I have a thing about financial reports and consistency. The problem for IT suppliers is that everybody they supply wants something different. I can sympathise with that.

While cashflow reports can appear to look different, the fundamentals are always the same. So whatever the presentation of the report, it should enable the user to estimate the future cash position several months ahead and check this off against the actual position.

One such report is cashflow forecasting. I think it is not possible to run any business without one unless that business expects to be surprised by a shortage of cash when it could have known what to expect – such as estimating a firm's professional indemnity premium costs in October.

Why then do some IT suppliers not even supply a cashflow forecast template for users, the requirement for which has been in the Code of Conduct/Solicitors Accounts Rules for at least two years?

Worse, it seems that they may not know what such a report actually is, which tends to suggest that they do not have one for their own business.

Worse still, they may claim to have such a report when in fact it is something different – such as the current cash position, which is helpful but not a forecasting tool to help with firm management.

A good time to check the functionality of IT systems is when a firm is changing suppliers or looking at upgrades. Most IT suppliers, understandably, have prepared demos that may not lead you down the path you want to go. In my view, it is essential to have a prepared and consistent question plan, and as in this particular case ask to see such reports operating – and see if your prospective supplier struggles.