System Architecture and Design


Build a finance system that matches your business - not the other way round. Too often, organisations outgrow the architecture of their finance systems long before they outgrow the business itself. 



Sage Partner of the Year 2024
Request a Callback

Find the best finance software for your organisation in our free quiz!

Finance technology should support your business structure, not constrain it.


Fragmented data, siloed processes, limited reporting - and teams spending more time working around the system than working through it.


That’s where itas comes in.

Our System Architecture and Design service ensures your finance system is structurally aligned to your organisation’s needs—from how your business is organised, to how you report, scale, and make decisions. Whether you’re implementing Sage Intacct, Sage 200, or an integrated business platform, we help you get the foundation right.

Why architecture matters

System architecture is the underlying structure that defines how your system:
  • Reflects your company’s legal, operational, and reporting entities
  • Manages data flow between processes and departments
  • Supports consolidation, control, and reporting
  • Enables integrations and third-party extensions
  • Scales with your business as it grows or diversifies
If your system isn’t designed to reflect your company structure, you’ll face recurring issues:
  • Consolidated reports that need rework in Excel
  • Intercompany transactions that don’t eliminate cleanly
  • Visibility gaps across departments, entities, or locations
  • Complexity when adding new sites or legal entities
  • Unnecessary duplication of data, effort, and approvals

Who this is for


Our System Architecture and Design service is built for UK-based businesses that are:


Implementing a new Sage finance or ERP system (e.g. Sage Intacct, Sage 200)

Migrating from legacy platforms or fragmented setups

Growing through acquisition or restructuring group entities


Seeking better control and visibility across multiple departments, divisions, or geographies

Planning group consolidation, investor reporting, or audit uplift

Replacing spreadsheet-driven workarounds with structured automation

We work closely with CFOs, Finance Directors, IT leads, and transformation teams to design architecture that works in practice—not just on paper.

What We Deliver


Every engagement is tailored to your organisation, but our architecture work typically covers:

Clear documentation of your current company and reporting structure
Mapping of entities, locations, departments, and business units
Design of chart of accounts structure, dimensionality, and entity relationship

Definition of user roles, permissions, and workflow ownership
Recommendations for data models, master data management, and integration points
A system architecture blueprint ready for implementation or system migration

Our goal is to build a foundation that gives you flexibility, scalability, and financial clarity—not just something that works for “go-live”.
“Working with itas during the early stages of our transformation gave us the clarity we needed to approach vendors with confidence. Their insight into the finance function made a huge difference. We didn’t just buy a system—we made a strategic investment that’s now paying off.”
Finance Director, UK-based Services Firm

Our approach to system architecture design


We combine finance-first thinking with real-world Sage system experience. Here’s how we typically structure the engagement: 
Image

Enhanced Collaboration with Integrated Communication Tools


Sage Intacct streamlines team collaboration with built-in communication tools. Instead of relying on emails or in-person queries, finance teams can leave comments directly on transactions, ensuring fast and clear decision-making.

1. Discovery and Organisational Mapping 

We start by understanding your business model, legal structure, reporting requirements, and growth plans. We map:

  • Legal entities and corporate hierarchy 
  • Operating units and business segments 
  • Cost centres and departmental structures 
  • Current and future reporting needs 
  • Key stakeholder responsibilities and approval flows 

This gives us the context needed to architect a system that mirrors your business, rather than forcing it into a generic template. 

2. Chart of Accounts and Dimensional Framework

We help you design a Chart of Accounts (CoA) that’s clean, scalable, and suited to your reporting needs. This includes:

  • Account structure design (e.g. account groups, subaccount) 
  • Use of segments or dimensions (e.g. department, region, project) 
  • Taxonomies that support both statutory and management reporting 
  • Strategies for keeping the CoA lean but powerful 
  • Transition plans if migrating from an overly granular or bloated chart 

We also help define how your dimensions will be applied consistently—so you can report and analyse data across different views of the business.

3. Entity and Intercompany Structure

For multi-entity businesses, we design how your system should:

  • Reflect your group hierarchy 
  • Enable intercompany transactions and eliminations 
  • Handle multiple base currencies or tax jurisdictions 
  • Manage group-level controls and local autonomy 
  • Support future mergers, demergers, or entity changes 

We ensure your architecture can flex as your group evolves, without needing full reimplementation.

4. Workflow and User Role Design

We help you define:

  • Who does what within the system (e.g. data entry, approvals, review) 
  • Which users need access to which entities or dimensions 
  • How segregation of duties is applied 
  • What workflows are needed for approvals, escalations, or exceptions 
  • How auditability and compliance can be baked into daily operations 

This ensures your system doesn’t just reflect your structure—but also supports your governance model.

5. Integration and Data Design 

Modern finance systems rarely work in isolation. We help define:

  • Key system integrations (e.g. CRM, payroll, stock, banking) 
  • Master data ownership and synchronisation strategy 
  • Data import/export and API usage plans 
  • How external tools (e.g. Power BI, Excel, Dext, etc.) fit in 
  • Data hygiene and consistency standards 

Good architecture makes it easier to connect, not harder.

6. Architecture Blueprint and Handover

We compile your architecture into a clear blueprint document, including:

  • Entity hierarchy diagram 
  • Chart of accounts and dimension framework 
  • User role matrix and workflow map 
  • Integration plan (high-level) 
  • Key design principles and scalability considerations 

This becomes your reference point throughout the project—and a source of truth if new entities, teams, or integrations are added later.

Example use cases


Here are some real-world examples of when this approach makes the difference:

Scaling from SME to group structure


A professional services firm moving from Sage 50 to Sage Intacct needed to reflect their new group holding structure, with four operational subsidiaries and shared services. We designed a multi-entity, multi-dimensional architecture that enabled seamless consolidation, improved visibility by function, and automated intercompany billing.

Simplifying a bloated chart of accounts


A UK-based manufacturer had over 2,500 GL codes—many redundant or duplicated. We redesigned the CoA and introduced cost centre and product line dimensions to replace the need for code proliferation. Reporting became faster, cleaner, and easier to maintain.

Preparing for acquisition and integration


A business planning to acquire two new subsidiaries needed a flexible Sage 200 structure that would allow for post-acquisition integration. We designed a framework that accommodated future entities without rework—simplifying onboarding and reporting. 

What makes itas different?


We’re not just implementation consultants. We’re finance specialists who understand that the wrong architecture decision can cost you years of workarounds.

Clients value us because we:

  • Understand both the technical and operational impact of design decisions

  • Combine best practice with a deep knowledge of Sage system capabilities

  • Think commercially, not just systemically

  • Explain design options in plain English—not technical jargon

  • Work with your people, not around them

  • Support clients with multi-entity, cross-border, and regulatory complexity

When is the right time to get architecture support?


Before a new Sage system is implemented
When restructuring or scaling the business
When visibility is poor despite strong systems

When you’ve inherited a system that no longer fits
When preparing for audit, investor scrutiny, or group consolidation
When users are creating spreadsheets to work around the system

Let’s design the right structure—for now and what’s next

Your finance system isn’t just a ledger. It’s a reflection of how your business works. If the structure doesn’t match the business, the system will always fall short. 

At itas, we help you build a system that aligns with your company structure, enhances visibility, and lays the foundation for smarter financial management.

Book a free consultation to explore how System Architecture and Design can help you structure for success.

itas---multi-award-winning-sage-partner---sage-intacct---sage-200---sage-50

Why choose itas as your transformation partner?


At itas, we don’t believe in designing systems that look good on paper but fall apart in practice. Whether you’re implementing Sage, integrating third-party tools, or modernising legacy platforms, our System Architecture & Design service helps you create a structure that’s stable, scalable, and supports how your finance team actually works. We bring together process, platform and people - because system design isn't just a technical exercise. It's a business decision. We focus on:


  • Understanding your operations
  • Mapping system roles and interactions
  • Designing around best practices
  • Avoiding over-customisation
  • Preparing for growth
  • Ensuring interoperability
  • We blend technical knowledge with business context

Great implementation starts with great design. And great design starts with a partner who knows how to ask the right questions. Let’s design a system that works—today and tomorrow.