Savvy business owners understand the importance of having a complete, up-to-date understanding of a business’ financial status. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is through timely and accurate financial reports. When produced efficiently, financial reports provide a snapshot of financial data that not only reveals the health of your business but also helps drive strategic decision-making.
Preparing Strategically Useful Financial Reports
In order to reap the full benefits of financial reporting, you must ensure your reporting systems are providing timely and accurate information. Developing effective financial reporting systems requires both efficiency and attention to detail. In general, the process should involve the following steps:
- Set up an accounting system and integrate it with your business
- Make punctual financial reporting a priority role and a key performance indicator
- Continuously review your balance sheet, profit and loss, and cash flow statements
- Record everything from payrolls to business expenses
- Automate your financial reporting systems
- Regularly review your reporting strategies for opportunities for improvement
The Benefit to Your Business
With your financial reporting system firmly in place, you can begin leveraging the information to make decisions, identify areas for improvement, and plan for your company’s future. The following are just a few ways that solid financial reporting can help drive business success:
1. Better Planning and Forecasting
An efficient and reliable financial reporting system can drive improved decision-making in your organization. Analyzing your financial reports should be a prerequisite for a variety of different decisions. For example, you might assess your company’s current asset values before deciding whether to purchase new equipment or open a new office.
Let’s say you are seeking more funds to scale up your business. Your accountant will rely on the accuracy of the balance sheet to assess debts and examine your financing options. Also, when the season to pay dividends comes, the CFO will use the debts, profits, and reserves before determining the payout.
2. Improve Payment Cycles
Accurate financial statements help improve accounts receivable and accounts payable cycles. These reports also allow you to manage payroll, inventory, credit payments, and shareholder dividends. With correct figures, making business calculations becomes easier.
3. Create Trust
Business continuity heavily relies on company trust. Investors use your company’s financial statements to determine whether they should put their money into your business. Inaccurate financial reports can damage trust with investors and other stakeholders, in addition to placing your business in regulatory peril.
4. Catch Errors Early
Proper financial reporting allows you to mitigate wrongdoings and errors early on, preventing irreversible business moves. With careful reconciliation of every entry in your books, your team will catch accounting errors and verify that no one has tampered with the numbers.
5. Minimize Your Tax Burden
As a business owner, growing your business means making profits. Unfortunately, as your company grows, so do the tax rates. Accurate financial statements allow you to assess your tax liability and ensure your taxes do not take you by surprise. With diligent tax planning aided by solid financial reporting, you will be in a better position to take advantage of tax credits and deductions.
Takeaway
Financial statements can impact your business growth in multiple ways. They give you a snapshot of your company’s financial condition, create transparency with investors, inform decision-making, mitigate accounting errors, and promote business continuity. Therefore, it’s wise to to invest in top accounting talent and software to guarantee accuracy.