For most accounting firms, the focus has always been on client work — tax filings, audits, payroll. But as firms grow, another question emerges:

👉 How do we manage our own finances and forecasts more effectively — and maybe even start offering FP&A services to clients?

This is where FP&A software comes into the picture. But before you sign up for anything, there’s one critical decision.

Step 1: Do You Need FP&A Software — or Just Financial Reporting Software?

Before investing, ask yourself:

  • Do we simply need better reporting (cleaner dashboards, automated P&Ls, board-ready visuals)?
  • Or do we need true FP&A functionality (budgeting, forecasting, scenario modeling, and workflow automation)?

📌 If you’re unsure, check out our Financial Reporting Software – The Ultimate Guide — it explains the difference between financial reporting tools and full FP&A platforms, and why that choice matters before you do anything else.

If your firm only needs reporting, a financial reporting tool might suffice.

But if you want to:
✅ Build forecasts
✅ Track budgets vs. actuals
✅ Run what‑if scenarios (“What if we add two more managers?”)
✅ Automate month‑end close and client-facing workflows

…then you’re ready for FP&A software.

Step 2: Understanding Pricing

Here’s the reality: Most FP&A systems today start at $2,000+ per month — and are built for mid‑market companies, not firms like yours.

PivotXL is different.

  • ✅ Pricing starts at around $1,000 per client.
  • ✅ No new headcount needed — PivotXL provides back‑office analyst support as add-on to handle setup, mapping, and scripting.

👉 You get enterprise-grade FP&A for less than the cost of hiring a junior analyst.

Step 3: Supported Setup vs. Self-Service

Accounting firms can roll out FP&A software two ways:

✅ Supported Setup (best for firms with fewer than 10 FP&A clients)

  • PivotXL handles the heavy lifting.
  • No internal hire is needed.
  • We maintain your scripts, templates, and data flows.

✅ Self-Service Option (best for firms with 10+ FP&A clients)

  • You dedicate one internal team member to become your firm’s FP&A “power user.”
  • That person manages client setups and templates.
  • PivotXL provides full training and access to our Learning Section.

👉 This model works beautifully for larger accounting firms — one trained internal expert + PivotXL support = a scalable FP&A offering.

Why FP&A Software Matters for Accounting Firms

Accounting firms are starting to expand beyond compliance work into advisory services — and FP&A is the logical next step.

With PivotXL, you can:

  • Add budgeting, forecasting, and planning as a new billable service line.
  • Support client growth with real-time insights — not just tax reports.
  • Avoid the overhead of building an in-house FP&A team.

The Bottom Line

FP&A software for accounting firms isn’t just about better reports — it’s about building new capabilities and revenue streams.

With PivotXL:
✅ Pricing starts at ~$1,000/client — with addons leading upto $2000. Everything is transparent.
✅ No extra headcount needed — unless you choose self-service at scale.
✅ If you have 10+ FP&A clients, you can designate one internal expert and go self-service with PivotXL training.

👉 Accounting firms can now offer FP&A advisory for clients — without massive overhead, and without leaving the Excel comfort zone.

📅 Check out our Excel-Based FP&A Primer to understand the basics — and then talk to us about how PivotXL can help your firm deliver FP&A as a service.