Hey there, fellow finance geeks. I'm here to talk about the one thing that never fails to send shivers down our spines, but is essential to keeping the lights on: Financial Close. The process that makes sure everything balances out and we're all good to go. Buckle up, because this is going to get exciting!
Before we dive in, let's get our heads around what exactly financial close entails. In a nutshell, this is the process where financial statements of a company are finalized and submitted to lenders and stakeholders. This includes a comprehensive review of the company's financial information to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with accounting and regulatory requirements.
Let's be honest, financial close can seem like a tedious process to outsiders, but if you're a finance enthusiast like me, this is where the excitement happens. Just imagine it like piecing together a puzzle, where each piece represents a financial transaction and you're trying to make sure each piece fits snugly.
Financial close is important for a few reasons, starting with compliance. Regulators require you to keep track of your finances and report them in detail. Failing to follow the rules can result in some not-so-pleasant consequences
Delaying financial close can lead to inaccurate reports and financial statements. It's essential to ensure that everything is accounted for accurately to make informed decisions about the financial position of a company. By making sure that things are all tied up, a company's stakeholders have peace of mind.
Every financial close might be slightly different (depending on your company's size and complexity), but for the most part, it follows roughly the same process!
All financial transactions that have taken place during the month must be recorded in the company's accounting system. This includes accounts payable, accounts receivable, and all other financial transactions that have an impact on the company's financial statements.
Each subledger in the accounting system must be reconciled with the general ledger to make sure all transactions have been properly recorded. This could mean checking balance sheets to ensure there are no mistakes in the totals of credits and debits, or checking accounts receivable and payable to make sure they match up with the general ledger.
At the end of the month, the books are "closed." This process refers to ensuring that no further adjustments or transactions occur after the end of the financial period. Once the books are closed, all entries are accounted for, and balances are checked for accuracy. Financial statements are then run to provide an overview of the company's financial position at the end of the period.
After everything is accounted for and double-checked, it's time to prepare financial statements. This includes a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
The last step is to review the financial statements and have them audited (if necessary) by an independent third party. This ensures that everything is accurate, and there are no errors in the financial statements. Ideally, all adjustments and journal entries should be supported by accurate documentation.
And that's it - a not-so-boring glimpse into financial close! Although it may seem like a tedious process, it's crucial to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance. It's important to stay ahead of the game by keeping track of all financial transactions, reconciling subledgers, and finalizing the books.
As a CFO, I've come to realize the importance of getting it right the first time - it not only saves time, but it can also save your company a lot of money. So, keep calm, have your documentation in place, and close those books with pride.
Thanks for reading, and may the accounting gods be in your favor!
