Before you begin, make sure you:
Ensure your Group Classes are properly configured and mapped to relevant entities
Verify that your Xero or QuickBooks integrations are syncing data for all Group Class entities
Confirm you have appropriate permissions to view Group Class performance data
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 group class-wise profit & loss comparison report.
Step 1: Select comparison report type
[Add Report modal showing "Choose Comparison Report" dropdown with group class options]
In the report creation modal, locate the Choose Comparison Report dropdown at the top of the form. Select Compare Group Class wise from the available options to create your segment-to-segment profit & loss comparison.
💡Tip: Group class-wise comparisons are essential for understanding which business segments are your strongest performers and identifying opportunities for strategic portfolio optimization and resource reallocation.
Step 2: Configure basic report settings
Complete the fundamental report settings:
Report Name: Enter a descriptive name such as "Regional Performance Comparison Q1" or "Business Unit P&L Analysis 2025". This helps identify the specific segment 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 the pool of group classes available for comparison.
GRT (Group Reporting Template): Choose the appropriate template that matches your group structure and ensures consistent P&L reporting across segments.
Step 3: Set comparison timeframes and parameters
Year: Select the financial year for your comparison (e.g., 2025).
Report Frequency: Choose the reporting frequency that matches your analysis needs:
Monthly (for detailed month-end segment performance tracking)
Quarterly (for quarterly business unit performance reviews)
Semi-Annually (for semi-annual performance tracking)
Annually (for annual segment strategic assessments)
Report Period: Select the specific period you want to analyse (e.g., "Mar - 2025").
Currency: Select your preferred reporting currency (e.g., "USD - United States Dollar"). All group class P&Ls will be converted to this currency for accurate comparison, regardless of underlying entity functional currencies.
Step 4: Select group classes for comparison
Select Group Class: Choose the primary business segment you want to analyse from the dropdown menu (e.g., "Regions - US"). This becomes your baseline segment for comparison purposes.
Compare With Group Class: Select the comparison segment from the dropdown (e.g., "Regions - UK").
Step 5: Generate your comparison report
[Completed group class comparison form with "Add" button highlighted]
Review all settings to ensure you've selected the right group classes and parameters, then click the green Add button to create your group class-wise profit & loss comparison report.
Accessing and viewing your comparison report
[Reports list showing newly created group class-wise comparison report]
Your group class-wise comparison report will appear in the Reports list with clear indication of the segments being compared and the comparison period.
Step 6: Preview your segment performance analysis
[Reports list with "Preview" button highlighted for group class comparison]
Click the Preview button to open your group class-wise profit & loss comparison, displaying side-by-side segment performance data for comprehensive business analysis.
Understanding your group class-wise comparison report
[Full comparison P&L showing multiple group class columns]
Your group class-wise comparison report provides powerful segment performance insights:
Report Header: Shows the comparison type, group classes being compared, reporting period, and currency. Completion status indicators display green tick marks for segments where consolidation has been completed in Working Papers.
Currency Display: The USD($) in Actual indicator confirms all segment P&Ls are displayed in the same currency using actual exchange rates.
Group Class Columns: Each business segment appears as a separate column, allowing direct side-by-side performance comparison and easy identification of variations in segment performance metrics.
Profit & Loss Structure: Your P&L accounts are organised consistently across all group classes:
Revenue Analysis:
Segment Revenue Streams: Compare different revenue sources across business units
Geographic Performance: Analyse regional market performance and growth patterns
Product Line Performance: Identify which segments excel in specific offerings or markets
Market Penetration: Spot segments with strong market presence vs those requiring attention
Cost Analysis:
Segment Cost Structures: Compare operational efficiency across business units
Regional Cost Variations: Identify segments with optimal cost management practices
Scale Benefits: Analyse how segment size and maturity affect cost structures
Cost Optimization Opportunities: Spot segments that could benefit from operational improvements
Profitability Comparison:
Segment Margin Analysis: Compare gross and net margins across business units
Operational Excellence: Identify most profitable business models and operational approaches
Performance Benchmarking: Use top-performing segments as benchmarks for improvement
Strategic Portfolio Insights: Inform investment, divestment, and resource allocation decisions
Balance Sheet Structure: Your financial position accounts are organised consistently across all group classes:
Drill-Down Capability: Click on any account line item for any group class to drill down and see the individual transactions that make up that figure, providing complete transparency across segment performance.
Advanced segment comparison analysis features
Customising your Group Class comparison display
[Settings/gear icon in group class comparison toolbar]
Click the Settings icon (gear symbol) to access the Customize Report panel for advanced segment comparison options:
Group Class Modifications: Add additional business segments to your comparison or remove Group Classes that are no longer relevant to your analysis.
Entity Filtering: Focus your comparison on specific entities within each Group Class for more targeted segment analysis.
Journal Controls:
Show journals: Include manual adjustments across all segment comparisons
Do not apply journals: View raw segment performance before adjustments
Show Intercompany Account: Display intercompany transactions for transparency in segment relationships
Display Options: Adjust how the segment comparison is presented and modify currency settings for different stakeholder needs.
Email Report to Stakeholders
[Email icon and Email a Report modal for group class comparison]
Share your group class-wise comparison efficiently using the Email function:
Multiple Recipients: Send your segment performance analysis to up to 10 email addresses, perfect for executive teams, board members, business unit managers, and strategic planning teams who need segment performance insights.
Format Options: Choose the most appropriate format for your audience
Contextual Notes: Add up to 500 characters explaining key segment performance differences, strategic insights, or important context about the group class comparison.
Currency and exchange rate transparency
[USD($) in Actual button highlighted in group class comparison]
The USD($) in Actual indicator ensures:
Reports translate from Group Reporting Currency at average rates for the month (P&L) and month end rate (Balance Sheet)
Working Papers to show Completed periods
Completion Status: Green tick marks indicate which group classes have completed consolidation in Working Papers, helping you assess data reliability across your segment comparison.
Quality Assurance: Group classes without completion marks may require additional review before drawing strategic conclusions from the comparison.
Managing your Group Class Comparison Reports
Editing segment comparison settings
[Edit button (pencil icon) highlighted for group class comparison]
Use the Edit button to modify Group Class selections, add new business segments to the comparison, or adjust reporting parameters without recreating the entire strategic analysis.
Creating additional segment comparisons
[Duplicate button creating new group class comparison]
The Duplicate button allows you to quickly create similar segment comparisons with different group class combinations or periods, building a comprehensive library of strategic business analysis.
Archiving outdated comparisons
[Delete button for group class comparison]
Remove outdated segment comparison reports using the Delete button when they're no longer needed for current strategic planning.
Export and sharing options
[Export options in group class comparison view]
Export your Group Class-wise comparisons in multiple excel formats
Exchange rate applied
[Exchange Rate button for group class comparison transparency]
Access Exchange Rate information to understand currency conversion rates used.
Segment performance annotations
[Notes feature for group class comparison commentary]
Use the Notes feature to document:
Key performance drivers identified across business segments
Strategic best practices from top-performing group classes
Common questions
Q: Why do business segment performances vary so significantly?
A: Different segments may operate in different markets, have different maturity levels, face different competitive environments, or have different strategic focuses. This variation provides valuable strategic insights.
Q: Can I compare group classes that operate in different currencies or regions?
A: Yes, GATHER.nexus automatically converts all segments to your selected reporting currency using actual exchange rates, shown with the "USD($) in Actual" indicator.
Q: What if group classes have different business models or operational approaches?
A: This is often valuable for strategic analysis! Different approaches can reveal opportunities for best practice sharing or indicate the need for different strategic approaches by segment.
Q: How do I benchmark segment performance against external industry standards? A: While GATHER.nexus compares your internal segments, you can export the data to Excel for further analysis against industry benchmarks and competitive intelligence.
Q: How do I identify opportunities for business portfolio optimization?
A: Look for segments with consistently strong performance for investment opportunities, and segments with declining performance that may require strategic intervention or divestment consideration.
What's next?
Now that you've mastered Group Class-wise Comparison Reports, explore these related features:
Period-wise Comparison Reports: Track performance evolution over time
Company-wise Comparison Reports: Compare performance of specific entities
Have questions or need assistance❓
Contact our support team at support@gather.nexus