Case Studies

Executive Business Support (EBS) delivers professional financial management, administration, and outsourced back‑office services for associations and organisations across the UK. Their finance team supports multiple membership-led bodies, requiring accurate, timely reporting and efficient multi‑company management in Sage.

The Challenge

By 2024, EBS faced several connected challenges as their reporting environment scaled:

– Multiple organisations, multiple editions of Sage
– Differing complex client reporting requirements
– Dependence on legacy 32‑bit technology
– Time‑consuming manual processes
– Complex chart-of-accounts requirements
– Tight external deadlines

Having worked with EBS for over 15 years, Maximity was the natural choice in tackling the project to consolidate and strengthen their systems because their deep Sage knowledge and ability to translate finance requirements into practical solutions.

Sage Accounting
Excel Reporting
Data Analysis
Financial Report Writing

The Solution

Maximity helped EBS streamline their Sage reporting including greater budget reporting and control. Working with senior EBS staff, Maximity was able to design and build comprehensive reporting templates that EBS staff can use to set up new customer report layouts putting them in control of reporting. This has included:

1. Stabilising the Sage reporting environment
– Upgraded systems to 64‑bit
– Reconfigured ODBC connectivity
– Fixed data source issues
– Ensured consistency across Terminal Server

2. Redesigning reporting templates
– Rebuilt reporting structures
– Removed legacy formulas
– Improved pivot tables and filters
– Provided staff training

3. Designing new Chart of Accounts
– Built new COA
– Managed migration and mapping
– Ensured compatibility with old and new formats
– Supported validation and sign‑off

4. Supporting multi‑company transitions
– Converted report packs
– Ensured correct budget pull‑through
– Troubleshot filters and data sources
– Added consolidated views

Business Benefits

– Future‑proof reporting environment
– Faster reporting cycles
– Accurate P&L and budget reports
– Reduced manual intervention
– Successful CoA migration
– Empowered finance team
– Improved collaboration