Before you begin, make sure you:
Ensure your legal entities have complete data for all periods you want to compare
Verify that your Xero or QuickBooks integrations have synced latest data
Confirm you have appropriate permissions to create comparison reports
Have your preferred comparison periods and reporting currency identified
Check that month-end procedures are completed for the periods being compared
Navigating to comparison reports
From your GATHER.nexus dashboard, navigate to the Group Financial Reporting module and click on the Reports tab. Click the Add Report button to begin creating your period-wise comparison report.
Step 1: Select comparison report type
[Add Report modal showing "Choose Comparison Report" dropdown]
In the report creation modal, locate the Choose Comparison Report dropdown at the top of the form. Select Compare Period wise from the available options to create your period-to-period profit & loss comparison.
💡Tip: Period-wise comparisons are ideal for tracking performance trends,
seasonal patterns, and identifying growth trajectories in your business.
Step 2: Configure basic report settings
Complete the fundamental report settings:
Report Name: Enter a descriptive name such as "Q1 vs Q4 P&L Comparison" or "Monthly P&L Trend Analysis 2025". This helps identify the specific comparison you're creating.
Template Type: Select the template from two options:
Profit And Loss for P&L comparisons, ensuring the correct account structure and categorisation.
Balance Sheet for balance sheet comparisons, ensuring the correct financial position structure and account categorisation.
Group: Select your business group to determine which legal entities will be included in the comparison analysis.
GRT (Group Reporting Template): Choose the appropriate template that matches your group structure and reporting requirements.
Step 3: Set comparison timeframes
Year: Select the financial year for your comparison (e.g., 2025).
Report Frequency: Choose the reporting frequency that matches your comparison needs:
Monthly (for detailed month-to-month trend analysis)
Quarterly (for quarterly performance tracking)
Semi-Annually (for semi-annual performance tracking)
Annually (for year-over-year strategic comparisons)
Report Period: Select the primary period you want to analyse (e.g., "Mar - 2025").
Compare With: Choose your comparison method:
Previous Period: Automatically compares with the immediately preceding period
Same Period Previous Year: Compares with the same period in the prior year
Custom Period: Select any specific period for targeted comparison
Step 4: Configure comparison options
[Comparison settings with "Arrange period/year from oldest to latest" checkbox]
Arrange period/year from oldest to latest: Tick this checkbox to ensure your comparison displays chronologically, with the earliest period on the left and most recent on the right. This makes trend analysis intuitive and easy to follow.
Step 5: Set Report Presentation Currency
Report Presentation Currency: Select your preferred Report Presentation currency (e.g., "USD - United States Dollar").
Step 6: Generate your comparison report
[Completed comparison form with "Add" button highlighted]
Review all settings to ensure accuracy, then click the green Add button to create your period-wise profit & loss comparison report.
Accessing and viewing your comparison report
[Reports list showing newly created comparison report]
Your comparison report will appear in the Reports list with a clear indication of the comparison type and periods included.
Step 7: Preview your comparative analysis
[Reports list with "Preview" button highlighted for comparison report]
Click the Preview button to open your period-wise profit & loss comparison, displaying side-by-side financial performance data.
Understanding your period-wise comparison report
[Full comparison P&L showing multiple period columns]
Your period-wise comparison report provides powerful analytical capabilities:
Report Header: Shows the comparison type, periods being compared, and reporting currency. Completion status indicators display green tick marks for periods where consolidation has been completed in Working Papers.
Currency Display: The USD($) in Actual indicator confirms all periods are displayed in the same currency using actual exchange rates from each respective period.
Period Columns: Each period appears as a separate column, arranged chronologically from left to right (if you selected the chronological option), making trend identification straightforward.
Account Structure: Your P&L accounts are organised consistently across all periods:
Revenue Categories: Compare revenue growth across different income streams
Cost Analysis: Track cost trends and identify efficiency improvements or concerns
Operating Expenses: Monitor expense patterns and cost control effectiveness
Balance Sheet Structure: Your financial position accounts are organised consistently across all periods:
Assets Analysis:
Current Assets
Non-Current Assets
Total Assets
Liabilities Analysis:
Current Liabilities
Non-Current Liabilities
Total Liabilities
Equity Analysis:
Share Capital
Retained Earnings
Other Equity
Total Equity
Drill-Down Capability: Click on any account line item in any period to drill down and see the individual transactions that make up that figure, providing complete transparency across time periods.
Advanced comparison analysis features
Customising your comparison display
[Settings/gear icon in comparison report toolbar]
Click the Settings icon (gear symbol) to access the Customize Report panel for advanced comparison options:
Period Modifications: Add additional periods to your comparison or remove periods that are no longer relevant to your analysis.
Group Class Filtering: Focus your comparison on specific business segments or operational areas across all time periods.
Journal Controls:
Show journals: Include manual adjustments across all comparison periods
Do not apply journals: View raw data comparisons before adjustments
Show Intercompany Account: Display intercompany account codes for transparency
Entity Selection: Choose which legal entities to include in the comparison, useful for analysing specific subsidiaries' performance over time.
Display Options: Adjust how the comparison is presented and modify currency settings if needed.
Email distribution for stakeholder reporting
[Email icon and Email a Report modal for comparison report]
Share your period-wise comparison efficiently using the Email function:
Multiple Recipients: Send your comparative analysis to up to 10 email addresses, perfect for management teams, board members, and investors who need trend analysis.
Format Options: Choose the most appropriate format for your audience:
XLSX: Excel format ideal for further variance analysis and modeling
XLS: Compatible format for legacy systems
Contextual Notes: Add up to 500 characters explaining key trends, significant variances, or important context about the comparison periods.
Detailed variance analysis
GATHER.nexus provides comprehensive analytical capabilities:
Account-Level Analysis: Click on any line item to see how that account has performed across all comparison periods, with underlying transaction detail.
Period-to-Period Tracking: Follow specific transactions or account categories across time to understand performance drivers.
Entity Contribution Analysis: See how individual legal entities contribute to overall trends and identify which entities are driving performance changes.
Complete Audit Trail: Access full transaction histories across all comparison periods for thorough variance analysis.
Currency and exchange rate transparency
[USD($) in Actual button highlighted in comparison report]
The USD($) in Actual indicator ensures:
All comparison periods use consistent currency presentation
Each period reflects actual exchange rates from that specific time
Working Papers of completed periods
Completion Status: Green tick marks indicate which periods have completed consolidation in Working Papers, helping you assess data reliability across your comparison.
Quality Assurance: Periods without completion marks may require additional review before drawing conclusions from the comparison.
Managing your comparison reports
Editing comparison settings
[Edit button (pencil icon) highlighted for comparison report]
Use the Edit button to modify comparison periods, add new time frames, or adjust entity selections without recreating the entire report.
Creating additional comparisons
[Duplicate button creating new comparison report]
The Duplicate button allows you to quickly create similar comparisons with different periods or settings, building a comprehensive library of trend analysis reports.
Deleting outdated comparisons
[Delete button for comparison report]
Remove outdated comparison reports using the Delete button when they're no longer needed for current analysis.
Export and sharing options
Export formats
[Export options in comparison report view]
Export your period-wise comparisons in multiple formats
Exchange rate applied
[Exchange Rate button for comparison transparency]
Access Exchange Rate information to understand currency impacts across different periods in your comparison.
Comparative annotations
[Notes feature for comparison commentary]
Use the Notes feature to document:
Key trends identified in the comparison
Explanations for significant variances
External factors affecting period-to-period performance
Strategic insights derived from the trend analysis
Common questions
Q: Why don't my balance sheets balance in the comparison?
A: Check each period individually for completion status and ensure all period-end adjustments are finalised.
Q: What if one period has incomplete data?
A: Check the completion status indicators (green ticks) and ensure period-end procedures and balance sheet reconciliations are completed for all comparison periods.
Q: What's the difference between comparing consecutive periods vs same period previous year?
A: Consecutive periods show short-term evolution, while year-over-year comparisons help identify annual trends.
What's next?
Now that you've mastered Period-wise Comparison Reports, explore these related features:
Company-wise Comparison Reports: Compare financial performance and position different legal entities
Group Class Balance Sheet Comparisons: Analyse financial performance and position by business segments
Have questions or need assistance❓
Contact our support team at support@gather.nexus