Using Trial Balance Variance Reports to Streamline the Monthly Reporting Process

    How can Financial Statement s Drive Faster and Better Decisions? As Corporate Controllers increasingly become key advisors in the Monthly Reporting Process, they must rely on modern self-service corporate performance management (CPM) and business intelligence (BI) tools. Using interactive control tools like the Trial Balance Variance Report template shown below enables them and users from the accounting and FP&A teams to experience near real time monthly balance control that help drive faster and better decisions. Who uses Trial Balance Variance Report s and What are Some Key Analytical Features? In today’s fast-paced business environment, Corporate Controllers are under high pressure to supply end users like accounting staff and reporting managers with timely and concise Financial Statements. Companies use key features like the ones below to support their users with effective analysis that helps drive data and reporting accuracy:
    • Dynamic listing of all active GL accounts down the rows with a control total
    • Monthly and year-to-date (YTD) balances with variance columns
    • Automated narrative on the top of the report that provide an instant message if the GL is in balance or not
    The Trial Balance Variance Report template can be used as a key element of the Monthly Reporting process: [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Example of a Trial Balance Variance Report to Streamline the Monthly Reporting Process Example of a Trial Balance Variance Report to Streamline the Monthly Reporting Process[/caption] The Trial Balance Variance Report is a ready-to-use report template from the Solver Marketplace. A Brief Description of the Trial Balance Variance Report Template Financial Statements like the one seen in the image above are interactive and parameter driven and typically contain sections with narrative, balances by GL account and control totals. One of the important features that aid the user in the analysis process is the ability to easily ensure that both the current month and YTD data from the GL is in balance. Trial Balance Variance Reports are typically used in conjunction with profit & loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements and dashboards. Data Integration to Transaction Systems Most organizations these days want automated and streamlined planning, reporting and analysis. However, many of the benefits described earlier rely on best of breed Corporate Performance Management (CPM) tools and/or Business Intelligence (BI) capabilities as well as data marts or data warehouses that use pre-built integrations to the organization’s ERP system. Oftentimes, they also need integrations to other key data sources like CRM, subscription systems, payroll tools, etc. Modern, cloud-based ERPs like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance (D365 Finance), Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365 BC), Sage Intacct, Acumatica, Netsuite and SAP have robust APIs which allow for dynamic integrations to CPM and BI tools that are fully automated and flexible to run on a schedule or on-demand. Additional Resources to Aid with Research of Templates, CPM and BI Tools
    January 26, 2022