# Expenses Dashboard Status Update: March 2023

### TL;DR
**In our previous update**, we covered [the sixth iteration of the dashboard](https://forum.makerdao.com/t/expenses-dashboard-status-update-jan-feb-2023/20101), featuring:

* Delegates Compensation Data;
* Quarterly and Annual Expense Charts;
* Improved Core Unit Expense Reports;
* Introduction of the Reporting API;
* Various UX improvements.

**This month**, we release two main features representing a major improvement in reporting accessibility and accuracy:

1. **Aggregated Views Cost Breakdown Table** introduces a new homepage element, providing an up-to-date and at a glance breakdown of the Protocol's main expenditures.

3. **Improved Transfer Request Data** enables insight into Core Unit budgets by checking reserves held in operational wallets and tracking payments accordingly.

**Try it out**
* Visit our dashboard at https://expenses.makerdao.network/.
* The GraphQL API can be accessed using [the API Explorer](https://studio.apollographql.com/public/Performance-Dashboard-Prd/explorer?variant=current).
* Download the latest budget tool [here](https://github.com/makerdao-ses/ecosystem-reporting-tool-v1/releases).
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## **Roadmap**
*The conclusions we reached during our Denver offsite work sessions were consolidated into a comprehensive roadmap.*

The roadmap serves as a point of reference for internal work prioritization, giving an understanding of what projects should be tackled first and how resources should be allocated to most effectively solve MakerDAO operational challenges. Additionally, it offers a clear view of how the current SES work activity is already laying the groundwork for the endgame.

The SES 2023 roadmap focuses on three key areas to improve the protocol:

**1. Protocol Expense Accounting (PEA)
2. Project-Based Workflow (PBW)
3. Endgame Operational Setup (EOS)**

**"Powerhouse?"**

Each of these areas plays an important role in helping MakerDAO become a more efficient, transparent organization. Through **PEA**, Maker Community can track how funds are spent and use this information to facilitate better decision-making and strategizing. **PBW** enables tracking and visualization of work done by paid contributors while **EOS** seeks to simplify complex operations by utilizing scopes and frameworks.

The focus on Protocol Expense Accounting (PEA), Project-Based Workflow (PBW), and Endgame Operational Setup (EOS) is integral for the operational success of MakerDAO because it helps to clarify organizational actions, streamline operations, and simplify complex systems.

We invite the MakerDAO community to watch our loom presentation, where we go in-depth, describing not only the roadmap's focus areas and their components but also how we're solving MakerDAO's operational challenges with decentralized operations.
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## Dashboard v0.8 Release
Version 0.8 of the dashboard is now available at https://expenses.makerdao.network/.

### 1. **Aggregated Views Cost Breakdown Table**

*A new addition to the Finances Hompage providing an overview of the Protocol's main expenditures at a glance.*


### 2. **Improved Transfer Request Data**

*Get insight into Core Unit budgets by tracking reserves held in operational wallets and payments.*


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## What’s next -> the roadmap itself
The focus for upcoming releases is in three areas:

1. **Get 100% protocol expense coverage** by adding the remaining budget categories:

- With Core Units and Delegate Compensation, the most important budget categories have already been covered;
- We are working to include **Special Purpose Funds, Direct Dai Transfers**, and potentially smaller budget categories to get 100% coverage of protocol operational expenses.

2. **More aggregated data views** with different levels of detail
- Releases 7 and 8 have introduced the first aggregated data in the form of the new home page with quarterly and annual totals;
- This is only the beginning as we’re planning to have a total of 4 levels of detail:

1. **Key figures on a protocol level**: high-level numbers and charts without a lot of detail that capture the big picture for users that don’t have time to dig deep.

The new home page is a starting point for this. Upcoming release will add cost breakdown tables by budget (e.g. Core Unit) and expense categories (e.g. headcount vs. non-headcount costs).

2. **Detailed finance view on a protocol level**: for users that want to dig deeper, a more detailed view of all the protocol expenses covering all the budget categories such as Core Units, Delegates, SPFs, etc. with powerful filtering capabilities.

3. **Budget category view**: for an overview of the expense categories over time, within a specific budget category. For Core Units, this overview will provide charts and tables that capture Core Unit spending throughout their lifetime, an overview of the current reserves, etc.

4. **Monthly expense reports**: already implemented, our most granular view on the reported data for budget administrators and auditors.

3. **Reconciling reported numbers with on-chain data**
- For the expense data to come full circle, the reported numbers need to be compared with the on-chain transaction data;

- SES started collaborating with the Data Insights Core Unit to collect this on-chain data, and we will bring this data to the dashboard in the coming releases;

- **On-chain, operational reserves** for all budgets will be made available, from unclaimed funds in the DssVest streams, to the runway reserves in operational and auditor wallets;

- Last but not least, the **on-chain transfer amounts will be compared to the reported expenses** so that any gaps in the reported numbers can be automatically detected.

Reconciliation with the on-chain data will provide the final check on the completeness and accuracy of the reported numbers. With this quality control mechanism in place, the status of MakerDAO as the most transparent DAO in the industry will once again be confirmed.

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*Feedback? We’re happy to answer your questions here, on our [SES Discord server](https://discord.com/invite/Gr3sDQZv6Y), or SES CU channel in the [MakerDAO Discord](https://discord.com/invite/RBRumCpEDH).*

*Your SES Dashboard team*

@haiku @teep @liberuum @Dracaena27 @apeiron @wouter