Close Management

What This Skill Does

This skill provides a month-end close checklist, organizing tasks by day with sequencing and dependencies. It helps accounting teams ensure all necessary steps are completed for an accurate and timely financial close. It is designed to improve efficiency and reduce errors in the closing process.

When to Use

Following a structured month-end close process. Tracking the status of close tasks. Ensuring all sub-ledgers are reconciled. Identifying and resolving discrepancies. Preparing for audits. Training new accounting staff.

Key Features

Provides a detailed month-end close checklist. Organizes tasks by day for efficient execution. Covers pre-close, close day 1, close day 2, and close day 3 activities. Includes tasks for AP, AR, payroll, and treasury. Highlights key considerations for each task. Aids in identifying potential accrual needs.

Manual Installation

Manual installation

Month-End Close Checklist

Pre-Close (Last 2-3 Business Days of the Month)

[ ] Send close calendar and deadline reminders to all contributors [ ] Confirm cut-off procedures with AP, AR, payroll, and treasury [ ] Verify all sub-systems are processing normally (ERP, payroll, banking) [ ] Complete preliminary bank reconciliation (all but last-day activity) [ ] Review open purchase orders for potential accrual needs [ ] Confirm payroll processing schedule aligns with close timeline [ ] Collect information for any known unusual transactions

Close Day 1 (T+1: First Business Day After Month-End)

[ ] Confirm all sub-ledger modules have completed period-end processing [ ] Run AP accruals for goods/services received but not invoiced [ ] Post payroll entries and payroll accrual (if pay period straddles month-end) [ ] Record cash receipts and disbursements through month-end [ ] Post intercompany transactions and confirm with counterparties [ ] Complete bank reconciliation with final bank statement [ ] Run fixed asset depreciation [ ] Post prepaid expense amortization

Close Day 2 (T+2)

[ ] Complete revenue recognition entries and deferred revenue adjustments [ ] Post all remaining accrual journal entries [ ] Complete AR subledger reconciliation [ ] Complete AP subledger reconciliation [ ] Record inventory adjustments (if applicable) [ ] Post FX revaluation entries for foreign currency balances [ ] Begin balance sheet account reconciliations

Close Day 3 (T+3)

[ ] Complete all balance sheet reconciliations [ ] Post any adjusting journal entries identified during reconciliation [ ] Complete intercompany reconciliation and elimination entries [ ] Run preliminary trial balance and income statement [ ] Perform preliminary flux analysis on income statement [ ] Investigate and resolve material variances

Close Day 4 (T+4)

[ ] Post tax provision entries (income tax, sales tax, property tax) [ ] Complete equity roll-forward (stock compensation, treasury stock) [ ] Finalize all journal entries — soft close [ ] Generate draft financial statements (P&L, BS, CF) [ ] Perform detailed flux analysis and prepare variance explanations [ ] Management review of financial statements and key metrics

Close Day 5 (T+5)

[ ] Post any final adjustments from management review [ ] Finalize financial statements — hard close [ ] Lock the period in the ERP/GL system [ ] Distribute financial reporting package to stakeholders [ ] Update forecasts/projections based on actual results [ ] Conduct close retrospective — identify process improvements

Task Sequencing and Dependencies

Dependency Map

Tasks are organized by what must complete before the next task can begin:

LEVEL 1 (No dependencies — can start immediately at T+1): ├── Cash receipts/disbursements recording ├── Bank statement retrieval ├── Payroll processing/accrual ├── Fixed asset depreciation run ├── Prepaid amortization ├── AP accrual preparation └── Intercompany transaction posting

LEVEL 2 (Depends on Level 1 completion): ├── Bank reconciliation (needs: cash entries + bank statement) ├── Revenue recognition (needs: billing/delivery data finalized) ├── AR subledger reconciliation (needs: all revenue/cash entries) ├── AP subledger reconciliation (needs: all AP entries/accruals) ├── FX revaluation (needs: all foreign currency entries posted) └── Remaining accrual JEs (needs: review of all source data)

LEVEL 3 (Depends on Level 2 completion): ├── All balance sheet reconciliations (needs: all JEs posted) ├── Intercompany reconciliation (needs: both sides posted) ├── Adjusting entries from reconciliations └── Preliminary trial balance

LEVEL 4 (Depends on Level 3 completion): ├── Tax provision (needs: pre-tax income finalized) ├── Equity roll-forward ├── Consolidation and eliminations ├── Draft financial statements └── Preliminary flux analysis

LEVEL 5 (Depends on Level 4 completion): ├── Management review ├── Final adjustments ├── Hard close / period lock ├── Financial reporting package └── Forecast updates

Critical Path

The critical path determines the minimum close duration. Typical critical path:

Cash/AP/AR entries → Subledger reconciliations → Balance sheet recs → Tax provision → Draft financials → Management review → Hard close

To shorten the close: Automate Level 1 entries (depreciation, prepaid amortization, standard accruals) Pre-reconcile accounts during the month (continuous reconciliation) Parallel-process independent reconciliations Set clear deadlines with consequences for late submissions Use standardized templates to reduce reconciliation prep time

Status Tracking and Reporting

Close Status Dashboard

Track each close task with the following attributes:

Status Definitions

Not Started: Task has not yet begun (may be waiting on dependencies) In Progress: Task is actively being worked on Complete: Task is finished and has been reviewed/approved Blocked: Task cannot proceed due to a dependency, missing data, or issue At Risk: Task is in progress but may not meet its deadline

Daily Close Status Meeting (Recommended)

During the close period, hold a brief (15-minute) daily standup:

Review status board: Walk through open tasks, flag any that are behind Identify blockers: Surface any issues preventing task completion Reassign or escalate: Adjust ownership or escalate blockers to resolve quickly Update timeline: If any tasks are at risk, assess impact on overall close timeline

Close Metrics to Track Over Time

Common Close Activities by Day

Typical 5-Day Close Calendar