What it is
A close checklist turns the month-end into a repeatable list of tasks, each with an owner, a reviewer and a due day relative to month end.
This workbook has about 40 common close tasks for a US small or mid-sized business, grouped by area, with a status dropdown and a progress summary.
When to use it
- Client accounting and advisory (CAS) engagements and outsourced controller work.
- Getting a client’s books audit-ready before year end.
What’s inside
- Tasks by area: cash, revenue and AR, AP and accruals, prepaids, fixed assets, payroll, inventory, debt, equity, tax, reporting
- Business-day timing relative to month end, owner and reviewer
- Status dropdown, completed date and notes
- Progress summary by status
Standard cited
This template follows Close process (accounting). It is written in our own words, except for phrases the standard requires the document to contain, with [bracketed placeholders] for client details, amounts in USD and dates as MM/DD/YYYY. Check it against the current standard and your firm’s methodology before use.
Questions
How many days should month-end close take?
It varies with size, complexity and the systems in use. The checklist shows each task’s due day, so you can see which tasks can move earlier.
Related templates
- Bank Reconciliation Template (Excel)
- Fixed Asset Rollforward (Excel)
- Compilation Engagement Letter (AR-C 80)
Last updated 11/04/2026. All free templates.