A computer-implemented method for creating reports from financial data in a financial software application includes receiving a selection of a report template to be used to create a report. The report template includes query parameters, layout information, and content field information. The method also includes receiving financial data from a data source, assessing whether the financial data is compatible with the report template by examining a data file type and contents of the financial data to ensure consistency with the selection of the report template and the content field information, and applying the received layout information and received content field information to the received financial data to generate a report having a layout specified by the layout information, and including content associated with the content field information.