Analytics in the Financial World


Reporting, Analytics & Information Delivery Inside the Finance World

Reporting, analytics and information delivery can have a transformational impact on any financial organisation if applied correctly. Reporting and analytic faculties that process timely data amplify an enterprise’s ability to make more informed, evidence-based decisions. To implement an inclusive business intelligence platform, organisations need to draft an effective reporting, analytics and delivery framework. This strategy comprises an end user’s ability to consume integrated data in a structured manner and hence, drive decision making.

What Is Financial Reporting?

Financial reporting is when the financial results of an organisation are released to its stakeholders and the public. It enables enterprises within the financial sector to apprehend their fiscal position and to better align themselves with their financial goals.

In other words, communication of financial information to people outside of the organisation can involve:

External financial statements

Press releases and conference calls regarding quarterly earnings

Quarterly and annual reports to stockholders

Financial information on the company’s website

Financial reports to government agencies

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The Benefits Of Financial Reporting

For businesses to thrive, financial institutions must deliver accurate and actionable insights in real-time. Financial analytics tools help you reduce costs and manage risks, improve profitability and transparency, and guide more informed decisions. Regardless of what section of financial activity you’re looking to monitor, all types of reporting will help you identify trends, both past and present, which will enable you to address any potential weaknesses while making improvements to benefit the health of your business.

With financial reporting tools, businesses can quickly analyse large volumes of vendor contract data to make smarter spending decisions. Companies are also empowered to monitor spending, payments and balances to more effectively manage the procurement process. Another benefit of financial reporting analytics is that they provide a complete, multi-dimensional view of your product portfolio to more effectively identify and act on evolving marketing behaviours and pricing tradeoffs. Your company will also more efficiently drive growth and increase margins through reduced slippage while mitigating risks from underperforming revenue streams.

Different Ways Of Financial Reporting & Analysis

Financial reports detail financial information which is used for the purpose of fiscal planning, analysis, benchmarking and decision making. In addition, the reports inform and enable investors, promoters, debt providers and creditors to make rational and prudent decisions regarding investments like mutual funds. Financial Reporting and Analysis also provides information about the economic resources of an organisation, their claims to those resources; specifically, their liabilities and owner’s equity, and how these resources and claims have changed over a period of time. The reports also inform various stakeholders regarding the performance management of an organisation, namely, that they are discharging their fiduciary responsibilities diligently and ethically. These methods of financial reporting and analysis can ultimately raise capital both domestically and internationally.

The components of financial reporting and analysis are:

Financial statements
(income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements)

The notes to financial statements

Quarterly and annual reports (for listed companies)

Prospectus (for companies pursuing IPOs)

Management discussion and analytics
(for public companies)

Why Is Financial Reporting Important?

Primarily, financial reporting is required by all businesses by law but can differ depending on which standardisation procedure your country follows. Financial reporting allows finance teams to dig deeper into expense, procurement, and contract data to discover the real cost of doing business while identifying new ways to reduce costs and increase profitability. With a real-time management dashboard, your company can observe its financial integrity at a moment’s notice. This data can consequently transform your business and how your company does its business.

Discover All the Connections Inside Your Data

Qlik's powerful Associative Engine lets you combine multiple, complex sources of data that can be explored in any direction. Using Qlik’s Financial Analytics software, you can analyse financial performance, develop forecasts and run highly flexible financial simulations. These simulations empower your organisation to ask questions and explore new possible outcomes, or dig deeper into past events. Also, the software presents the performance benefits that organisations have attained from implementing modern analytics strategies and processes, demonstrating ROI in real-time.

Unlock the power of your data


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