The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a Dublin CFO closing the books by hand loses 3 to 8 days per month and delivers consolidated figures late: automating close and reporting costs 10,000 to 30,000 EUR through ETL, consolidation and automated dashboards. The real gain is not only time: it is the reliability of the figures and faster decisions. Delivery in 6 to 12 weeks, maintenance 500 to 1,500 EUR/month.
What reporting automation costs in 2026
Budget depends on the number of entities to consolidate, the sources and the expected level of automation. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude in Dublin.
| Scope | Timeline | Budget EUR | Close days saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entity reporting | 6 weeks | 10,000 - 15,000 | 3 - 4 |
| 2 to 3 entity consolidation | 8 to 10 weeks | 15,000 - 23,000 | 4 - 6 |
| Multi-entity group + ETL | 10 to 12 weeks | 23,000 - 30,000 | 6 - 8 |
| Monthly maintenance | Recurring | 500 - 1,500 /month | - |
The ETL (extract, transform, load) is the heart of the project: it makes data reliable before any consolidation.
Manual close versus automated close
Moving to automation transforms the financial rhythm. Here is the 2026 comparison for a multi-entity SME.
| Metric | Manual close | Automated close |
|---|---|---|
| Close time | 8 to 12 days | 3 to 5 days |
| Data-entry error risk | High | Low |
| Reporting dashboards | Rebuilt each month | Automatic |
| Figure traceability | Limited | Full (audit) |
| CFO/controller time | 3 to 8 days/month | 0.5 to 1.5 days/month |
| Recurring monthly cost | 0 | 500 - 1,500 EUR |
Beyond time, traceability eases audits and reassures banks and investors.
Mini case study
Julien, CFO of a 3-entity group (150 employees total) in Dublin, closes in 7 days/month tying up a management controller at a loaded cost of 350 EUR/day, i.e. 2,450 EUR/month and about 29,400 EUR/year. The automation project (ETL + consolidation + dashboards) is quoted at 22,000 EUR plus 900 EUR/month maintenance. The close drops to 2.5 days/month, saving 1,575 EUR/month, about 675 EUR/month net after maintenance. ROI reached in about 20 months on time alone, before valuing lower error risk or the close delivered a week earlier every month.
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FAQ
By how much can we cut the close time?
Usually by 3 to 8 days depending on the starting point. An 8-12 day close often drops to 3-5 days after automating consolidation and dashboards.
Do we have to change accounting software?
No. The ETL plugs into your existing systems (accounting, payroll, sales) via API or exports. In 90% of projects, no software is replaced.
Are the figures reliable and auditable?
Yes. Each data point is traced from source to final dashboard, easing audits and reassuring banks and auditors. Data-entry error risk drops sharply.
How much is maintenance?
Between 500 and 1,500 EUR/month depending on the number of entities and sources. It covers changes, added metrics and adaptation to chart-of-accounts changes.
How long to deploy?
Between 6 and 12 weeks depending on the number of entities. A first automated single-entity report can be delivered by week 6.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of entities to consolidate, your sources and your current close time. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
