Month-End Close Checklist – 12 Steps to Clean Books and Faster Decisions

A tight month-end close gives owners trustworthy numbers. Use this 12-step checklist to reconcile, review, and report consistently, then hand a clean package to your CPA.

Reconcile

Bank/credit card, payment processors, loans. Match statements to ledger.

Review AP/AR

Age receivables, follow up on past due, accrue unpaid vendor bills.

Accruals and deferrals

Record payroll accruals, unearned revenue, prepaids, and depreciation.

Reports to send

P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, AR/AP aging, variance notes, KPIs.

FAQs

Why is my balance sheet not balancing?
It’s usually caused by missing entries, incorrect opening balances, or category mistakes.

Why is bank reconciliation important during month-end?
It verifies that your book balances match your bank statement so errors don’t carry forward.

What causes discrepancies between a bank statement and check register?
Timing differences, unnoticed errors, and outstanding checks are the most common issues.

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Ensure your business is always audit-ready with our detailed monthly close checklist designed specifically for remote e-commerce operations.

Make your month-end painless. Get a monthly bookkeeping quote.