As companies grow into multi-entity structures, the need for a scalable reporting setup becomes critical. What worked when the group had two companies no longer works when there are five, ten or twenty spread across different markets, currencies and ERP systems.

A modern reporting stack ensures that financial data stays consistent, automated and ready for analysis — even as the organisation grows rapidly. Here’s how to build a foundation that scales with your group.

Start With the Core: Your ERP Landscape

Most groups grow organically. New subsidiaries come with their own accounting systems, local preferences and historical setups. The result is a patchwork of ERPs — Tripletex here, PowerOffice Go there, Business Central or Fortnox somewhere else.

A scalable reporting stack accepts this reality instead of trying to force all companies into one system.

The key is having a reporting layer that sits above the ERPs and unifies the data automatically.

Step 1: Standardise the Chart of Accounts at Group Level

You don’t need every company to use the same chart of accounts. But you do need a harmonised group chart.

A scalable setup allows:

• Each subsidiary to keep its ERP structure
• The group to map all accounts into a unified standard
• Automatic alignment across countries and accounting systems
• Consistent reporting every month

This removes the need for manual mapping sheets and endless adjustments in Excel.

Step 2: Automate Data Collection Across All Systems

The most fragile part of manual reporting is data extraction. Each month, teams export CSV files, merge sheets, clean data and troubleshoot errors.

A scalable stack eliminates this.

Automated data collection ensures:

• Nightly updates from all ERPs
• Consistent formats every time
• No missing transactions
• No manual imports
• No version confusion

This creates a reliable flow of financial data with minimal effort from the finance team.

Step 3: Add a Consolidation Layer That Handles Complexity

A reporting stack that scales must handle:

• Eliminations
• Minority interests
• Multi-currency
• Group ownership movements
• Intercompany transactions
• Adjustments and restatements

Trying to manage these workflows manually in Excel becomes unmanageable once the group exceeds a few entities.

A dedicated consolidation layer ensures accuracy — and frees the finance team from repetitive work.

Step 4: Deliver Real-Time Dashboards and Drill-Down

Growing groups need more than a static monthly package. Leaders expect:

• Real-time insight
• Company-level and group-level views
• Visual dashboards
• KPIs across all subsidiaries
• Drill-down to vouchers and transactions

A scalable stack gives finance teams and management faster, cleaner access to the numbers — without waiting for custom reports.

Step 5: Keep Excel in the Loop Where It Matters

Excel remains an essential tool for modelling, forecasting and custom analysis. A modern finance stack shouldn’t replace Excel — it should empower it.

Through Sumledger EXL, finance teams can export the entire dataset directly into Excel:

• All transactions
• All companies
• All periods
• All dimensions

No CSV juggling. No outdated extracts.
Just live, clean data ready for analysis.

This gives maximum flexibility without sacrificing automation.

Bringing It All Together: The Modern Reporting Stack

Here’s what a scalable setup looks like:

Base layer:
Multiple ERPs across companies and countries

Integration layer:
Automated data collection and harmonisation

Consolidation layer:
Currency, eliminations, ownership, structures

Reporting layer:
Dashboards, KPIs, drill-down and group insights

Analysis layer:
Excel models powered by fresh data via Sumledger EXL

This architecture grows with the group — whether it expands from 5 to 50 entities or enters new countries with new ERPs.

Conclusion

A scalable reporting stack doesn’t force standardisation on subsidiaries. Instead, it creates a unified reporting foundation that adapts to growth.

With Sumledger, growing groups get:

• Automated data flows from all ERPs
• A harmonised chart of accounts
• Real-time consolidation
• Clean, reliable group reporting
• Full Excel flexibility when needed

This is how finance teams stay ahead — even as the organisation becomes more complex.