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Best Financial Reporting Software Shortlist

Here are the financial reporting solutions that I’ve examined and selected to cover in this article

  1. Sage Intacct - Best for ease of use
  2. Workiva - Best for complex reporting
  3. Oracle NetSuite - Best for global enterprises
  4. Cube - Best for growing teams
  5. Freshbooks - Best on a small budget
  6. insightsoftware - Best for custom reporting
  7. CCH Tagetik - Best comprehensive solution
  8. Budgyt - Best for simple projects
  9. Xero - Best for startups
  10. Tipalti - Best for large organizations
  11. Spreadsheet Server - Best Excel-based solution
  12. Sage Business Cloud Accounting - Best for small businesses

Below I’ve provided a detailed evaluation of each of the financial reporting software options that made my list. For each, I’ve included a screenshot to show you the user interface, a summary of key features, integrations, some noteworthy pros and cons, and any available pricing information.

What is Financial Reporting Software?

Financial reporting software automates data collection, generates financial reports, and helps finance teams analyze your company’s historical financial data to more accurately predict future trends.

Quality financial reporting software gives company executives greater visibility into business performance, and streamlines the financial reporting process to produce financial statements and custom reports with greater accuracy and efficiency than manual processes allow.

Financial reporting software helps internal users by preparing annual budgets and producing ad-hoc financial reports to analyze performance across departments. It’s also crucial for providing up to date financial statements to external users, including regulators, auditors, lenders, and stockholders.

Overviews of the Best Financial Reporting Software

Here’s my assessment of each financial reporting software that I chose for my top list and what features I think set it apart from the competition.

1. Sage Intacct - Best for ease of use

Sage Intacct CFO Dashboard screenshot
With a customizable dashboard, Sage Intacct gives you a quick snapshot of the information you need.

Sage Intacct is a cloud-based financial reporting software solution that supports growing companies that have an in-house accountant or accounting team.

Why I picked Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is ideal for growing organizations as it allows you to customize workflows, automate financial reports, and see advanced audit trails.

Standout features include "Intelligent GL" (General Ledger), which lets you scan thousands of transactions in minutes to identify irregularities and inaccuracies to speed up consolidations.

I think Sage Intacct would be a good fit for organizations with multiple operating divisions or subsidiaries looking to improve their monthly, quarterly, and annual financial consolidation and reporting processes.

Integrations include Salesforce, Workato, Solver, Versapay, Omnidek, Tipalti, Paychex, Workiva, and hundreds of others.

Pricing: Custom pricing upon request.

Free Trial: Free product demo available

Pros

  • Workflow automations
  • User-friendly interface
  • Industry-specific solutions

Cons

  • Opaque pricing
  • No ability to edit manual payments

2. Workiva - Best for complex reporting

Screenshot of Workiva custom financial report
Workiva is a cloud-based financial reporting software designed to improve productivity and facilitate team collaboration.

Workiva is a financial reporting tool with convenient document collaboration features. It’s a great platform for data visualization and creating customized views and ad hoc reports.

Why I picked Workiva

I chose Workiva because it allows for customized financial reporting for organizations of all sizes.

Standout features include automations designed to streamline data collection and financial reporting processes across your organization.

Workiva’s automations help to improve the timeliness and accuracy of internal and external financial reports, including budget-to-actual variance reports, management reporting, internal controls, capital market transactions, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting.

I think the tools that help teams monitor business KPIs and debt covenant compliance seem particularly useful.

Integrations include Workday, Sage Intacct, Netsuite, Google Drive, QuickBooks, Tableau, Planful, and SAP.

Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request

Free Trial: Free product demo available

Pros

  • Comprehensive reporting features
  • User-friendly interface
  • Automated ESG reporting
  • Available via web and Android app

Cons

  • No mobile application for iOS
  • No phone or live support

3. Oracle NetSuite - Best for global enterprises

Screenshot of Oracle NetSuite financial reporting dashboard
Oracle NetSuite is an all-in-one cloud financial management platform.

NetSuite is a comprehensive financial reporting solution that works best for large organizations as it integrates financials, inventory management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), commerce, and supply chain management.

Why I picked NetSuite

I chose Oracle NetSuite because it can give organizations across all industries impactful insights into their operational performance.

Standout features include embedded analytics, user-friendly dashboards, and the ability to download specific data for any time period you need. It’s a highly flexible financial reporting software that can handle large volumes of data.

I like that Oracle’s dashboards are role-specific, and can be customized by each user, depending on what they need.

Integrations include Shopify, Amazon Supply Chain, ShipStation, Adobe Commerce, Microsoft Excel, BIRST, Adaptive, and Oracle Analytics Cloud.

Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request

Free Trial: Free product demo available

Pros

  • Highly customizable
  • Pre-built dashboards and analytics
  • ERP functionality

Cons

  • May be too expensive for small businesses
  • Steep learning curve

4. Cube - Best for growing teams

Screenshot of Cube's financial reporting dashboard
Cube is a financial reporting software designed for businesses of all sizes. It reports financial data through a unified platform with highly configurable workflows.

Cube is a web-based financial planning and analysis (FP&A) software that is ideal for growing businesses. Managers can create strategic plans, perform sensitivity analyses, and synchronize company data across multiple systems.

Why I picked Cube

I chose Cube because it’s a basic financial reporting tool with the familiarity of Excel and Google Sheets. By using a familiar spreadsheet-like structure, teams can pick it up pretty quickly and handle budgeting, forecasting, and reporting of financial data with configurable workflows.

Standout features include automated audit trails, customizable dashboards, and stored data rules for financial consolidations and general ledger account mappings.

Integrations include Quickbooks, Salesforce, Sage Intacct, Xero, NetSuite, Google Sheets, and HubSpot.

Pricing: From $1,250/month

Free Trial: Free product demo available

Pros

  • Connects to multiple data sources
  • User-friendly interface
  • Very responsive customer service

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Missing suppress-zeros functionality

5. Freshbooks - Best on a small budget

Freshbooks invoices dashboard screenshot
Freshbooks is easy to use and can cover all your basic financial reporting needs.

Freshbooks is accounting software that’s very affordable and easy to use, which I think is ideal for small businesses, freelancers, and solopreneurs.

Why I picked Freshbooks

I added Freshbooks to my list because it’s a great all-around solution for small businesses and freelancers who don’t need the complex financial reporting software that makes up most of this list.

Standout features include annual and interim financial statements, bank account synchronization, and detailed tax reporting.

In addition to the basic financial reporting functionality, I like that Freshbooks also gives you tools for invoicing, client management, payments, and expense management.

Integrations include Hubspot, QuickBooks, Google Sheets, PayPal, Gmail, WooCommerce, Square, and Shopify.

Pricing: From $8.50/month

Free Trial: 30-day free trial

Pros

  • Easy-to-use
  • Connects with your bank for easy reconciliation
  • Customizable invoices and email templates

Cons

  • Limits on billable clients
  • No full audit trail

6. insightsoftware - Best for custom reporting

insightsoftware G/L transaction detail in Excel
insightsoftware allows you to create customized dashboards directly in Excel and share them across your organization.

With insightsoftware you can easily export data from your ERP or enterprise performance management (EPM) to Excel and bring all the data together in a customized dashboard.

Why I picked insightsoftware

I added insightsoftware to my list because of the highly customizable reports it delivers in Excel. It integrates planning across departments and effectively manages workflows.

Standout features include A/P and A/R aging, pre-configured queries, audit trails, and easy configuration of forms, reports, and dashboards. The auto-prep and formatting tools clean up your data exports automatically, so they’re ready to use immediately.

I like how the drag-and-drop report creator makes it easy for team members to create their own custom financial reports.

Integrations include Microsoft Dynamics, Sage Intacct, Oracle NetSuite, and SAP.

Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request.

Free Trial: Free product demo available

Pros

  • Familiar look and feel of a spreadsheet
  • Quick data imports
  • Custom and ad hoc reporting options

Cons

  • Limited analytical tools
  • Maybe too expensive for small teams

7. CCH Tagetik - Best comprehensive solution

CCH Tagetik ESG reporting dashboard screenshot
CCH Tagetik uses business intelligence tools to help you analyze your company’s financial performance.

CCH Tagetik Wolters Kluwer helps you use historical financial data to create more accurate budgets, financial plans, and forecasts.

Why I picked CCH Tagetik

I chose CCH Tagetik for its data analytics capabilities and advanced reporting features. Even with its steep learning curve, it’s ideal for large businesses and organizations that need a full-featured financial reporting software solution.

Standout features include advanced analytics, business intelligence tools, what-if scenario analysis, and activity-based and driver-based costing models that can help you see what’s going on behind different financial statement line items.

CCH Tagetik’s Profitability Analysis and Analytic Information Hub helps you drill down and review your profit margins for different customers, products, and salespeople.

Integrations include SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Workday, Qlik, and MS PowerBI, among others.

Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request

Free Trial: Free product demo available

Pros

  • Advanced analytics
  • Highly customizable reports
  • Multi-user support and access permission levels

Cons

  • Steep learning curve
  • Lacks group cash flow functionality

8. Budgyt - Best for simple projects

Budgyt financial reporting dashboard screenshot
Budgyt is an FP&A cloud-based platform with a range of forecasting, budgeting, and reporting tools.

Budgyt is a cloud-based software with advanced financial planning and reporting tools.

Why I picked Budgyt

I chose Budgyt because it’s simple to use, and all plans include unlimited users.

Standout features include multi-department budget collaboration, transaction-level data analysis, agile forecasting, complete audit trails, and user-based permissions and access controls. Budgyt is ideal for startups and small businesses as it’s simple to use.

I like that Budgyt also has a lot of educational resources and guides available to users in the form of webinars, videos, in-person training, and documentation.

Integrations include Quickbooks, Xero, ConnectWise, Great Plains, Oracle NetSuite, Sage Intacct, SAP, PeopleSoft, and Lawson.

Pricing: From $399/month

Free Trial: Free trial available

Pros

  • Budgeting and forecasting features
  • Very responsive customer support
  • Extensive product support and training guides

Cons

  • Limited integrations
  • Somewhat expensive for small teams

9. Xero - Best for startups

Xero dashboard interface
Xero is known for its user-friendly interface and integrates with more than 1,000 apps.

Xero is a popular accounting platform used by businesses of all sizes across many different industries.

Why I picked Xero

I added Xero to my list because it’s extremely easy to use and offers all the necessary financial reporting tools for small businesses and startups.

Standout features include automated reconciliations, bank balance projections, AI-powered cash flow predictions, and customizable financial reports that allow users to easily reorder, add, and delete different columns as needed.

Xero supports multiple currencies and unlimited clients and users. They also have extensive support and online tutorials available, making it easy to learn the platform and accounting features.

Integrations include Shopify, HubSpot, MailChimp, Float, Accelo, and many more. Xero integrates with over 1,000 apps.

Pricing: From $13/month

Free Trial: 30-day free trial available

Pros

  • Unlimited users supported on all plans
  • Includes invoicing tools and automated receipt capture
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Limited features on entry-level plan
  • Multiple currencies only available on the highest plan

10. Tipalti - Best for large organizations

Tipalti financial reporting payment detail screenshot
Tipalti is a complete solution that automates your full accounts payable process to reduce your manual workload.

Tipalti is a leading finance automation software with financial reporting functionality.

Why I picked Tipalti

I picked Tipalti because, in addition to its financial reporting and automation capabilities, it also gives you tools for internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR), procurement, and international accounts payable.

Standout features include the automatic validation of suppliers before approval, and internal control and risk assessment tools.

I like that Tipalti screens suppliers on an ongoing basis to avoid any suspicious payees on the Anti-Narcotics, Anti-Terror, and OFAC lists. It also supports instant reconciliations, so you can detect fraudulent payments faster.

Integrations include Oracle NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics, Xero, and SAP.

Pricing: From $149 per month.

Free Trial: Free product demo available

Pros

  • Internal controls over financial reporting and risk assessment tools
  • Automatically codes invoices
  • Supplier screening and validation

Cons

  • No batch downloads
  • Somewhat of a learning curve

11. Spreadsheet Server - Best Excel-based solution

Screenshot of Spreadsheet Server's account balance drill down tool
Spreadsheet Server’s financial reporting software isn’t the fanciest option, but it’s great for anyone that likes working in Excel or Google Sheets.

Spreadsheet Server from insightsoftware (featured earlier in this list) is a user-friendly add-in for Microsoft Excel that provides analysis and live reporting of data from your ERP solution.

Why I picked Spreadsheet Server

I added Spreadsheet Server to my list because of its ability to add data from all major ERPs into Excel with in-depth and highly customizable financial reporting. You can build a range of reports and dashboards using critical business data.

Standout features include report templates, customizable reports and dashboards, role-based user permissions, variance analysis, and ad-hoc reporting tools.

Integrations include Excel, Oracle NetSuite, SAP Business One, CMiC, SYSPRO, Workday, MYOB, Sage, and BannerFlow.

Pricing: Custom pricing available upon request.

Free Trial: Free product demo available

Pros

  • Highly customizable
  • Pre-configured data queries
  • Excel integration

Cons

  • Only supports eight languages
  • May have a learning curve for those not familiar with Excel-based solutions

12. Sage Business Cloud Accounting - Best for small businesses

Screenshot of Sage Business Cloud Accountant dashboard
Sage Business Cloud Accounting’s easy-to-use interface is ideal for small businesses.

Sage Business Cloud Accounting only costs $10 a month, but it has all your basic financial reporting needs covered.

Why I picked Sage Business Cloud Accounting

I picked Sage Business Cloud Accounting because it’s an affordable cloud-based financial reporting tool that seems like it would be a great fit for small teams and startups.

Standout features include full audit trails, cash flow management and forecasting, automated tax reporting tools, and inventory tracking.

I like Sage’s library of user support and training videos, and all of the other educational resources available for users, like Sage University and the Customer Learning Curriculum.

Integrations include Netcash, HubSpot, Monday.com, Salesforce, Shopify, Gmail, Excel, Stripe, and PayPal.

Pricing: From $10/month

Free Trial: 30-day free trial available

Pros

  • Supports multiple currencies
  • Mobile app
  • Customer Learning Curriculum

Cons

  • Limited features with basic plan
  • API is not user-friendly

Other Options

Here are some more financial reporting tools that didn’t make the top 12 but are still worth checking out.

  1. Younium - Best for recurring billing and automated revenue recognition
  2. Board - Best for combining a web-based and an on-premise platform
  3. Asset Vantage - Best for family offices and trusted wealth custodians
  4. Jedox - Best for data integration
  5. IBM Cognos Controller - Best for financial close and consolidation
  6. Genius Sheets - Best for QuickBooks data exports
  7. Foresight Intelligence - Best for automations

Selection Criteria For Financial Reporting Software

Here’s a summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best financial reporting software for this article:

Core Functionality

Financial reporting software should come equipped with the following core functionalities:

  • Connect to your general ledger
  • Generate core financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows)
  • Create budgets and forecasts
  • Analyze historical financial data
  • Drill down into individual financial statement line items
  • Consolidate intercompany financial statements

Key Features

Some key features that are nice to have in a financial reporting tool include:

  • Budget versus actual comparisons (variance reports)
  • Customizable user dashboards
  • Ad-hoc reporting tools
  • Financial models
  • Scenario planning and what-if analysis tools
  • Currency conversion capabilities
  • Top-side adjustments
  • Financial analytics

Usability

Financial reporting software should be easy to use and allow for quick data exports and imports to and from Excel, respectively. Financial reporting software should include convenient export and sharing options, as you'll need to be able to share financial reports in a convenient, digestible format with both internal and external users.

The majority of software tools charge extra fees for any additional users, or seats needed. Keep in mind that everyone in your organization doesn't need to use financial reporting software. Typically, users are limited to finance and accounting teams, and upper management.

People Also Ask

Here are my answers to some common questions people have about financial reporting software.

Other Finance and Accounting Software Reviews

In the market for some other finance and accounting software as well? Check out these reviews:

Forecasting Software

Billing Software

Retail POS Systems

Expense Tracking Software

Small Business Inventory Management Software

Payroll Services

Conclusion

There are many reliable financial reporting software for your specific use case, so I hope this guide helps you find the best reporting tool for your team.

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By Simon Litt

Simon Litt is the Editor of The CFO Club, where he shares his passion for all things money-related. Performing research, talking to experts, and calling on his own professional background, he'll be working hard to ensure that The CFO Club is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to stay informed on the latest financial trends and topics in the world of tech.

Prior to editing this publication, Simon spent years working in, and running his own, investor relations agency, servicing public companies that wanted to reach and connect deeper with their shareholder base. Simon's experience includes constructing comprehensive budgets for IR activities, consulting CEOs & executive teams on best practices for the public markets, and facilitating compliant communications training.