Your biggest payment arrived smaller than expected.
The expected receipt no longer covers this week’s commitments
A civil contractor expects a substantial progress payment to cover payroll, plant hire and a materials delivery. The transfer arrives well below the forecast. Accounts is investigating the deduction, but the next payroll file is already prepared. The director needs an immediate funding decision: even a strong claim for the missing amount will not put that money in the account before tomorrow’s payments.
Replace the expected figure with cleared cash
Confirm the actual credit and receiving account. Update the forecast immediately instead of leaving the expected total in place while staff discuss the difference. Keep any unpaid residual as a separate, uncertain receipt.
Business.gov.au recommends forecasting the timing of money in and out. In this situation, the useful calculation is the shortfall before the next dependable receipt, including scheduled debits already committed.
Show every payment relying on that receipt
List payroll, statutory obligations, suppliers, finance and other amounts due during the gap. Record dates, contractual commitments and operational consequences. This is an information schedule, not permission to choose which creditor loses out.
Give the complete position to the accountant or appropriate adviser. If the company may be unable to pay debts when due, seek qualified insolvency advice promptly before making selective payments or taking new obligations.
Source: ASIC — Insolvency for directors
Test an actual way to close the gap
Check confirmed alternative receipts and funding already available. For a proposed lender advance or customer top-up, record conditions and when funds could clear. Do not replace one optimistic assumption with another.
Assess any proposed spending change against existing agreements and the ability to finish current work. Cancelling materials may preserve cash today but prevent earning the next progress payment; show that consequence in the revised plan.
Correct commitments before they fail silently
Identify payment promises that the smaller receipt can no longer support. Communicate verified facts through an authorised person and discuss any affordable change. Obtain confirmation before treating requested time as an agreed extension.
Run the invoice investigation alongside this operating response. Nominate separate owners for the disputed balance and the immediate cash plan, with a review when new evidence or actual funds arrive. A hoped-for correction should not delay action on today’s shortage.
Make today’s decisions from the money actually received
Update cleared cash and all near-term commitments.
Test confirmed funding and operational consequences with the appropriate adviser.
Correct unsupported promises and keep the invoice dispute on a separate evidence track.
Call CRP today to coordinate practical support when a major short payment creates an immediate business cash gap.