Checklist: Disclosure Studio - Getting Started with an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)

Before You Begin...

Log-In to the System

If you have any issues logging in, please contact our Support team. 

Resources:

• Log into Disclosure Studio
• Handling a 403 error or other issues when logging in

Learn the Process

There's two main areas of the system you'll need to create an ACFR, the Multi-Dimensional Financial Model (MDFM) and the report builder. MDFM is where your data lives and where you can create and finalize your statements while the report builder is where you can build, format, and publish your ACFR. 

Resources:

• What is an Multi-Dimensional Financial Model?
• Navigate the MDFM
• Navigate Disclosure Studio
• Structure of a Report

Ensure your Data is Uploaded

Work with the Implementation team to ensure that your financial data is uploaded into the system appropriately. If you have any questions, reach out to your point of content in the Implementation process. 

Resource: Storage Setup & Dropbox Integration for Onboarding Data

3 Steps to Getting Started creating an ACFR

Step 1: Create and Finalize your Financial Statements

Head to the MDFM to create your Fund Statements (Governmental, Proprietary, and Fiduciary). The data from these statements will flow into your Cash Flow Statements and your Government-Wide Statements and will just need to be reviewed for accuracy. The Government-Wide Statements will then flow into the MD&A where you can also review for accuracy. 

Resources:

• Checklist: Prepare Financial Statements for an ACFR Report

Step 2: Build your ACFR

Your ACFR will have all the GFOA mandated sections. To build your ACFR, you will want to: 

1. Insert Tables into the appropriate sections.
2. Build any manual tables in the report
3. Write and automate your narrative

Note: We recommend following this checklist to complete your MD&A.

Resources:

• Video: Disclosure Studio - Navigating Disclosure Studio
• Video: Disclosure Studio - Managing Sections
• Article: Add a Content Block
• Article: Insert Report Variables
• Article: Add and Automate Headers
• Article: Automated Note Number Synchronization
• Article: Create and Utilize Page Variables

Step 3: Review and Generate your ACFR

Once you have built out your ACFR, you will have to review, format and publish your ACFR. While this may have been done for you by the implementation team, our best practice is to review the ACFR to ensure consistent formatting and presentation throughout the document.

Resources:

• Article: Format Automated Tables
• Article: Create and Format a Manual Table
• Article: Change Page Orientation
• Article: Publishing your Report

Need Additional Resources?

Feel free to search our Support Center or review resources on the MDFM and ACFR.