Automating ESG Investment Reviews with Interactive Dashboards

How QuantSpark streamlined the annual portfolio investment review process for an ESG-focused asset manager, replacing 40 days of manual work with a scalable, automated PowerBI solution.

The Challenge: Manual Reporting at Scale

An ESG-focused investment management firm with $10 billion AUM faced a labour-intensive and error-prone process in generating its annual portfolio investment review deck.

Analysts were required to manually gather data from disparate systems including Bloomberg, Northern Trust, and internal models, copy it into Excel templates, conduct QA, and manually create PowerPoint reports with static visuals. This two-week effort involved multiple team members and introduced risk due to dependence on subject matter experts (SMEs).

The static format of the outputs limited user engagement and the ability to explore data interactively, making it harder to derive actionable insights.

The Solution: Automation and Interactive Dashboards

QuantSpark developed a robust automation solution using Python and SQL for data extraction and transformation, and integrated the outputs into a dynamic PowerBI dashboard.

Key Features:

• Automated Data Pipeline: Pulled and processed data from Bloomberg, Northern Trust, and internal sources, reducing manual input and improving consistency.
  
  
• Multi-Level Analysis: Embedded complex transformations and aggregations to support performance and attribution analysis.
  
  
• Interactive PowerBI Reporting:
  • Replaced static decks with ~100 interactive visuals.
  • Enabled drill-downs, slicers, and filters for in-depth exploration.
  • Facilitated real-time access and dynamic updates.

Development Highlights:

• Built by a two-person team over four months.
• Iterative development included rigorous QA, stakeholder feedback, and visual enhancements.
• Scalable foundation laid for future expansion and advanced analytics.

The Results: Measurable and Strategic Benefits

Time Savings: Reduced time to create the annual deck from 40 FTE days to just 1.

Increased Frequency: Moved from annual to monthly reporting cycles.

User Experience: Improved clarity, accessibility, and engagement through interactive dashboards.

Qualitative Gains:

• Improved Data Accuracy: Reduced errors via automation.
  
  
• Enhanced Decision-Making: More visuals, clearer insights, and real-time access improved strategic responsiveness.
  
  
• Positive Feedback: Stakeholders described the change as "transformational" and "revolutionary" to their workflow.

Unlock Scalable Reporting and Analysis

Looking to transform your reporting and decision-making capabilities? QuantSpark can help you automate manual processes and deliver impactful analytics. Contact us today to discuss how we can streamline your operations.