# Month-End Close Checklist

> Use this template to coordinate close tasks, owners, deadlines, dependencies, and review evidence.

## Template Metadata

| Field | Details |
|-------|---------|
| Category | Accounting & Audit |
| Owner | [Team or owner] |
| Version | [Version number] |
| Effective Date | [Date] |
| Review Cycle | [Monthly / Quarterly / Annual / Event-based] |
| Status | [Draft / In Review / Approved] |

## Close Calendar

Identify close period, day-by-day deadlines, blackout dates, and reporting due dates.

| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|------|---------|-------|--------|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |

### Notes

[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]

## Pre-Close Activities

List subledger cutoffs, accrual inputs, bank feeds, inventory counts, and system locks.

| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|------|---------|-------|--------|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |

### Notes

[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]

## Journal Entries

Track recurring entries, accruals, allocations, eliminations, and approval requirements.

| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|------|---------|-------|--------|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |

### Notes

[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]

## Reconciliations

List balance sheet reconciliations, preparers, reviewers, thresholds, and due dates.

| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|------|---------|-------|--------|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |

### Notes

[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]

## Management Review

Document flux analysis, variance explanations, review meetings, and open items.

| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|------|---------|-------|--------|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |

### Notes

[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]

## Reporting Package

Define financial statements, dashboards, covenant reports, and distribution list.

| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|------|---------|-------|--------|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |

### Notes

[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]

## Close Signoff

Capture controller approval, retained evidence, and post-close improvement actions.

| Item | Details | Owner | Status |
|------|---------|-------|--------|
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |
| [Item or requirement] | [Describe the relevant detail, evidence, or decision] | [Owner] | [Open / Complete] |

### Notes

[Add context, assumptions, exceptions, evidence links, screenshots, calculations, or reviewer comments.]