Year-End IT Budget Review: The CIO Survival Checklist

CFOs scrutinize IT in December. Here is how to survive and thrive:

## Week 1: Close Out 2024
- Reconcile all POs (>15% open = control issues)
- Kill zombie projects (30% deliver no value)
- Audit SaaS (cancel 18-25% unused licenses)

## Week 2: Build 2025 Case
- Translate tech to business outcomes
- Three scenarios: Maintain / Optimize / Transform
- Quantify technical debt ($2.4M debt = $45K/month "interest")

## Week 3: Present & Negotiate
- Lead with 2024 savings delivered
- Address "do more with less"
- Propose cost-neutral transformations

## Week 4: Lock It In
- Get written approval before Dec 31
- Secure Q1 initiative approvals
- Set up monthly budget reviews

## Budget Formula That Works

6 slides maximum:
1. Executive summary (savings + request + top 3 bets)
2. 2024 accomplishments (projects, savings, business value)
3. Current state (technical debt, security, gaps)
4. 2025 initiatives (5 themes with ROI)
5. Three scenarios (trade-offs stated)
6. Financial controls (governance plan)

Avoid: 20% increase when revenue is flat, waiting until December to communicate, technology focus instead of business outcomes.