Template Library
Month-End Close Checklist Template
An Excel workbook for a recurring close: a close calendar with due dates in business days, a reconciliation tracker, and a monthly log of days to close and manual journal share.
The Close Calendar tab takes the period end date and a due day for each task, counted in business days after period end, and calculates the due date with WORKDAY, skipping weekends and any holidays you list. Enter the completion date and the days late calculate. The Reconciliations tab tracks each account with its preparer, reviewer, dates, and any unreconciled difference, with days to prepare and a flag that shows whether the reconciliation is complete, awaiting review, or has a difference.
The Close Metrics tab logs each month's period end, close complete date, post-close adjustments, and journal entry counts. It calculates business days to close and the manual journal share, with charts. Example tasks, accounts, and months are included so you can see the formulas working before you replace them.
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What Is Included in the Workbook
| Sheet | Purpose | What Teams Capture |
|---|---|---|
| How-To | Guidance and disclaimer | Steps and notes |
| Close Calendar | Tasks with calculated due dates (Excel Table) | Period end, task, owner, due day, due date, status, completion date, days late, holiday list |
| Reconciliations | Account reconciliation tracker (Excel Table) | Preparer, reviewer, dates, unreconciled difference, days to prepare and review, flag, and summary |
| Close Metrics | Monthly measures with charts (Excel Table) | Days to close, post-close adjustments, manual journal share, reconciliations on time |
Key Features Inside the Template
Due Dates That Calculate
Set the period end date and each task's due day, and the workbook works out due dates in business days, skipping weekends and holidays you list.
Reconciliation Status at a Glance
Each account shows whether it is complete, awaiting review, not prepared, or has an unreconciled difference.
Measures of the Close Itself
Track days to close, post-close adjustments, and the share of journal entries that are manual, with charts.
Ready for Your Own Tasks
Excel Tables with drop-down lists give room for 40 tasks, 60 reconciliations, and 36 months.
Best Use Cases
- Running a repeatable monthly or quarterly close on a shared calendar
- Finding which tasks and reconciliations cause delays
- Tracking whether the close is getting faster and cleaner over time
- Training staff in close planning and reconciliation discipline
How to Use the Template Effectively
- List your close tasks with owners and a due day for each, and enter the period end date.
- Update status and completion dates as the close proceeds, and review the tasks that are late.
- Log each account reconciliation with the preparer, reviewer, and dates, and investigate any difference.
- After each close, add the month to Close Metrics and record why it was late or early.
- Use the trend to choose one improvement, such as reconciling continuously, and test it next month.
Who Should Use This Template
- Controllers, accounting managers, and close coordinators
- General ledger, accounts payable, and accounts receivable teams
- Finance teams building a faster, more reliable close
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Shortening the close by dropping reviews instead of removing rework and waiting
- Setting due days without checking which tasks depend on which
- Leaving reconciliation differences unexplained at close
- Tracking only the total days to close, and not the corrections after it
Important Notes
Month-End Close Checklist Template Frequently Asked Questions
How are due dates calculated?
Each task's due date is the period end date plus the due day in business days, using the WORKDAY function. Weekends are skipped, and any dates you enter in the holiday list on the Close Calendar tab are skipped as well.
How are days to close and days late counted?
Days to close is the number of business days from the period end date to the close complete date, counted with NETWORKDAYS minus one. Days late is the number of business days between the due date and the completion date, and it is zero for tasks finished on time.
Can I add more tasks, accounts, or months?
Yes. The Close Calendar has 40 formatted rows, Reconciliations 60, and Close Metrics 36 months. Drag the table's resize handle to add rows, and copy the formulas in the calculated columns.