What this article covers
Setup → Structure is where the layout of your financial statements is defined — which classes (rows) appear in your Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement, in what hierarchy, and how derived values (formulas, KPIs) sit alongside the underlying numbers. This article covers how to create and manage structures, add classes and formulas, and what's reserved by the system.
For mapping General Ledger Accounts (GLAs) to the classes in your structure, see Mapping. To view statements built from your structure, see Working with Reporting.
Core concepts
Structure — the layout of one set of financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement).
Class — a row in the structure (e.g., Revenue, Personnel, Cash).
Subclass — a child row nested under a main class.
Formula — a derived row calculated from other classes or KPIs (e.g., Gross Margin %).
Default structure — the first reporting structure, created automatically when your Finstack account is set up (named Management report initially). You can rename it and adjust its layout, but it cannot be deleted.
Multiple structures — additional structures you create for specific business units, entity subsets, annual reports, or other use cases.
How do I add a new reporting structure?
Every Finstack account comes with a default structure called Management report (rename it if you like). Add additional structures alongside it when you need a different format for specific entities or use cases — for example, a more detailed layout for one business unit, or a separate structure for annual reports.
Go to Setup → Structure.
Click + Add structure (top right).
Name the structure (e.g., Annual Report, Business Unit X).
Assign the entities the structure applies to.
Choose whether to start from a Template Structure or build from scratch.
Once the structure exists, make sure your General Ledger Accounts (GLAs) are mapped to it in Setup → Mapping.
To switch between structures in Reporting, use the structure selector in the Reporting filter. (If only one structure exists, the selector is hidden.)
How do I duplicate an existing structure?
Use the duplicate function to copy an existing structure — including its mapping. This is the fastest way to spin up a variant of a structure you already have.
Go to Setup → Structure.
In the structures overview, hover over the row of the structure you want to duplicate.
Click the duplicate icon (next to the pencil and bin icons).
A copy is added to the list with the same classes, hierarchy, and GLA mapping as the original.
The duplicate function is available on every structure, including the default Management report.
How do I add a class (main row)?
Open the structure and navigate to the financial statement tab (P&L, Balance Sheet, or Cash Flow).
Click Add class
Enter the Title of the class.
Click Save.
How do I add a subclass?
Hover over a main class and click the "+" icon.
Enter the name of the subclass in the pop-up.
Save.
Subclasses can be nested under main classes. They cannot be added to formula rows.
How do I add a formula?
A formula is a derived row calculated from other classes or KPIs (e.g., Gross Margin %).
Click Add formula.
Build the formula in the top field — start typing to reference a class from the Financial Statements or a KPI. Supported operators:
Addition `+`, subtraction `-`, multiplication `*`, division `/`.
Parentheses `(` and `)` to group sub-calculations.
When entering a plain number (e.g., `100`), press Enter so the formula accepts the input.
Enter the Title and select a format: Currency, Percentage, or Number.
Click Save.
Can a formula reference another formula?
Yes — in the formula input, you can reference another formula the same way you reference a class. For example, Operating margin % can use EBITDA (itself a formula) divided by Revenue.
Can I nest formulas in the structure?
Yes — formulas can be nested under other formulas the same way subclasses nest under a main class. For example, with revenue streams Services and Subscriptions (and their related cost lines), you can create a main Total Gross Margin formula and add Gross Margin Services and Gross Margin Subscriptions as sub-formulas beneath it.
Should I use "format as KPI"?
Use the format as KPI option only when you want the formula to stand out visually in Reporting — for example, when you want to interleave a KPI inside your P&L or BS view. For KPIs that live in their own dedicated overview, configure them in Setup → KPIs instead.
How do I edit, move, or delete a class?
Edit — hover over the class and click the pencil icon. Don't forget to click Save after changes.
Reposition — hover and click the position icon, then drag-and-drop to the new location. Other classes will move to make room. Release to confirm.
Delete — hover and click the garbage-bin icon.
🚨 Deleting a class unmaps any GLAs that were mapped to it. You'll need to remap those GLAs in Setup → Mapping.
Which classes are reserved by the system?
These classes are generated automatically by Finstack and cannot be deleted (you can rename them, but not change their behaviour):
Result (Profit & Loss)
Current Year Earnings (Balance Sheet)
Retained Earnings (Balance Sheet)
Prior-Year Result (Balance Sheet)
These reserved classes are how Finstack ties your P&L to your Balance Sheet automatically. They cannot be used as mapping targets in Setup → Mapping.
FAQ
What happens when I change my structure later?
Changes to an existing structure can affect your Mapping and any Forecast scenarios linked to that structure. In particular:
Deleting a class unmaps any GLAs assigned to it — you'll need to remap them.
Renaming a class is safe — mappings and forecast scenarios continue to point at the same class.
Changes to structure flow through to scenarios in Setup → Forecast — verify your scenarios still match the new structure after substantial edits.
Can I use the same class in multiple structures?
Each structure is independent. Classes you create in one structure don't appear automatically in another. Use the Template Structure option when adding a new structure to start from a consistent base.
Can I include a KPI in my P&L or Balance Sheet structure?
Yes. Add a formula row with format as KPI enabled to make it visually distinct from the financial line items around it. For standalone KPI overviews, configure KPIs in Setup → KPIs instead.
How do I create a structure with the same mapping but fewer (or different) entities?
Use the duplicate function. Hover over the source structure in Setup → Structure, click the duplicate icon, and then edit the entities on the copy to remove the ones you don't need. The mapping is preserved on the duplicate, so you don't need to remap anything that didn't change. See How do I duplicate an existing structure? above for the full duplicate flow.
When would I want to duplicate a structure?
Two common reasons:
To preserve mapping. You only need to remap GLAs for classes you actually change in the duplicate — much faster than building a structure from scratch.
To reuse for a smaller entity scope. When you want the same structure but for fewer entities (e.g., one business unit instead of the full group), duplicate the structure and deselect the entities you don't need in the copy.
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