English for finance team budget review meeting

What you’ll practice

Discuss budget gaps and forecast changes with precise, business-safe language.

Questions

• Which cost centers are above plan this month?
• What assumptions changed in your revised forecast?
• Which levers can reduce spend without harming output?

Useful phrases

• “We are 8% above plan due to one-off vendor costs.”
• “The revised forecast assumes lower demand in Q3.”
• “We recommend phased reduction instead of across-the-board cuts.”

Mini role-play

CFO: “Can we close this gap this quarter?” You: “Partially, yes. We can reduce discretionary spend now and renegotiate contracts next month.”

FAQ

What is the best tone in budget reviews?

Objective, data-first, and solution-oriented.