Exact Online + Lean CPM: real-time reporting without export files

Edgar de Wit

Working with multiple Exact Online administrations is familiar territory for many accounting firms and SME finance teams. As organisations grow, the need for consolidated insight increases. Different entities, multiple currencies, intercompany transactions and group structures all come together in month-end and management reporting.

Consolidation itself is rarely the real concern. The challenge usually lies in how consolidation is executed. Each period, trial balances are exported, spreadsheets are managed, and logic is rebuilt. This introduces delays and control risks. Reporting becomes dependent on file versions rather than on a single, reliable dataset.

When exports start limiting control

Exact Online is designed to support financial reporting per legal entity. Consolidated and management views sit outside that scope. To bridge this gap, data is often exported into spreadsheets, where currency conversion, intercompany eliminations, and group structures are handled manually.

Once data leaves the source system, real-time insight disappears. Each correction requires another export. Each structural change introduces new manual steps. And when calculations live across multiple files, reviews slow down and consistency depends on careful coordination rather than on process design.

As consolidation complexity increases, this approach becomes harder to sustain.

Lean CPM as the next step

Lean CPM platforms are designed for organisations that need consolidation and reporting control without unnecessary complexity. The focus is on structured workflows, transparent logic, and repeatable processes that remain manageable over time.

For accounting firms and SME environments, this means consolidation becomes a clearly defined workflow instead of a recurring manual exercise. XLReporting follows this Lean CPM approach by keeping data close to the source while centralising logic and reporting.

How consolidation works with Exact Online and XLReporting

XLReporting connects directly to multiple Exact Online administrations and automatically imports actuals. Data refreshes when a period is ready or when corrections are made, without rebuilding reports or reapplying logic.

Currency conversion rules are defined once and applied consistently across the group. Balance sheet accounts are converted using closing rates, while profit-and-loss accounts use average rates. These rules run automatically during each consolidation cycle.

Intercompany eliminations are handled through consolidation journals that combine balance sheet data with intercompany transactions. Organisations use different intercompany setups: some rely on dedicated intercompany accounts, others use internal receivables and payables. This logic is configured during assisted setup and reused every period.

Automated elimination entries appear in the consolidation journal, where controllers can review, adjust, and approve them before posting. This maintains control while eliminating repetitive manual work.

Multi-group consolidation, handled step by step

Group structures are rarely flat. Consider a holding with four companies, where one entity operates as a sub-holding with two subsidiaries. Consolidation follows a bottom-up structure.

Lower-level groups are consolidated first. Their consolidated trial balances then automatically roll up into the parent group. XLReporting manages this hierarchy without requiring additional exports or intermediate spreadsheets.

Each consolidation layer builds on the previous one using the same underlying data and logic. Where applicable, Currency Translation Adjustments (CTA) are calculated after consolidation journals. Differences resulting from separate exchange rates for balance sheet and P&L accounts are posted to a designated account, keeping translation effects visible and traceable.

From consolidation effort to reporting flow

A Lean CPM approach turns Exact Online consolidation into a controlled, transparent workflow. Data remains connected to the source, logic is applied consistently, and reporting updates automatically as periods are refreshed.

This results in a consolidation process that supports real-time reporting and remains repeatable as structures evolve. For organisations managing multiple Exact Online administrations, it provides clarity without adding operational overhead.

Want to see how this works in practice? Explore the XLReporting demo and discover how Lean CPM brings real-time consolidation and reporting together.