Keep an eagle eye on results and trends with Variance Analysis.
Free the competitive advantage buried under manual processes. Variance Analysis automates the calculation and identification of account balance and activity fluctuations, enables continuous risk monitoring, and supports agile decision-making.
The value of Variance Analysis
Variance Analysis features
Instead of waiting for period-end, take a more proactive approach. Variance Analysis seamlessly integrates with your ERP and other source systems, securely importing your general ledger and other data. It automatically alerts users to significant or unusual fluctuations, enabling timely investigation. Make more timely and informed decisions with centralized data from across your enterprise.
Proactively monitor risks and ensure timely execution of internal controls with continuous oversight. Variance Analysis provides real-time dashboards and detailed reports that offer complete visibility into fluctuations requiring explanation. Variances are routed for prompt investigation and resolution, ensuring a seamless process for managing potential risks.
Significantly reduce manual effort by automating calculations. Import balances and observe activity fluctuations and trends in real time, enabling continuous risk monitoring. Ensure the timely execution of essential reviews, empower agile decision-making, and help your teams focus on strategic initiatives rather than manual tasks.
“Variance Analysis allows us to get more people involved with knowledge about the business with no limitation on the number of preparers who can provide their analysis at the same time.”
Senior Corporate Accounting Specialist
Additional resources
Frequently asked questions
Variance analysis is the quantitative investigation of the difference between two sets of numbers. It is a strategic activity performed to provide insight for decision-making and maintain control over a business by investigating material or unexpected fluctuations. Variance analysis can be performed over many different datasets, including the same balance or account, period over period, or for the same period, using different balances such as budgeted and actuals.
Variance Analysis automates the calculation and identification of account balance and activity fluctuations and helps route variance explanations to management. Manual analysis relies on spreadsheet-based processes, involves tedious data collection, is prone to errors, and can be a drain on resources. Variance Analysis offers an unlimited number of configurable rules, helping companies with complex F&A infrastructures free critical capacity to focus on issue resolution.
Variance Analysis seamlessly integrates systems and processes to facilitate end-to-end process automation. BlackLine provides connectors that integrate with legacy and newer ERPs, AP apps, and CRMs like Salesforce.
Based on knowledge gained from onboarding thousands of customers, we have developed a proven approach to help your organization progress from planning to optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness. While the process typically takes two to four months, each customer journey is unique. Therefore, each onboarding experience is tailored to your organizational needs.