A consistent month-end routine makes accounting records easier to review and reduces the number of unexplained items carried into the next reporting period. The exact checklist depends on your business, but these checks provide a practical starting point.
Collect the supporting records
Gather sales invoices, supplier invoices, receipts and bank statements for the period. Follow up missing documents while the transaction is still easy to identify.
For limited companies, GOV.UK explains that accounting records must cover money received and spent and relevant details of assets, debts and other transactions. Supporting records are used to prepare the accounts and tax return. Read the official company accounting records guidance.
Reconcile the bank accounts
Match recorded transactions to each bank statement and investigate unexplained differences. Include business credit cards and payment processors where relevant.
Check transfers between your own accounts carefully so they are not mistaken for sales or expenses. Record bank charges and other items that may not have arrived through the normal invoice process.
Review customer and supplier balances
Check the list of unpaid sales invoices for duplicates, disputed amounts and receipts that have not been allocated. Give overdue items a clear follow-up owner.
Review supplier balances against the invoices and credit notes received. Note any missing invoice or disputed charge rather than making an unsupported adjustment simply to clear the list.
Check payroll and period-end entries
Reconcile payroll entries to the approved payroll reports. Confirm that the related payments and amounts still payable are recorded consistently.
Discuss accruals, prepayments, depreciation and other period-end adjustments with the person responsible for preparing your accounts. Apply an agreed approach consistently and identify estimates in the reporting notes.
Keep an unresolved-items list
Before sharing the figures, record any incomplete information and explain which totals may change. Assign each open item an owner and a target date.
Save the completed checklist with the reporting pack. A clear record of what was checked helps the next review and makes handovers easier.
Explore KBA’s accounting and tax services or contact us to discuss bookkeeping support.