It’s the one thing every financial controller runs short of. Month-end hits, the reports need formatting, the figures need double-checking. Someone always spots an error — and suddenly you’re redoing everything from scratch.
Even with heavyweight systems like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central already in place, for most, financial reporting still ends up being slow, heavy, and fiddly. Especially when you're under pressure and trying not to lose sight of the bigger picture.
I think one of the biggest strengths is that it works every time.
Mary EllenController from AASK
At AASK, financial reporting used to mean one thing: hours lost to formatting.“Before Exsion, our reporting was slow.” Says Mary Ellen, AASK’s controller. “Each report had to be manually manipulated to give it a finished look and consistent appearance to submit to the finance committee, board of directors, our CFO and CEO.”
And it wasn’t just about making things look nice. “Our biggest inefficiencies were formatting. The reports… just didn't have any kind of consistency, and certainly didn't have a financial look to them.” That meant more time on columns, fonts, and layouts — less time analysing the actual numbers.
Worse still? Small mistakes meant starting again. “Especially if you did the report, and then there was a small minor error, you'd have to redo the report —and it was all about formatting.”
It added up quickly. “I would say the old process was cumbersome, slow, and outdated.” And with around 30 reports due every month, the pressure was constant. “I kind of dreaded month's end because I knew it was going to take about two days of my time.”
After years of slow, clunky reporting, AASK found Exsion Reporting — a tool built to work with Business Central, not against it. The onboarding? Instant. “I was able to start using the reporting system within weeks from when we first got started,” says Mary Ellen.
For a small team with a big mission, being able to build reports without calling IT was a game changer. No more trial and error. No drama. “I think one of the biggest strengths is that it works every time.” From the very first run, she knew: “The first report you helped me with showed that this was going to really be a time saver for me.”
“It is extremely useful that everything that is done in Exsion Reporting also looks like an Excel-like way. This is recognizable to financial controllers like me. Everyone can get started right away!”
Mary EllenController from AASK
Better reporting builds trust and supports compliance
Reliable reporting also helps when it comes to audits and board updates. Now, AASK’s team delivers full reports with all the right numbers in place. That means fewer surprises — and stronger oversight. Because in Mary Ellen’s words: "You can't run a nonprofit without clear financials."
Good reporting isn’t just admin. It builds trust, shows impact, and helps organisations stay on mission.
"I would be very sad if you guys disappeared tomorrow. What I would miss the most is the ease of doing my financial reporting."
AASK stands for “Aid to Adoption of Special Kids”.
Founded in 1988, AASK was Arizona’s first licensing agency dedicated to kinship care — placing children with relatives or close family connections. Since then, the nonprofit has helped more than 4,000 children find permanent homes, with an astonishing 95% placement stability rate.
Unlike traditional adoption agencies, AASK focuses on children, who are often overlooked — older youth, sibling groups, and children with emotional, developmental, or physical needs.