While working on a Power BI dashboard for financial reporting, if you’re looking to make a CFO/FD smile (yes, it is infact possible) you’ve landed on the right blog.
We specialise in creating finance dashboards for clients across sectors, so we’ve created the ultimate checklist that finance folks dream about with free charts that don’t just look good, but actually make reporting sharper, faster, and easier to explain in meetings.
Let’s be honest finance reporting can feel frustrating but not once you break it down into simple components that will make the finance team love you.
What makes this difference? The right visuals.
So, if you’re a finance team diving into Power BI, here is a list of the best free visuals in Power BI to create a dashboard you’ll actually want to look at (instead of sighing and opening Excel again).
1. Waterfall Chart
The “Where Did My Money Go?” Chart
Perfect for variance analysis.
This one is your best friend when you need to show how you got from point A (budget) to point B (actuals). It breaks down the ups and downs (whether revenues, costs or adjustments) so everyone can see exactly what’s moving the needle.
When to use:
Month-end variance reviews, explaining why profit dipped (or soared), board presentations when someone inevitably asks “But what changed?”
2. Line & Clustered Column Chart:
The “Past, Present, Future” Chart
Great for showing trends and comparisons.
Columns show the hard numbers (say monthly revenue), while the line sneaks in to show a related trend (like YoY growth %). Together, they make you look like a wizard of foresight.
When to use:
Forecast vs actual comparisons, spotting seasonality, tracking revenue against expenses on the same chart.
3. Treemap:
The “Who’s Pulling Their Weight?” Chart
Segment or product breakdowns at a glance.
Think of it like a heatmap’s cousin. Each block represents a category (products, regions, customers) and its size shows contribution. The bigger the block, the bigger the impact.
When to use:
Understanding which product lines carry the business, highlighting top regions, or politely pointing out that one client pays your office rent.
4. Gauge:
The “How Healthy Are We?” Chart
For KPIs that scream dashboard material.
Simple, visual, and immediately tells you if you’re on track. Picture a speedometer but instead of speed, it’s profit margin, revenue vs target, or cash flow health.
When to use:
For KPIs that need a yes/no, good/bad vibe. Perfect for dashboards you want your CEO to glance at without needing a manual.
5. Decomposition Tree:
For root cause analysis.
Ever had to explain why sales are down? This chart lets you drill down by region, product, salesperson until you find the culprit. It’s like financial CSI/ CID.
When to use:
Explaining variances in revenue/costs, identifying why churn went up, or answering the dreaded “Can you break that down further?”
6. Matrix Table
The “Excel, But Make It Pretty” Chart
Granular, detailed, and everyone’s comfort zone.
Yes, tables can be boring. But a Matrix Table in Power BI adds drill-downs, conditional formatting, and interactivity. You get the detail without drowning in endless rows.
When to use:
When detail matters like P&L statements, balance sheet views, regional breakdowns. Basically, when your CFO brain needs the numbers, not just the big picture.
7. Area Chart:
The “Cumulative Storytelling” Chart
Best for showing how things build up over time.
The filled-in area under the line adds weight to the story. Perfect for cumulative revenue, expenses, or cash position over time.
When to use:
Cumulative revenue trends, tracking operating cash flow, or showing growth stacking up month by month.
Final Word
You don’t need to overload your dashboard with every chart under the sun. Just the right ones at the right time. With these seven visuals, your financial reporting goes from “here’s a spreadsheet” to “here’s the story of our business.”
And the best part? They make you look instantly smarter in front of your team (and let’s be real, who doesn’t love that?).
If you want top 10 visuals of 2025 for data visualisation, read our other blog!
