Interim reports (2024)

Interim (or progress) reports present the interim, preliminary, or initial evaluation findings.

Interim reports are scheduled according to the specific needs of your evaluation users, often halfway through the execution of a project. The interim report is necessary to let a project’s stakeholders know how an intervention is going. It provides information that will help the funders and other decision-makers determine whether to continue with the current direction, where to make adjustments if necessary, revise goals, add more resources or in the worst-case scenario, to shut it down.

An interim report is similar to a final report, in that it includes a summary, a brief description of the progress, the evaluation thus far, and an overview of the financial situation. Any delays or deviations to the plan are included and explained, as well as any comparison between actual compared to expected results.

Advice for using this method

To avoid critical issues being interpreted incorrectly, begin interim reports by stating the following:

  • Which data collection activities are being reported on and which are not;
  • When the final evaluation results will be available;
  • Any cautions for readers in interpreting the findings.

Advice taken from Torres et al., 2005

Resources

Examples

  • This detailed example of a progress report describes Oxfam's work in Haiti following a large earthquake. It is intended to account to donors, partner organizations, allies, staff, and volunteers.

Guides

Davies, L. (2012). Haiti Progress Report January-December 2011. Oxford, UK: Oxfam GB. Retrieved from https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/haiti-progress-report-january-december-2011-200732/

Oxfam GB Evaluation Guidelines (accessed 2012-05-08): https://www.alnap.org/help-library/oxfam-gb-evaluation-guidelines

Stetson, Valerie. (2008). Communicating and reporting on an evaluation: Guidelines and Tools. Catholic Relief Services and American Red Cross, Baltimore and Washington, USA. Retrieved from: https://www.alnap.org/help-library/communicating-and-reporting-on-an-evaluation-guidelines-and-tools

Torres, Rosalie T., Hallie Preskill and Mary E. Piontek. (2005). Evaluation Strategies for Communicating and Reporting: Enhancing Learning in Organizations (Second Edition). University of Mexico.

USAID. (2010). Performance monitoring & evaluation tips: Constructing an evaluation report. Retrieved from:https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnadw117.pdf

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Interim reports (2024)

FAQs

Interim reports? ›

Interim statements are financial reports produced by firms covering a period of less than one year. The goal is to keep shareholders and analysts more up-to-date and in regular communication with corporate management, and to alert the public to material changes to the company in a timely fashion.

Why is it called interim report? ›

The word 'interim' means in the time between two particular periods or events. An interim report is a financial report prepared in the time between the annual financial statements within a full fiscal year. They can be prepared as semi-annually or quarterly reports or on an ad hoc basis.

What is the difference between interim and final report? ›

An interim report is typically prepared monthly or quarterly, whereas the final report usually occurs at the end of each fiscal year. The most important difference between these two types of reports is that an interim statement only includes financial information for up to three months/quarters.

What does interim report required mean? ›

Interim reporting is usually required of any company that is publicly held, and it typically involves the issuance of three quarterly financial statements each year. These statements include the following: Balance sheet. As of the end of the current interim period and the immediately preceding fiscal year.

What are interim financial reports? ›

An interim financial report is a complete or condensed set of financial statements for a period shorter than a financial year. IAS 34 does not specify which entities must publish an interim financial report. That is generally a matter for laws and government regulations.

What is in an interim report? ›

An interim report is similar to a final report, in that it includes a summary, a brief description of the progress, the evaluation thus far, and an overview of the financial situation. Any delays or deviations to the plan are included and explained, as well as any comparison between actual compared to expected results.

What is an example of an interim report? ›

Example: Quarterly Reports

The most common interim statement may be the quarterly report. A quarterly report is a summary or collection of un-audited financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, issued by companies every quarter (three months).

What are 3 key features of interim reports? ›

In most cases, you'll need to include the following components in your interim report:
  • Cash flow statement.
  • Income statement.
  • Balance sheet.

What are the benefits of interim reporting? ›

Thus, interim reporting helps make early projections regarding cash flows and other company developments. Estimate Annual Earnings: Annual earnings can be estimated based on interim financial reports. Gain or loss in a quarter period helps properly estimate a company's profit or loss at the end of the fiscal year.

What are the guidelines for interim reporting? ›

The interim report should include:

A description of the progress of the project, including what has been accomplished so far, an evaluation of any obstacles that have been encountered, and what remains to be done. A financial report, detailing what funds have been spent and how.

What is the basis of interim report? ›

An interim financial report is prepared on a consolidated basis if the entity's most recent annual financial statements were consolidated statements. The parent's separate financial statements are not consistent or comparable with the consolidated statements in the most recent annual financial report.

Do interim progress reports matter? ›

No and no. Colleges look at transcripts, which are a list of all courses and final grades from the time you entered high school until you graduated. Progress reports aren't even grades, they're reports of your progress prior to the end of the grading period.

How many months is an interim report? ›

The most common interim periods are quarters (three-month periods) and half-years (six-month periods), but an interim period can technically be any duration less than a year, depending on the reporting requirements or the needs of the company's management.

What should be disclosed in interim financial reports? ›

Include statements of profit or loss and OCI: a. for the current interim reporting period; b. cumulatively for the current financial year to date; and c. comparative information for the comparable interim reporting periods (current and year-to-date) of the immediately preceding financial year.

What is an interim P&L report? ›

The most commonly used interim financial statements are the profit and loss statement, or P&L (also sometimes referred to as an “income statement”) and the balance sheet. A P&L shows your net profit or net losses over a period of time.

Who is required to prepare interim financial statements? ›

1. This Standard does not mandate which enterprises should be required to present interim financial reports, how frequently, or how soon after the end of an interim period. If an enterprise is required or elects to prepare and present an interim financial report, it should comply with this Standard.

Why was it called interim? ›

The word interim comes from Latin and means approximately during the time where inter means between. The Cambridge Dictionary describes the word as something temporary that is meant to be used until something permanent exists.

What is interim short for? ›

Interim is a Latin adverb meaning "in the meantime." The first part, inter means "between." Interim is the time between, and you can use it as a fancy way of referring to a time you squeeze something in. Maybe you get ice cream during the interim between school and piano lessons.

What is the difference between annual report and interim report? ›

Whether shown to investors or accountants, these annual accounts give detailed information about the company's performance at the end of the reporting year. Interim financial statements show the same details, but they're drawn up to cover a shorter period.

What is called the interim? ›

An interim is a period of temporary pause or change in a sequence of events, or a temporary state, and is often applied to transitional political entities.

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