Managed data
What is Data as a Service (DaaS) and why it matters
A clear definition of Data as a Service (DaaS): what it includes, how it differs from building your own infrastructure and why more companies adopt it.
Read articleKey takeaways
- Consolidating financial KPIs from several entities requires harmonising criteria.
- A single dashboard shows the group’s profitability, liquidity, debt and margins.
- Automatic updates remove the manual monthly close.
- It lets you compare entities and spot deviations in time.
- Intercompany operations must be eliminated to avoid double-counting.
For the leadership of a group, having a reliable, timely financial picture of all entities is essential and, far too often, impossible without weeks of manual work. A multi-company financial dashboard solves that.
The challenge: different criteria and formats
Each entity may have its own ERP, chart of accounts and way of calculating a margin. Before consolidating, you must harmonise criteria so figures are comparable. Without that step, summing is misleading.
The financial KPIs that cannot be missing
- Profitability: gross, net margin and EBITDA by entity and consolidated.
- Liquidity: cash, treasury forecast and days sales/payable.
- Debt: leverage and debt service.
- Growth: revenue vs. target and vs. prior year.
- Deviations: actual vs. budget.
Entities
Own ERPscriteria
Normalise
HarmoniseEliminate intercompany
Dashboard
ConsolidatedSelf-updating
Eliminations and intercompany
Truly consolidating requires handling intercompany operations: sales between entities of the same group that must not be counted twice. A well-designed data layer identifies and removes these so the consolidated figure reflects the real business with the outside world.
A single financial view of the group, self-updating and with harmonised criteria for all entities.
In summary
A multi-company financial dashboard consolidates profitability, liquidity, debt and margins from several entities, but only after harmonising criteria and eliminating intercompany operations. Built on a data layer that updates automatically, it turns a weeks-long manual close into a near-continuous, trusted view.
Sources & further reading
Frequently asked questions
Does it work if each company has a different ERP?
Yes. The different systems are connected and the data is normalised so the group figures are comparable.
How often does it update?
Automatically, at whatever cadence leadership needs, without the manual monthly close.
Is it useful for boards and committees?
Yes, it is one of its main uses: a consolidated, reliable financial picture ready for decision-making.
What are intercompany eliminations?
Removing sales between entities of the same group so they are not counted twice, ensuring the consolidated figure reflects real external business.
Why harmonise before consolidating?
Because entities calculate metrics differently; without harmonising criteria, summing produces misleading consolidated figures.
Which KPIs belong on it?
Profitability (margins, EBITDA), liquidity, debt, growth vs. target and actual-vs-budget deviations, by entity and consolidated.
Turn this data into results
Tell us what you want to achieve. Data Layer connects, processes and delivers the result up and running, with no infrastructure for you to manage.