Free tool

Month-end close checklist generator

This month end close checklist generator builds a close checklist for your business from a few answers: which accounts you have, whether you carry inventory, payroll, deferred revenue or multiple entities, and your market. It produces an ordered list with owners and target days you can copy, print or send to your accountant.

Month-end close checklist generator: LedgerBPO cover graphic

Month-end close checklist generator

Tasks in your checklist

11

  1. Confirm cut-off: all invoices, bills and payouts for the month are in the file Bookkeeper 路 Day 1
  2. Reconcile 3 bank and card accounts to statements Bookkeeper 路 Day 1 to 2
  3. Reconcile payment-processor payouts (Stripe, Shopify, Square, PayPal) to clearing accounts Bookkeeper 路 Day 2
  4. Tie the AR aging to the general ledger; review over-90 balances and disputes Bookkeeper 路 Day 2
  5. Tie the AP aging to the general ledger; confirm approvals and scheduled payments Bookkeeper 路 Day 2
  6. Post accruals and reverse prior-month accruals Accountant 路 Day 3
  7. Amortize prepaids and post fixed-asset additions and depreciation Accountant 路 Day 3
  8. Tie payroll register to the ledger, the bank and tax filings Bookkeeper 路 Day 3
  9. Tie sales-tax liability accounts to returns filed and amounts collected Accountant 路 Day 4
  10. Review the trial balance for anomalies; clear suspense and undeposited funds Reviewer 路 Day 4
  11. Issue statements with a variance note; lock the period Reviewer 路 Day 5

Estimates for orientation only. Not a LedgerBPO price or a promise. See assumptions below.

Get a custom quote with your real numbers

How the calculator works

The generator starts from the core CloseTrack sequence (cut-off, bank and card reconciliations, AR and AP tie-outs, accruals and prepaids, fixed assets, review) and adds inventory, payroll, deferred revenue, intercompany and market-specific tax steps when you select them. Target days assume a five-business-day close; adjust to your own calendar.

Assumptions and sources

  • A five-business-day close is an achievable target for most small businesses with reconciled feeds; it is not a LedgerBPO service-level promise.
  • Market steps: US sales-tax liability tie-out, UK VAT control account tie-out, Canada GST/HST and PST control accounts, Australia GST and PAYG withholding tie-out for BAS workpapers prepared for your registered agent.

What to do with your result

Download the checklist and run it for one month. If the close still takes longer than two weeks, the month-end close service page explains how a dedicated accountant and Two-Tier Review shorten it.

Frequently asked questions

What is in a month-end close checklist?

Cut-off checks, bank and card reconciliations, accounts receivable and payable tie-outs, accruals and prepaids, fixed-asset entries, inventory or cost of goods adjustments, payroll and tax liability tie-outs, a review of the trial balance, and sign-off. Our free template article lists every step with owners.

How long should a close take?

Five business days is a common target for small businesses with clean bank feeds. Larger companies with inventory, multiple entities or manual invoicing often take ten or more. The point of the checklist is to make the number visible and then shorten it.

Who should own each task?

The bookkeeper owns posting and reconciliations, the accountant or controller owns accruals and review, and the owner or finance manager owns approvals and sign-off. The generator assigns default owners you can rename.

Can I use this with QuickBooks Online or Xero?

Yes. The steps are software-neutral. Both platforms have a reconciliation screen and a period lock; the checklist tells you when to run each and when to lock the month.

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Next step

Books closed. Invoices paid. Every month.

Tell us what is going on with your books or billing. You will hear from a named person within 1 business day, with a custom quote and a plan for the first close.

  • Reply from a named person within 1 business day
  • No setup fee, month-to-month
  • Your software, your data, no lock-in

Start with a custom quote

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