# Month End Close

> Run a disciplined month-end close that produces accurate books on a predictable timeline with clear ownership and checklists. Use when accelerating close, improving accuracy, or documenting the close process.

- Skill: `itsual/month-end-close` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add itsual/month-end-close`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/itsual/month-end-close/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: itsual (https://skillmd.com/u/itsual)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/itsual/month-end-close

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# Month-End Close

## Overview

The month-end close finalizes the period’s books. A fast, accurate close enables timely decisions; a chaotic close destroys trust in the numbers.

## When to Use

- Shortening close cycle time
- Improving close quality and audit readiness
- Onboarding new accounting team members
- Scaling close process with company growth

## Core Practices

- Maintain a close checklist with owners and due times
- Standardize recurring journals and reconciliations
- Soft-close critical areas mid-month where possible
- Reconcile balance sheet accounts on a cadence
- Post-close review for anomalies before reporting
- Track close metrics (days to close, late items)

## Principles

- Materiality should guide effort
- Automation and templates beat heroics
- Unreconciled accounts are deferred problems
- Communication during close prevents surprises

## Verification

- [ ] Checklist is current and owned
- [ ] Key reconciliations complete before reporting
- [ ] Close timeline is measured and improving