Spotlight Reporting
Financial reporting and forecasting tool for accounting firms.
About Spotlight Reporting
Spotlight Reporting pulls live data from Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB, and Sage and turns it into client-facing management reports and dashboards that look like they belong in a CFO presentation. The core workflow: connect a client's ledger, map your chart of accounts, and generate visual P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reports in a format clients can actually read without an accounting degree. The three-way forecasting module links profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow into a single integrated model — the kind of output that justifies advisory retainer fees rather than compliance billing. The tool fits mid-tier advisory firms running 20 to 200 advisory clients who need repeatable reporting at scale. Multi-entity consolidation handles groups with subsidiaries across different entities or currencies, which makes it useful for clients with holding structures. Automated client dashboards can be white-labeled and shared via a portal. Where it falls short: the forecasting interface has a real learning curve, particularly for complex three-way models with seasonal assumptions. It is not a general-purpose FP&A tool — scenario modeling is limited compared to dedicated platforms like Futrli or Fathom. Firms doing pure compliance work will find little value here. There is no free tier, so you are committing budget before you know whether it fits your workflow.
Best for
Accounting firms offering advisory services wanting visual financial reporting tools
Key Features
- Visual management report creation
- Three-way cash flow forecasting
- Multi-entity consolidation reporting
- Client dashboard automation
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Pulls live data directly from Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB, and Sage — no manual exports for regular reporting cycles
- Three-way forecasting links P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow in one model, meeting the standard clients expect from CFO-level advisory engagements
- Multi-entity consolidation handles subsidiary structures and cross-entity reporting without requiring a separate tool
- White-labeled client dashboards present branded, boardroom-quality visuals that support premium fee positioning
- Report templates are reusable across clients with similar structures, reducing setup time once the first version is built
- Excel import extends the tool to clients not on a supported cloud ledger
Cons
- No free trial or free tier — you pay from day one, which makes evaluation a budget decision before you have proof of fit
- Three-way forecasting takes significant setup time; complex models with multiple drivers or seasonal adjustments require hands-on configuration that is not quick to learn
- Scenario modeling is narrow — running multiple named forecast scenarios side by side is less flexible than dedicated FP&A tools like Fathom or Jirav
- Entry price of $40/mo covers very limited client capacity; firms with larger advisory books will hit higher pricing tiers quickly
- Client portal and dashboard features overlap with tools some firms already pay for through their practice management or CRM stack
- Smaller user community than Xero's native reporting or Fathom means fewer third-party templates, peer resources, and community troubleshooting
Ledger Brief Take
Turns QuickBooks and Xero data into polished client-facing dashboards that actually look like they belong in a boardroom, not a spreadsheet. The three-way forecasting and consolidation features put it squarely in advisory territory — this isn't for compliance shops doing basic bookkeeping. Built specifically for firms that charge premium fees for CFO-level insights and need reporting that matches those expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about Spotlight Reporting.
How does Spotlight Reporting pricing work and what does the entry price actually cover?
Spotlight Reporting starts at $40 per month but that entry tier covers only a handful of reporting entities. Firms with larger advisory client books will move into higher tiers quickly. Pricing scales by the number of entities connected, not by users. There is no free plan and no publicly listed free trial — you need to contact them to evaluate the tool before committing.
How does Spotlight Reporting integrate with Xero and QuickBooks?
Both integrations are direct API connections. Once authorized, the ledger syncs automatically and reports update with current data without manual exports. The Xero integration is the more mature of the two. QuickBooks Online is fully supported; QuickBooks Desktop requires an Excel import workaround rather than a live connection.
How does Spotlight Reporting compare to Fathom?
Both tools target accounting firm advisory practices with visual reporting and cash flow forecasting. Fathom has stronger scenario modeling and a slightly smoother onboarding experience. Spotlight Reporting's three-way forecasting and multi-entity consolidation are more developed, making it the better fit for firms with group reporting requirements. Fathom edges ahead for single-entity SME advisory at volume.
Is Spotlight Reporting suitable for bookkeepers or only for accountants?
It is built for accounting firms running advisory services, not bookkeeping practices doing compliance work. Bookkeepers who only handle transaction processing and basic reconciliation will not use the forecasting or consolidation features and will not recover the cost. The tool makes commercial sense if the firm is billing for management reporting or CFO-level insights.
Where is client data stored and how is it secured?
Spotlight Reporting is cloud-hosted and stores data on AWS infrastructure. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. The platform is SOC 2 aligned. For firms advising clients in regulated industries or under strict data residency rules, confirm current data region options directly with Spotlight before onboarding sensitive clients.
Can Spotlight Reporting handle multi-entity or group consolidation?
Yes. Multi-entity consolidation is one of its core features. You can consolidate entities running on different ledgers, apply intercompany eliminations, and produce a group-level P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow report. This works across Xero and QuickBooks entities in the same consolidation, which is useful for clients with mixed ledger environments.