Financial consolidation software helps organisations combine financial data from multiple entities, systems and regions into a single, accurate view. It is important because it improves reporting accuracy, reduces manual effort and supports better decision-making across the business.
By replacing a complex spreadsheet-based consolidation model with IBM Planning Analytics, Nexeus Global built a more secure, scalable reporting foundation, improving control, reducing key-person risk and giving the business faster access to trusted financial insight.
Key outcomes:
- Consolidation across 40+ entities each month
- Data standardised from six accounting systems
- Monthly consolidated close achieved by Day 5
- Reduced reliance on a complex, manually maintained Excel model
- Improved governance, auditability, and access control
- Faster integration of newly acquired entities into group reporting
Navigating through a reporting shift
Following the merger of Vet NZ and Vetlife in July 2023, Nexeus Global faced a new level of reporting complexity. As the governance and capital layer of a growing veterinary group, the business needed timely, accurate financial reporting across a broad network of clinics, supply chain operations, and related entities. That meant group reporting had to stand up not only for management purposes, but also for auditors, banks, and other stakeholders.
At the time, monthly consolidation was being managed in Excel. The model itself was sophisticated and reflected the realities of the organisation, including intercompany eliminations, foreign exchange adjustments, leases, and chart of account mappings across multiple systems. But as the business expanded, the limitations became harder to ignore. The process was highly dependent on specialist knowledge, difficult to maintain, and increasingly exposed from both a continuity and control perspective.
That pressure became more urgent when the former CFO, who had built and maintained the spreadsheet model, prepared to leave the business. Nexeus Global needed to preserve the logic behind the existing process while moving it into a more secure, scalable environment that the wider finance team could operate with confidence.
We knew exactly what we needed to model and what we wanted it to look like. The goal wasn’t to reinvent the process. It was to automate it properly and remove the risk.”
After reviewing several options, Nexeus Global selected IBM Planning Analytics. The platform offered the flexibility to replicate the group’s existing consolidation logic while creating a stronger long-term foundation for reporting, control, and future capability. Rather than redesigning the process from scratch, the team could retain what already worked while removing the fragility of spreadsheet-based reporting.
To make that shift, Nexeus Global partnered with Fusion5.
Consolidating data with IBM
The implementation required more than a standard software rollout. It involved translating a complex, business-critical consolidation model into a structured platform while preserving the accounting logic behind it. Fusion5 worked closely with the Nexeus team to rebuild that structure in IBM Planning Analytics in a way that reflected the operational realities of the business and the needs of the finance function.
Today, Nexeus Global consolidates data from six different accounting systems across more than 40 entities each month. Trial balances are exported as CSV files and imported into IBM Planning Analytics, where they are processed according to source format and mapped into a standardised group reporting structure. The platform supports complex eliminations across intercompany trading, loans, leases, rental charges, and internal supply chain transactions, creating a more consistent and controlled process for monthly close.
For Kelly, one of the biggest strengths of the project was Fusion5’s ability to combine technical platform expertise with a strong understanding of finance and reporting requirements.
They understood our model straight away. They weren’t just looking at it from a technical perspective. They understood the accounting logic behind it.”
That capability helped accelerate decision-making throughout the implementation and gave the Nexeus team confidence that the solution was being built in a way that matched both the complexity of the business and the needs of the finance team.
The result is a reporting environment that is significantly more scalable, secure, and resilient than the process it replaced. Nexeus Global now completes its monthly consolidated close by Day 5, despite operating across multiple entities, systems, and jurisdictions. Access can be controlled by user and entity, historical periods can be locked, and data integrity is easier to manage and verify. Auditors have also reviewed the system, including the relevant IT controls, as part of the annual audit process.
It gives me confidence. We know the data has integrity.”
Expanding beyond the finish line
Beyond improving month-end close, the platform has also created a stronger base for broader business insight. With data now structured more consistently, Nexeus Global can analyse performance across multiple dimensions, including by region, clinic, hub, and species specialisation. This gives leadership better visibility, supports benchmarking across the group, and makes it easier to identify trends and inform decisions.
The platform is also helping the business respond more effectively to growth. As new entities are acquired, they can be integrated into the consolidation process more quickly, regardless of which source accounting system they use. That improves visibility earlier and reduces manual effort during integration.
Importantly, Nexeus Global has taken a disciplined approach to expansion. The first priority was to get the core consolidation model right and make sure the foundation was stable. From there, the team has continued to build out additional reporting capability while protecting the integrity of the underlying structure.
Through Fusion5’s ongoing support, including Partner Plus, Nexeus Global continues to refine the system over time rather than treating implementation as a one-off project. That gives the business the flexibility to respond to change while maintaining confidence in the reporting processes that underpin decision-making.
With accurate information at our fingertips, we can support better decisions across the business."
By moving from a complex Excel-based consolidation model to IBM Planning Analytics, implemented in partnership with Fusion5, Nexeus Global has built a stronger reporting foundation for the future. One that reduces risk, strengthens governance, and gives the business the confidence to grow.
Fusion5 didn’t just understand the IBM platform. They understood the accounting logic that sat behind our model. That combination of expertise, along with their genuine interest in the outcome, made them the right partner for us.”
Kelly Hibbs | Group Financial Controller, Nexeus Global
Tim Way | Content Editor
Tim spends time with tech leaders and customers to understand how transformation really plays out. He turns real-world examples into clear, practical content focused on what changed, what worked, and what others can learn.
Struggling to manage financial consolidation across multiple entities and systems?
As organisations grow, spreadsheet-based reporting becomes harder to maintain, increasing risk and limiting visibility across the business. Managing intercompany transactions, multiple data sources and reporting requirements in Excel can create challenges around accuracy, governance and scalability.
Fusion5 helps organisations strengthen financial consolidation and group reporting through platforms such as IBM Planning Analytics. By bringing together data from multiple systems into a structured and governed environment, businesses can improve control, automate reporting processes and build a reliable foundation for finance transformation across Australia and New Zealand.
Q&A
What is financial consolidation software and why is it important?
How does IBM Planning Analytics support group reporting?
IBM Planning Analytics enables organisations to automate financial consolidation, standardise data from multiple systems and manage complex structures such as intercompany transactions and foreign exchange. This creates a more controlled and scalable reporting process.
What are the risks of using Excel for financial consolidation?
Excel-based consolidation models can become complex, difficult to maintain and heavily reliant on individual knowledge. This creates risks around data accuracy, governance, auditability and business continuity as organisations grow.
How can businesses improve financial reporting across multiple entities?
Businesses can improve financial reporting by implementing a structured consolidation platform, standardising data inputs, automating processes and strengthening governance controls. This provides a more reliable foundation for reporting, analysis and future growth.
