iSPartners, a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner, launched AnalystView, a statistical financial ratio analysis tool developed in conjunction with well-known financial management guru, John Stretch. Leveraging the latest Microsoft technology platforms and tools, AnalystView is the new web-based software package that gives accountants, auditors and financial managers immediate financial analysis of business performance.
"AnalystView was designed to provide a comprehensive assessment, review and commentary on the financial results of any business, from small private companies to listed multinationals," explains Stretch. "Based on the information a company enters from its balance sheet and income statement, the application returns several ratios, which provide an organisational financial 'health check', informing the Board of Directors or Finance function what areas a company needs to improve if it seeks to increase profitability."
"AnalystView does away with the vast number of hours that financial managers and their staff spend processing and reviewing results," says Grant van der Wal, CEO at iSPartners. "It enables you to generate instant reports that reflect an independent, objective version of the truth about the financial performance of the business. It analyses and compares income statements, balance sheets and cash flow data for five years. This can also be extended for a period of ten years if required."
Stretch says the software is an invaluable tool for advising users how to improve financial performance, perform credit risk analysis for banking institutions and providers of finance, conducting investment analysis and company valuations, presenting financial results to executive managers, analysing and assessing strategic performance and reviewing and approving budgets and forecasts.
"iSPartners provides financial business intelligence solutions that support the changing requirements of the financial and business decision maker," continued van der Wal. "AnalystView is the first in a series of solutions aimed at this sector of the market. Our goal is to bring an expert and innovative perspective to the CFO role through more efficient and effective financial processes."
He adds that AnalystView enables optimisation of the finance function, as well as more efficient financial processes. "With this type of information readily available, the finance office can focus on strategic financial analysis and rapidly adapt to constantly changing business conditions."
AnalystView features include:
* Easy input of income statement and balance sheet data
* File maintenance facility that enables analysis of multiple companies
* Instant calculation of over 60 incisive ratios and reports
* Presentation of results within reports and graphs
* Year-on-year trend analysis
* Comparison of performance against researched benchmarks
* Colour highlighting of areas of over- and under-performance
* Print facility for easily readable, comprehensive, full-colour reports
* Objective statistical diagnosis and interpretation of deviations and variations
* Tell me more" explanations on Wikipedia of technical aspects of ratios
* Scorecard and dashboard presentation style for easy, objective assessment
* Intelligent snapshot commentary on the information contained in each graph
"The reports include 'vital signs', which reflect the company's performance against the most important ratio in every group of tests. Each of these is benchmarked against a minimum survival standard based on research. Performance below the minimum is highlighted, and the company's relative performance in each of the five years is noted. Every ratio is tested for stability by calculating the average, median and standard deviations. It introduces a new way of thinking and efficiencies to assist with improved fundamental analysis" expands Stretch.
All ratios, tests and reports are presented graphically, with colour coded analytical reporting in scorecard and dashboard form. The graphs are presented in sections which include the following: key data overview, profitability, asset efficiency, borrowing and risk, liquidity, shareholder value, growth and risk, solvency, value creation, and productivity.
A half day 'Introduction to AnalystView' training session will be held at Microsoft Corporate Offices in Bryanston Johannesburg on 16 November 2011 as well as more detailed ratio analysis training on 5 and 6 December 2011. For more information or to book for upcoming training sessions, please visit www.analystview.co.za or contact Jackie Botha on +27 11 463 8155 / jackieb@ispartners.co.za
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