# Build a month-end close checklist with owners and deadlines

Creates a day-by-day close calendar with tasks, owners, dependencies, and review steps so the books close on time every month.

- Topic: Finance & Accounting
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Analyze, Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/build-a-month-end-close-checklist-with-owners-and-deadlines

## Prompt

```text
Help me build a month-end close checklist and calendar.

**Team:** [WHO does what - e.g. "me (staff accountant), AP clerk, controller reviews"]
**Systems:** [accounting software, payroll provider, bank feeds, billing system, spreadsheets]
**Entities and bank accounts:** [NUMBER of each]
**Target close timeline:** [e.g. "books closed by business day 5"]
**Key recurring items:** [e.g. payroll accruals, revenue recognition, inventory, credit card statements, intercompany, depreciation]
**What usually goes wrong now:** [e.g. "we wait on sales for commission data", "credit card receipts arrive late"]

Build the checklist in close order, including: pre-close (cut-off reminders, open PO and invoice sweep), cash and bank reconciliations, AR and AP, payroll, accruals and prepaids, fixed assets and depreciation, revenue, inventory if relevant, balance sheet reconciliations, flux review, reporting, and period lock.

Return:
1. A table: Day (BD-2 to BD+N) | Task | Owner | Depends on | Output/evidence | Reviewer.
2. The critical path - which tasks hold up everything else.
3. Fixes for the problems I named (e.g. earlier cut-off emails, a standing estimate method).
4. A short "close kickoff" email I can send to non-finance teams with their deadlines.

Keep tasks specific and checkable ("Reconcile operating account to bank statement, tie to GL"), not vague ("review cash").
```

## What to fill in

- NUMBER of each
- e.g. "books closed by business day 5"

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