What is Multi-Entity Accounting? Everything You Need To Know

Introduction

Balancing the demands of empowered decentralised organisations with the efficiency gains of centralised operations and processes is one of the major issues of multi-entity accounting. When an organisation contains several entities, the CFO must ensure that each has the autonomy it needs to function well and that the data from all of the entities is easily accessible and shared with the rest of the organisation. Multi-entity accounting requirements are required of multi-entity groups and conglomerates. These requirements include intercompany eliminations, foreign currency consolidation, and other intricate accounting considerations that must be made at the end of each month. Multi-entity organisations and conglomerates must comply with multi-entity accounting standards. It can be, to put it mildly, intimidating to stay updated with multi-entity accounting.    

Although multi-entity corporate setups have numerous advantages, they also present certain difficulties, particularly for the finance departments in charge of these companies' accounting. This blog post explains multi-entity accounting and includes examples, challenges, remedies, and more. Continue reading to find out more about enhancing multi-company accounting for expanding businesses.  

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What is a Multi-Entity Business, Examples and How Do They Typically Form?

A collection of distinct corporations functioning as a unified economic entity is known as a multi-entity organisation. They typically comprise parent firm subsidiary companies, business units, brands, and divisions occasionally arranged in hierarchical structures (groups within groups). Multi-entity businesses must create consolidated group accounts and monitor the financial performance of each of their distinct subsidiaries as they function as a single company. 

Multi-entity firm arrangements can be very complicated, which makes accounting challenging at times. A parent company might conduct business with companies that use different currencies. In addition to managing currency conversions' implications on accounting, the accounting division must deal with fluctuating exchange rates. A parent company's duties include global finance and accounting, as well as overseeing the businesses under its purview and preparing consolidated accounts and reports. You guessed it right! Multi-entity accounting, hence, can get quite complex.

Here are a few examples for easy understanding:

Any business with ownership interests in multiple subsidiary firms is considered a multi-entity company. There are many different types and sizes of multi-entity groups.

Multi-entity business examples

1) Alphabet 

According to a January 2022 article about companies owned by Alphabet, Alphabet, Inc. is the multi-entity corporate parent of Google and its numerous subsidiaries, divisions, and business units.

2) Amazon

With multiple businesses and partnerships, Amazon is a multi-entity company. These include its flagship eCommerce, AWS public cloud services, streaming, movie studios (Amazon & MGM), food retailing (including Whole Foods and Fresh), private label brands, manufactured goods (food, clothing, and electronics), home services, logistics and shipping, and healthcare/pharmacy operations.

How Do They Form?

Small businesses typically begin as a single entity. The majority of established businesses are multi-entity companies because they acquire other companies and form foreign legal entities in different nations. Through these initiatives, businesses are able to expand their markets and achieve cost synergies as well as new technology acquisitions, which help them reach their objectives for growth.

Companies grow through merger and acquisition (M&A) deals by employing diversification techniques, vertical integration strategies, or horizontal integration strategies. International branches with entirely different accounting concepts, laws, rules, and cultures are likewise covered under multi-business accounting. Or business units that, although always internal, made independent choices about accounting software before the parent company resolved to combine its software and procedures.

A multiple-entity business structure is typically created in situations such as these:

• In cases of acquisition, when an entity acquires another. For instance, Vodafone and Mannesmann AG, Heinz and Kraft Foods, and more. 
• Similar to how Exxon and Mobil merged to become ExxonMobil, two corporations combined into one.
• A business creates a subsidiary, such as Nike did with Nike Pro, Nike Golf, and Nike+.
• Additionally, subsidiary businesses such as Nike Korea or Nike India may be arranged geographically.

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What is Multi-Entity Accounting?

Organisations with two or more divisions or subsidiaries utilise multi-entity accounting as a way to keep correct financial records for each distinct unit and enable consolidated reporting by the parent firm. 

Generally, multi-entity accounting is done in two steps: 

• The first step is for every company unit (subsidiary, division, etc.) to produce a set of financial statements and records. 
• The parent firm then uses the business unit financials to produce the consolidated financial statements.

Keeping track of financial records for multiple entities under a single company is known as multi-entity accounting. This includes keeping tabs on the earnings and outlays for every organisation, preparing distinct financial statements, and making sure that all legal and tax obligations are met. Complex enterprises that function as a conglomerate, parent company, or holding company with multiple subsidiaries are primarily covered by multi-entity accounting practices. However, if a company has regional offices or divided departments that the accounting department treats as distinct entities, even single-entity organisations may require multi-entity accounting procedures. 

Companies can go from being a single entity to a multi-entity company very quickly by growing their departments swiftly, expanding geographically, or making acquisitions. It's crucial to consider the effects of switching to a multi-entity accounting model and how those changes may influence future decisions concerning accounting technology if a company is experiencing rapid expansion. 

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Accounting Challenges Faced by Multi-Entity Companies

Effective multi-company accounting systems, proper accounting staff training, astute financial management, and the application of accounting best practices can all help multi-entity organisations overcome their accounting problems and obstacles. The following are some accounting difficulties faced by multi-entity companies:

Tough to Maintain Accurate Records

Documenting acquisitions correctly and in compliance with GAAP accounting norms would be challenging.

Misaligned Systems

The software systems of each different corporation and subsidiary have a different chart of accounts, which adds complexity.

Dealing With Complex FX Transactions

Utilising cost-effective payment mechanisms, foreign currency conversion (FX), hedging FX transactions, timely supplier payments in different currencies, and reliable global cash forecasting and cash management systems.

Transparency Problems

It might be difficult to maintain visibility and communication at the corporate, business entity, and external supplier/global partner levels. 

Integration Hurdles

It might be challenging to integrate with other business software, such as point-of-sale systems, inventory control software, or timekeeping software. Accounting for expenses and sales across several units is done inter-company.

Unravelling Tax Relief Challenges

The complexity of tax relief and regulations increases as businesses expand into new regions.

Challenges emerging from varied accounting

Variations in the accounting principles, such as the use of distinct account names or codes by several businesses for the same or comparable assets. 

Challenges From Business Expansion

Accounting gets more complex as a business expands and adds new services, products, or geographic areas to its portfolio. A finance team has a lot more work to do as a result of this type of organisational drag. 

Strategic Decision-Making Under Strain

In the end, the difficulty of multi-entity accounting stems from the time and work required to obtain accurate, timely, and easily comprehensible financial data. It becomes challenging for CEOs and CFOs to make strategic decisions regarding the future and have a current understanding of their firm. 

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Benefits of Multi-Entity Accounting

The truth is that many of these issues go away if all of the subsidiaries have access to or can interact with the same accounting software/system as integrated with the main entity. Here are some of the best benefits that you derive from multi-entity accounting:

Empowering Consolidation and Efficiency

By automating tasks that used to take hours, a multi-entity accounting system may assist with this multi-entity consolidation process and handle a lot of the tedious work for you. This issue is completely resolved using multi-entity accounting software, which can display real-time data updated each time a subsidiary files an invoice, no matter how insignificant. 

Strategic Clarity

It's simpler to evaluate what's succeeding when using multi-entity accounting software, whether it's a particular product or region. Software for multi-entity accounting has the ability to instantly and automatically convert currencies.

 This guarantees that you will always have the most recent information on the amount of money in the bank in the currency of your choice.  

Streamlining Operations

Accounting tasks are sometimes overlapping throughout company units. This could be because of the workload, but it could also result from underutilised staff members and using different systems.

Provides Centricity and Integration

Having a central accounts payable office, for instance, might be more advantageous for an organisation, but there are still differences in bank accounts, payment terms, and processes between entities to handle. Accounts payable systems from each entity are synchronised with multi-entity accounting, enabling centralised processing of payments and approvals.

Mitigating Errors and Transforming Processes

Any manual process gives room for errors to occur during data transfers. By eliminating a large portion of the possibility for human error, multi-entity accounting automation makes your accounting procedures function more like tools than like a chore.

Opens up New Avenues

Companies can enter new markets through mergers or acquisitions, and they can use these synergies to increase purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency. 

Optimising Tax and Treasury Strategies

By centralising all financial accounts, multi-entity accounting software eliminates the need to work on the same task twice and generates several reports. Once the other company files the invoice, some systems will even automatically fill in the necessary information to accept it.

Thanks to INKLE BOOKS, which offer real-time expenditure data and automates time-consuming tasks. Having a clear, real-time picture of your finances through multi-entity accounting will help you make smarter judgments when faced with tough choices like taking a risk or playing it safe.

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Conclusion

A multi-entity business or entity is an organisation with different entities under it which could be different subsidiaries or brands with distinct revenues, expenses, and reporting requirements. 

So basically, a multi-entity business could be a conglomerate or a group company. In an era of increasing business complexity, multi-entity accounting emerges as a vital tool for organisations looking to streamline finances and operations, enhance collaboration, and make informed decisions. By adopting a strategic approach to financial management, businesses can navigate the intricacies of managing multiple entities with confidence, ensuring sustained growth and success in a competitive landscape.

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