CASE STUDY  
City of Columbus Modernizes ACFR Process with Gravity  

Population: ~1 million 
Agency Type: City 
Solution: Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) 

 

Overview 

The City of Columbus, the 14th largest city in the United States, is a hub of innovation and efficiency, managing a $1.2 billion annual general fund budget. Beyond its population of nearly 1 million, Columbus extends essential services, such as water and sewer systems, to a wider area of over 2 million residents. Recognized for its financial leadership, Columbus has maintained an impressive AAA bond rating since the mid-1990s, underscoring its commitment to fiscal responsibility and operational excellence. 

 

With a strong focus on transparency and timeliness, Columbus consistently delivers its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) within an ambitious 90-day timeline, setting it apart as a leader among municipalities. However, the reliance on manual processes and outdated tools made things more complicated for the city, pushing them to look for a better solution that could help them maintain their reputation for financial excellence. 

The Need

Before implementing Gravity, the City of Columbus relied on disparate spreadsheets and Word documents to prepare its ACFR. The prior software, while functional, required extensive manual effort to: 

  • Consolidate data exported from Microsoft Dynamics 365 into static files. 
  • Manage 80–85 budget-to-actual statements and combine them into a single document. 
  • Cross-reference financial data and narratives manually, increasing the risk of errors. 
  • Update PDFs with new data, which required extensive reformatting of page numbers and the table of contents. 
"Any time you’re putting together a document that big, there was always the risk of errors. We’d joke about finding at least five mistakes in there somewhere."

Sue Odenweller, Director of Financial Reporting 

City of Columbus ACFR 2022 – Before Gravity

City of Columbus, Ohio - 2022 ACFR Report Created before Gravity

View Report

 

The Solution 

To address these challenges, the City of Columbus implemented Gravity’s ACFR solution, leveraging its robust automation capabilities to: 

  • Automate Data Integration: Gravity imports data directly from the city’s ERP system, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reconciliation. 
  • Streamline Narrative Updates: Built-in linking ensures that changes to numbers automatically propagate through narratives and calculations, maintaining consistency. 
  • Simplify Collaboration: Gravity’s cloud-based platform enables multiple team members to work simultaneously, eliminating version control issues. 
  • Reduce Compilation Time: Automated tools generate a comprehensive ACFR document, complete with accurate page numbers and table of contents, in a fraction of the time. 

Results of Implementing Gravity 

Efficiency Gains and Time Savings 
Gravity drastically reduced the effort required to compile the ACFR. Previously, preparing 80–85 budget-to-actual statements required two weeks of work; with Gravity, this process is now completed in just one day. Generating the final ACFR document, which used to take days of manually compiling PDFs, now takes about an hour and a half. 

"We’re already seeing time savings in areas like budget-to-actuals. What took two weeks is now done in a day...the ability to link everything in Gravity has been a game-changer." 

Darlene Wildes, Deputy City Auditor

Improved Accuracy and Consistency 
By automating cross-references and calculations, Gravity significantly reduced the risk of errors. "If we found a mistake before, we’d have to fix it in multiple places. Now, Gravity does that for us automatically," explained Sue. This improved accuracy has bolstered the team’s confidence and minimized overtime. 

Enhanced Collaboration and Workflow 
Previously, only one person could manage the master document at a time. With Gravity, team members now work on their respective sections simultaneously, streamlining the review and approval process. "Everyone has their area of expertise and can make updates directly in Gravity," noted Darlene. 

Significant Reduction in Overtime 
The implementation of Gravity has alleviated the burden on staff during ACFR season. "I used to work every weekend during ACFR preparation. Now, I’m only putting in a few hours here and there," shared Darlene. "It’s been a relief for the whole team." 

"I used to work every weekend during ACFR preparation. Now, I’m only putting in a few hours here and there, it’s been a relief for the whole team." 

Darlene Wildes, Deputy City Auditor

Support and Implementation 
From initial training to ongoing assistance, Gravity’s team worked closely with the City of Columbus to ensure a smooth transition. Starting with the import of the city’s prior year ACFR, the team provided tailored training and guidance, ensuring the staff felt confident using the system. "The white glove treatment was outstanding," said Sue Odenweller, Director of Financial Reporting. "Their understanding of governmental accounting made all the difference." 

GFOA Excellence Award Winners 
The City of Columbus’s commitment to excellence is reflected in their consistent recognition by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). With Gravity, the city is well-positioned to continue winning awards while further enhancing public trust in their financial reporting. 

"Their understanding of governmental accounting made all the difference."

Sue Odenweller, Director of Financial Reporting 

Looking Ahead 

"As Columbus enters its second year with Gravity, the finance team looks forward to unlocking even greater efficiencies and expanding their use of the platform. 'We’ve built trust in Gravity, and we’re eager to see even greater efficiencies this year,' said Darlene. The city is also exploring additional modules within the Gravity suite to further modernize its financial operations, including tools for budgeting and debt management. 

By partnering with Gravity, the City of Columbus has transformed its ACFR process, setting a new standard for efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in government financial reporting. This transformation not only streamlines internal operations but also strengthens the city’s reputation as a leader in financial excellence, ensuring continued recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and building greater trust with its community. 

ACFR Studio by Gravity

ACFR Studio by Gravity is the comprehensive solution tailored specifically for public sector finance and accounting professionals. By automating key aspects of the ACFR process and ensuring compliance with the latest standards, Gravity takes the stress out of preparing your reports—letting you focus on what truly matters: delivering value to your organization and the community.

Streamline your ACFR reporting today and leave the manual work behind. With Gravity, your team can simplify, automate, and accelerate the entire ACFR process with confidence.

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