Sushi Sushi: Transforming Financial Operations with FloQast

Sushi Sushi is a leading sushi chain with over 170 locations across Australia and New Zealand. Renowned for its fresh and innovative offerings, the company’s accounting team faced challenges associated with rapid expansion under private equity ownership. The need for efficient financial operations became critical. Michael Stewart, the former Group Financial Controller, led the initiative to optimise the company’s accounting processes with FloQast, focusing on improving efficiency and transparency.

Addressing Manual Reconciliation and Month-End Stress

With Sushi Sushi’s rapid growth came the challenge of labor-intensive manual reconciliation processes. These processes were not only time-consuming but also susceptible to errors, exacerbating stress during month-end closes. 

“We were heavily reliant on Excel spreadsheets for tracking reconciliations,” recalled Michael. “This method was cumbersome, as it didn’t allow us to attach necessary documents directly, often leading to missed reconciliations and increased error risks. It was clear that our existing system needed a substantial upgrade to meet our expanding needs.”

This dependency on outdated methods highlighted the necessity for a more reliable system to mitigate errors and enhance efficiency.

“FloQast’s automation and centralization of documentation not only cut down reconciliation times and reduced errors, but also allowed our team to shift focus towards strategic planning and company growth.”

– Michael Stewart, Former Group Financial Controller

Streamlining Financial Operations: FloQast’s Transformative Impact

Integrating FloQast marked a significant transformation in Sushi Sushi’s accounting operations. The seamless integration with NetSuite allayed initial concerns regarding adopting new technology. Stewart noted the immense impact:

“FloQast’s automation and centralisation of documentation not only cut down reconciliation times and reduced errors, but also allowed our team to shift focus towards strategic planning and company growth,” said Michael.

The transition to automated workflows empowered the accounting team, significantly improving their operational efficiency and accuracy.

Achieving Operational Excellence: Metrics of Success with FloQast

FloQast’s implementation brought significant enhancements to Sushi Sushi’s accounting operations, notably achieving a substantial reduction in reconciliation time. Michael described the integration as a pivotal development:

“FloQast essentially bridged the gap between our current operations and our future goals,” he said. “It provided peace of mind, allowing us to concentrate on more strategic aspects of our business.”

Additionally, he emphasized the improvement in audit readiness: “This was the best audit readiness experience I’ve encountered in my career,” Michael said. “The seamless documentation and process streamlining provided by FloQast ensured that we were always prepared.”

“This was the best audit readiness experience I’ve encountered in my career,” Michael said. “The seamless documentation and process streamlining provided by FloQast ensured that we were always prepared.

The shift not only improved user satisfaction but also heightened the accuracy of financial reporting, enabling the accounting team to robustly support the business’s expansion objectives.

Strategic Transformation and Future Outlook

The integration of FloQast into Sushi Sushi’s accounting operations has not only helped streamline its processes, but also laid a robust foundation for future innovation and strategic growth. By significantly reducing reconciliation times and enhancing accuracy, the company is now better equipped to adapt to the dynamic demands of the retail industry. This transformation has enabled the accounting team to pivot towards more value-added activities, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and agility. 

“This was the best audit readiness experience I’ve encountered in my career. The seamless documentation and process streamlining provided by FloQast ensured that we were always prepared.”

– Michael Stewart, Former Group Financial Controller

“FloQast really sits in the middle between where our team was working today and where we wanted to be, offering us peace of mind and allowing us to focus on more strategic areas,” concluded Michael.