Understanding SAP Group Reporting and the Flat List of Consolidation Groups

Understanding SAP Group Reporting and the Flat List of Consolidation Groups

SAP's S/4HANA Group Reporting tool enables streamlined financial consolidation and reporting, crucial for organizations with complex corporate structures. With the release of SAP Note 2946165, SAP introduced a flat list of consolidation groups within the Data / Consolidation Monitor app. This article explains the setup and usage of consolidation groups within SAP S/4HANA's Group Reporting, including hierarchical configurations, reporting, and execution of automated tasks.

Environment and Prerequisites

SAP Note 2946165 is applicable for:

• SAP S/4HANA 1909 and higher
• SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition 1902 and higher

Introduction to Consolidation Groups in the Data / Consolidation Monitor

The flat list feature simplifies visibility across all consolidation groups, essential for managing intricate structures with multiple subgroups. With a streamlined, centralized view, users can easily navigate and control consolidation processes across diverse organizational entities.

Using Hierarchies in Group Reporting

Hierarchy Creation: Users can set up a hierarchy in Manage Global Hierarchies and link it to the Group Data Analysis app for reporting purposes. This hierarchy enables users to view and analyze consolidated financial data across different group structures and hierarchy levels.

Structure and Configuration of Consolidation Groups

To represent consolidation structures effectively, SAP allows for multiple levels in the hierarchy.

Example 1: Simple Top Group and Subgroup Structure

1. Top Group (TOPGR): Includes consolidation units A and B.
2. Subgroup (SUBGR): Includes consolidation units A and C.

In the Manage Group Structure app, configure:

• TOPGR containing units A, B, and C.
• SUBGR containing units A and C.

This setup helps in consolidating data for different groups, streamlining the representation of shared units within each group.

Configuring Complex Hierarchies

A more complex legal consolidation hierarchy might have multiple levels. Consider the following example:

Example 2: Nested Hierarchy with Multiple Subgroups

• Top Group (TOPGR): Parent unit (PU)
• Subgroup 1 (SUBGR1): Includes units CU1 and CU2
  • Subgroup 11 (SUBGR11): Nested within SUBGR1, includes units CU3 and CU4

The hierarchical setup in the Manage Group Structure app would require:

• TOPGR to include PU, CU1, CU2, CU3, and CU4.
• SUBGR1 to include CU1, CU2, CU3, and CU4.
• SUBGR11 to include CU3 and CU4.

This structure enables a single consolidation version, representing each layer of hierarchy for a cohesive view of group relationships and reporting.

Managing Parallel Legal Consolidation Group Structures

In scenarios where two separate legal consolidation structures exist, such as those with shared consolidation units, each structure requires a distinct consolidation version to avoid overlapping data.

Example 3: Parallel Legal Structures

• Version A:

  • ATOPGR: Parent unit (PU), includes CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4.
  • ASUBGR1: Includes CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4.
  • ASUBGR11: Includes CU3 and CU4.

• Version B:

  • BTOPGR: Parent unit (PU2), includes CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4.
  • BSUBGR1: Includes CU1, CU3.
  • BSUBGR11: Includes CU2 and CU4.

These versions provide flexibility in managing parallel consolidation groups, allowing for accurate representation of financial data across distinct organizational structures.

Streamlining Tasks with Consolidation Monitor Automation

The Consolidation Monitor app provides an automated way to execute consolidation tasks for all groups in one go. Accessing More -> Tasks -> Execute All ConsGrps allows users to run consolidation tasks across all configured groups, a valuable feature for improving efficiency in group data consolidation and reducing manual intervention.

Conclusion

SAP Note 2946165's flat list of consolidation groups and enhanced structure management tools support finance teams in efficiently organizing and reporting on complex consolidation hierarchies. By leveraging the hierarchy capabilities, automated tasks, and flexible configurations, SAP S/4HANA Group Reporting enables organizations to maintain accurate, efficient financial consolidation across even the most complex business structures.