The Challenge
A fractional CFO serving multiple clients was frustrated with the limitations of static PDF reports.
Clients wanted to interact with their financial data, build custom analyses, and create their own forecasts,
but traditional reporting tools only provided fixed dashboards or static exports. The CFO needed a way to
deliver raw financial data in a format that enabled maximum flexibility for custom analysis while maintaining
professional presentation and real-time updates.
"My clients are spreadsheet power users - they want to build their own models, create custom forecasts,
and analyze the data in ways I can't predict. Static PDFs don't work for them, and rigid dashboards
limit their creativity. I needed a way to get raw accounting data into Google Sheets where they could
use it however they wanted, but I also needed it to stay updated automatically. CountingKit was the perfect solution."
The Solution
We implemented CountingKit to deliver flexible, live financial data:
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Raw Data Exports: Connected client Xero and QuickBooks accounts to CountingKit, exporting raw financial data to Google Sheets.
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Custom Model Templates: Created Google Sheets templates with custom formulas, pivots, and visualizations that clients could modify.
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Live Data Updates: Set up automated daily refreshes so all spreadsheets stay current without manual intervention.
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Client Collaboration: Shared live spreadsheets via Google Workspace, enabling real-time collaboration and feedback.
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Looker Studio Integration: Connected data to Looker Studio for clients who wanted visual dashboards in addition to spreadsheets.
The Results
By implementing CountingKit, the fractional CFO achieved remarkable improvements:
- Client Satisfaction: Clients loved the flexibility to build custom analyses and models
- Time Savings: Eliminated manual data exports and report generation, saving 8-10 hours per month
- Better Collaboration: Live spreadsheets enabled real-time feedback and faster decision-making
- Competitive Advantage: Unique approach to reporting differentiated the CFO from competitors
- Scalable Service: Easy to onboard new clients with standardized templates that could be customized
- Client Retention: Increased client engagement and retention through interactive, flexible reporting
Key Features
The solution provides maximum flexibility for custom analysis:
- Raw Data Access: Structured financial data in Google Sheets enables custom formulas and analysis
- Template Flexibility: Clients can modify templates to suit their specific needs
- Automated Updates: Scheduled refreshes ensure data is always current
- Multi-Format Support: Data available in Google Sheets for analysis and Looker Studio for visualization
- Real-Time Collaboration: Live spreadsheets enable client feedback and collaborative analysis
Use Cases
Clients used the flexible data to build various custom analyses:
- Custom Forecasts: Built revenue and expense forecasts using historical accounting data
- Scenario Planning: Created "what-if" models to analyze different business scenarios
- Custom KPIs: Calculated business-specific metrics not available in standard reports
- Department Analysis: Segmented data by department, product line, or business unit
- Client-Specific Dashboards: Built custom visualizations in Looker Studio using the exported data
Why It Works
Spreadsheet power users need flexibility, not rigid dashboards. CountingKit solves this by delivering raw,
structured financial data into Google Sheets where users can build custom models, forecasts, and analyses
using standard spreadsheet logic. Instead of being constrained by pre-built dashboards, clients can work
directly with live financial data to create exactly the analysis they need.
