When controlling stops keeping up.

Controlling problems rarely announce themselves. They accumulate quietly until a report is late, a number gets questioned, or a decision is made on data nobody fully trusts.

01

The forecast is wrong before the month is over. And everyone knows it, but nobody says it out loud.

Budgets and forecasts are built from scratch each cycle, driven by spreadsheets and individual judgment rather than structured inputs. The result is inconsistent outputs and limited buy-in from management or investors.

02

Month-end takes two weeks, involves three people chasing each other, and still produces numbers that get questioned.

Reporting cycles take too long, and reported figures are frequently questioned. Controlling and accounting operate in silos, with unclear handovers, duplicated effort, and no shared understanding of data ownership.

03

The ERP has the data. The report is built in Excel. Nobody is quite sure the two agree.

Financial data lives in the ERP, but reporting happens in parallel spreadsheets. KPIs are not automatically calculated or consistently updated, and the link between bookings, reports, and decisions is fragile.

04

Every month the same process runs differently, depending on who is available and what they remember from last time.

Forecasting, cost reviews, and reporting routines are ad hoc and manual. There are no standard timelines, defined roles, or escalation paths, which limits financial visibility and reduces the value finance delivers.

Four phases. From assessment to stable operations.

We don't redesign everything at once. We start where the pain is greatest, stabilize it, then build outward from there.

01

Assess

We review the existing planning, forecasting, and reporting workflows in detail. We map the system landscape, identify inefficiencies and manual workarounds, and assess the quality of data handoffs between teams.

  • Review of existing planning, forecasting, and reporting workflows
  • Identification of inefficiencies, manual tasks, and recurring issues
  • Analysis of system landscape and data handoffs across teams
  • Mapping of key deadlines, responsibilities, and reporting pain points
02

Design

We develop clear, streamlined finance and controlling processes tailored to the organization's complexity and team setup. Roles, handovers, templates, and reporting structures are defined and documented.

  • Development of streamlined finance and controlling processes
  • Definition of roles, handovers, and responsibilities across functions
  • Creation of standardized templates and reporting structures
  • Alignment of process design with business complexity and team setup
03

Implement

We roll out new processes step by step. Logic is built directly in ERP, Excel, or BI tools based on the client's setup. Planning and reporting tools are integrated into daily routines with hands-on support throughout.

  • Step-by-step rollout with clear documentation at each stage
  • Logic built in ERP, Excel, or BI tools based on client setup
  • Integration of planning and reporting tools into daily routines
  • Hands-on training and change management support
04

Enable & Handover

We monitor early process cycles, troubleshoot issues, and refine templates and workflows based on real-world feedback. Governance routines and KPIs for tracking process quality are established before handover.

  • Monitoring of early process cycles and identification of areas for improvement
  • Troubleshooting and fine-tuning of templates and workflows
  • Establishment of governance routines and escalation paths
  • Definition of KPIs to track accuracy, timeliness, and consistency

How a reporting architecture actually holds together.

Controlling does not just produce monthly numbers. It builds the layered reporting structure that serves every audience, from daily operations to the quarterly board. All layers tie back to a single source of truth.

Reporting Architecture
Daily to Quarterly
01 BOARD / INVESTOR Quarterly · Strategic decisions 02 MANAGEMENT REPORTING Monthly · P&L, variance, forecast 03 OPERATIONS KPIs Weekly · Departmental performance 04 REAL-TIME OPERATIONAL METRICS Daily · Sales, cash, key triggers

What you receive at the end of an engagement.

Every deliverable is operational from day one. We build working models, documented processes, and trained teams. Not recommendations for someone else to implement.

Forecasting & Budgeting Models

Modular, transparent models aligned with business drivers, designed for structured updates and scenario analysis. Built to work within Excel, BI tools, or ERP environments depending on the client's setup.

Standardized Month-End Close & Reporting Calendar

Clear sequencing of tasks, handovers between accounting and controlling, and output deadlines. Documented in a central timeline and aligned with management reporting needs.

Process Documentation & Governance Framework

Standard Operating Procedures for key finance routines, with defined roles, timelines, and escalation rules. These procedures build accountability and reduce dependency on individual knowledge holders.

Integrated KPI & Reporting Logic

Defined KPI formulas, data sources, and update logic integrated into reporting tools or dashboards. This ensures consistent tracking and usability across finance functions and management levels.

Accounting-Controlling Integration

Alignment of chart of accounts, cost center logic, and data structures to ensure seamless handoff between bookings and reporting. Includes consistency checks and reconciliation processes.

Training & Operational Enablement

Hands-on onboarding and training materials for finance staff, controllers, and management users. The structures are built to be understood and used in daily operations without ongoing external support.

The result: a finance function that management can rely on.

Month-end closes on schedule, numbers don't get questioned in every meeting, and the finance team spends its time on analysis rather than chasing data. That is what a functioning controlling operation looks like.

Faster month-end close Reliable forecasts Clear process ownership Accounting-controlling alignment Financial discipline