Financial Management
Strong financial management is central to business success. The finance
department develops and puts in place a company's financial plans. By constantly
monitoring financial 'vital signs', it tracks business performance against
financial goals and keeps other business units up-to-date.
The accuracy, timeliness and security of business information are of
extreme importance to the finance department. Financial managers rely on
business management software to eliminate human error, speed up business
processes through automation, comply with regulations and improve analysis and
forecasting.
Financial Role Centres
The Role Centre is the main entry point for users to the Microsoft
Dynamics AX system. The purpose of the Role Centre is to provide the
"Controller" with an overview of what he is responsible for plus get quick
access to information and tasks needed to do his job.
The Role Centre is a role - tailored user interface built using new
ASP.net based EP framework and Role Centre controls. Role Centres are mapped to
User Profiles in AX and when users are assigned to a user profile, the role
Centre configured for that user profile will become the starting point in both
the AX Client and in Enterprise Portal.
Role Centres supports customization and personalization using SharePoint
Web part page framework and is fully extensible with any SharePoint compliant
web parts and ASP.net EP user controls.
How does this feature work?
The Controller can use his role Centre to perform a variety of tasks including:
- Checking cash on hand and bank balances
- Preparing and ensuring the accuracy of monthly financial reports
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Approving invoices, purchases, payments and time and expense reports
- Defining and managing the chart of accounts
- Assisting in and overseeing the month end and year end closings
As an example, the Controller is interested in his company's cash flow and
cash position. He notes from the list of key performance indicators (KPIs) that
the current cash position is strong. He can navigate to a cash flow chart that
will give him details of expected cash inflow versus cash outflow for the
current week and upcoming time periods. The Controller also has access, via
quick links, to bank cash flow reports and to the Dynamics AX process to
calculate cash flow forecasts.
- Activities: This control shows the Controllers workload (i.e. record counts) represented by stacks of paper. Activities for the Controller include customer and vendor past due invoices, past due customers and vendors, and customers and vendors on hold.
- Quick Links: This control shows links that can be set up for the Controller. The Controller is able to access his reports using the quick links web part on his Role Centre. Reports available to the Controller from the quick link web part include, but are not limited to, the annual budget and ledger budget reports, financial statements, close-of-year transactions, and on-hand inventory. He also has access to functions he performs on a daily basis, such as managing bank, customer and vendor accounts.
- Work List: This control shows a combined list of alerts, notifications, workflow approvals, and activity work items for the Controller.
- AXSRS Report: This control shows reports or charts of interest to the Controller. Reports available to the Controller include, but are not limited to, Bank Account Balance, Actual vs. Budget, Expected Cash in the Next X Days, Sales in the Past X Months, and Total Expenses by Period.
- Key Performance Indicator (KPI) List: This control shows key performance metrics (surfaced as an AXSRS report) which give the Controller insight into the overall financial/business health of his company, including, but not limited to, cash ratio, accounts receivable days outstanding, accounts receivable turnover, debt to equity, and revenue and expense budget variances.
- • Other: In addition to the above, any SharePoint controls or ASP.net / EP user controls can be used.
What does this feature look like?
