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Checklist · Internal
Month-End Close Checklist for Accountants
The same close, the same order, every month — for every bookkeeping and management accounts client.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · 60-day free trial · Last updated 27 September 2026
Quick answer
A month-end close checklist standardises the reconciliations, accruals, prepayments and review steps behind management accounts. Used consistently it shortens the close and makes reviews faster. In Remindoo the close becomes a recurring monthly job with sub-tasks, so any team member can pick it up.
What order should a month-end close follow?
Records in, bank and control accounts reconciled, accruals and prepayments posted, review, then reporting to the client.
Order matters because each stage depends on the last. Teams that jump to reporting before control accounts are reconciled end up redoing the pack. Fix the sequence once and make it the standard sub-task list on every monthly job.
What should the reviewer actually check?
Movements against prior month, unusual balances, unreconciled items, gross margin and anything the client will ask about.
A reviewer reading a whole nominal ledger is a waste of a senior. Give them a short list: variances over a set threshold, aged balances, negative balances, and the three numbers the client always queries.
Checklist preview
0/8 done · showing 8 of 22 itemsThe full 22-item checklist is in the download below. Enter your name and email to get it as a Word or PDF file.
This is a standard checklist. Each firm's requirements may vary, so please cross-check everything against current GOV.UK, Companies House and professional body guidance before relying on it.
See it working with your own clients
A 30-minute walkthrough using your services, deadlines and templates.
Turn this into a task and subtask template in Remindoo
Save each group as a task with subtasks, attach it to the right service and let recurring tasks create it for every client, every period. Each item gets an owner and a deadline, and nothing depends on someone remembering to print the list. See task and subtask templates.
Task and subtask templates
Checklists that make every job consistent.
See featureRecurring tasks
Repeat work is created automatically on schedule.
See featureService templates
Repeatable structures for every service.
See featureInternal vs external deadlines
Build a buffer before every statutory date.
See featureEstimated time allocation
Plan capacity with expected effort per job.
See featureWhat are the common mistakes?
- Reporting before control accounts are reconciled
- No reviewer sign-off
- Rebuilding the pack format each month
- Client queries answered but never recorded
- No standard threshold for investigating variances
“Automated reminders and task templates save countless hours each week.”
Frequently asked questions
How long should a month-end close take?
It varies with client size and record quality, but a standardised close usually gets shorter each month for the first few cycles.
Should every client have the same close?
Use one base checklist and add client-specific steps, so the core sequence never changes.
Who signs off the pack?
Someone other than the preparer, with the sign-off recorded on the job rather than in an email.
How do I stop client queries getting lost?
Log each query on the client record with an owner and a date, rather than leaving it in a reply thread.
Does Remindoo do the bookkeeping?
No. Bookkeeping stays in your accounting software; Remindoo manages the monthly jobs, stages, deadlines and reviews.
Can the close be tracked across all clients?
Yes. Filter monthly jobs by stage to see which clients are unreconciled, in review or issued.
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Sources
Last updated 27 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice.
Why recording every task matters in an accountancy practice
Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.
Avoid penalties
HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.
Nothing depends on memory
Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.
Consistent quality
Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.
Visibility for managers
Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
- Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
- Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
