneath produces accurate, timely numbers. More on data component →
Scorecard (EOS): A weekly set of five to fifteen numbers that give an absolute pulse on the business. The financial rows on it are only as good as the close they come from. More on scorecard →