Design Guideline for Financial Statement Analysis Data Mart & Case Example

Abstract

To design accounting data marts for financial statement analysis can be quite complicated because financial statement data are not usually collected in the form that allows flexible analytics. This article provides a design guideline of accounting data mart as well as design considerations on the characteristic of accounting measures and their mathematical scheme to ensure aptness to the analytical dimensions involved. The application of business intelligence for accounting data is increasingly important because accounting data reflects the efficiency and effectiveness of business administration. Thus, multidimensional analysis of accounting data shall enable users to better understand and link accounting data with other business data. This article also gives a brief overview of business intelligence concept and popular business intelligence software and uses a case example of hospital business to demonstrate the design guideline of accounting data mart. Star schema method is used to depict various design alternatives. Advantages and disadvantages of each design alternative are also discussed.