# Cut the number of days it takes to close the books each month

A diagnosis of the month-end close timeline with bottlenecks, quick wins, and a plan to close faster.

- Topic: Finance & Accounting
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Rewrite & Edit, Analyze, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/cut-the-number-of-days-it-takes-to-close-the-books-each-month

## Prompt

```text
Help me shorten our month-end close.

**Current close length:** [e.g. "business day 9"]
**Target:** [e.g. "business day 5"]
**Close task list:** [PASTE: task, owner, start day, end day, dependencies]
**Systems used:** [ERP, spreadsheets, reconciliation tools, consolidation]
**Known bottlenecks:** [e.g. late vendor invoices, manual intercompany, waiting on payroll]
**Team size and constraints:** [DETAILS]

Steps:
1. Map the critical path: which tasks determine the close date.
2. Identify bottlenecks and their causes: late inputs, manual work, rework, review queues, approvals.
3. Sort improvements into: move work before period end (pre-close), remove or simplify, automate, and change materiality thresholds or estimates.
4. Check that faster does not weaken controls: keep reviews and segregation of duties.

Return:
- A critical path summary.
- An improvement table: Change | Days saved | Effort | Risk | Owner | Timing.
- A revised close calendar by day.
- Metrics to track (days to close, post-close adjustments, late reconciliations).
- A 90-day rollout plan.

Base estimates on my task list; label estimated savings as estimates and mark unclear tasks [CONFIRM].
```

## What to fill in

- e.g. "business day 9"
- e.g. "business day 5"
- PASTE: task, owner, start day, end day, dependencies
- ERP, spreadsheets, reconciliation tools, consolidation
- DETAILS
- CONFIRM

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.