Population: ~400,000
Agency Type: County
Solution: Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
Overview
Collier County, Florida, serves over 400,000 residents with a $2.1 billion budget and a lean finance team. Faced with rising complexity, disconnected tools, and high-stakes reporting requirements, the County needed a more sustainable approach to its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). In 2019, the finance team selected Gravity to modernize their process. The result was a more efficient workflow, improved visibility, and a foundation the team continues to build on today.
”We had a web of spreadsheets, manual formatting, and one change could take a day or more to update everything.
The Need
Before implementing a centralized system, Collier’s ACFR process was time-consuming and highly manual. The finance team managed dozens of spreadsheets that were password-protected and owned by a single team member. Financial schedules were prepared in Excel, copied into Word, and tracked with whiteboards. A single formatting change could take an entire day to update across all documents. With limited resources and a growing reporting load, the process carried unnecessary risk and pressure.
“Compiling the ACFR was a one man show, and that’s a lot of pressure”
The Solution
After evaluating multiple options, Collier County selected Gravity for its flexible, rules-based approach to financial reporting. Unlike platforms that forced rigid workflows, Gravity allowed the team to retain control while introducing automation and structure.
Key elements of the solution included:
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Rules-based logic using Gravity’s Multi-Dimensional Financial Model (MDFM), which automates calculations and eliminates spreadsheet chaos
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Centralized adjustments that flowed across the entire ACFR without the need for manual linking or rework
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Year-specific reporting rules that supported nuanced compliance without duplicating effort
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Check-figure validation that reduced errors before audit review
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Flexible workflow support that aligned with how the team already worked, rather than forcing process changes
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Task visibility and ownership that gave leadership real-time insight into progress and bottlenecks
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Supportive implementation experience with responsive experts guiding them through onboarding and change
The result was a smoother, faster, and more accurate ACFR process that set the foundation for broader platform adoption.
Results of Implementing Gravity
With Gravity in place, Collier County’s finance team experienced both immediate time savings and long-term structural improvements to how they work. What once felt like a high-pressure, manual process transformed into a scalable, auditable workflow that empowered the team to focus on accuracy, oversight, and strategic reporting.
Key outcomes included:
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Significant time savings
The team saved at least one week during ACFR preparation by eliminating repetitive formatting, manual updates, and back-and-forth validation. What previously took days could now be done in hours or less. -
Improved accuracy and audit readiness
Gravity’s automated check-figure logic and centralized rules reduced the risk of rounding errors and broken links. The team could catch issues early, before they reached the audit stage, leading to smoother reviews and fewer revisions. -
Stronger collaboration and transparency
With straightforward task assignment and real-time visibility, team members could work concurrently without stepping on each other’s toes. Leadership had insight into progress without needing to ask, reducing daily friction and status meetings. -
Professional output with less effort
Reports generated in Gravity looked polished and consistent from the first draft, minimizing the need for last-minute formatting. The ACFR was no longer a patchwork of styles and sources—it was cohesive and board-ready. -
Faster onboarding and better continuity
New teachers could be onboarded quickly despite staff changes and departmental realignment. Gravity’s structured environment made learning, contributing, and maintaining continuity across reporting cycles easier. -
Platform expansion and process standardization
The success of the ACFR implementation led to broader adoption across the finance department. Collier now uses Gravity for its PAFR, GASB 87 and 96, and is preparing its FY25 Budget Book within the same platform. This standardization has reduced tool sprawl and enabled more consistent reporting across functions.
“Gravity helps us move faster, work smarter, and hit deadlines. We’re finally working the way we should be working.”
Looking Ahead
Following the success of its ACFR modernization, Collier County expanded its use of the platform. The finance team now prepares the PAFR, manages GASB 87 and 96 reporting, and is building the fiscal year 2025 Budget Book in the same system. The platform has remained a stable, scalable foundation for their reporting process even through organizational shifts and new team members.
“We’re finally working the way we should be working. The system helps us move faster, work smarter, and hit deadlines.”
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.