The month-end close is a pivotal moment for any finance team—a time where accuracy reigns supreme, and missteps can have devastating consequences. As organizations look to ensure that all financial statements are in order, they encounter numerous challenges that can hinder their progress and expose them to unnecessary risks. 

According to a recent study by Ventana Research, finance departments face a challenge in providing timely information during month-end close periods. Only 39% of departments with close periods longer than six days manage to impart this information to the rest of the company. However, this percentage jumps to 62% for departments with close periods of six days or less.

From fraudulent activities to regulatory non-compliance, the stakes are high in ensuring that information is provided correctly and on time, so it’s crucial to follow a few sure-fire rules to guarantee that there are no bumps in the road. 

The Current Risk Landscape

As we’re all well aware, the financial world is not without its perils. According to recent statistics, a staggering 40% of organizations engage in creating fraudulent physical documents, while 27% resort to fabricating electronic files. Moreover, most companies across North and Latin America report losses from fraud, compliance breaches, or cyber attacks, with the pandemic exacerbating these risks.

With these sobering figures at the forefront of their minds, organizations must prioritize fraud risk mitigation strategies. By cleaning up the Chart of Accounts (COA), enforcing transaction timing controls, and implementing stringent segregation of duties, companies can strengthen their defenses against fraudulent activities and safeguard their financial integrity.

Balance Sheet Integrity

At the heart of the month-end close is the essential task of balance sheet reconciliations. However, 36% of organizations struggle with improperly prepared reconciliations, often due to time constraints and inadequate staff training—it is considered an afterthought or something that should be swept under the rug. This negligence not only compromises financial accuracy but also exposes companies to regulatory non-compliance and reputational damage.

To address this challenge, companies should adopt standardized reconciliation processes and the utilization of automation. By leveraging technology to streamline reconciliations and mitigate errors, organizations can ensure the integrity of their balance sheets and bolster investor confidence.

A machine can assist by handling specific parts of the reconciliation process whenever feasible, removing logistical and administrative burdens on staff to ensure transparency and access to real-time data. The technology utilizes robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning, and AI to automate the manual tasks of monitoring and comparing a company's balance sheet account balances with its accounting records.

Standardization is the key

Standardization provides a beacon of hope amidst the chaos of month-end reconciliation. Clear guidelines and streamlined procedures can have a transformative impact, which not only enhances accuracy but also drives efficiency. Robust closing checklists delineating specific activities, ownership, and deadlines can help companies navigate the complexities of month-end close with precision and clarity.

Additionally, if companies don’t have standardized processes in place, there is a huge risk of fraudulent activities within the organization and inconsistent work. Individuals with malicious motivations can take advantage of the lack of control and oversight to manipulate financial statements for their own benefit. This is where the automated systems, as touched on above, can help organizations to receive regular updates across departments and establish clear baselines, that way, it’s much easier to detect fraudulent activities.

Other Common Pitfalls

There are several other pitfalls to be aware of that we haven't detailed so far, let’s take a look.

1. Ignoring key controls: Flux analysis often falls by the wayside amidst the frenzy of month-end close. However, you should never underestimate the importance of integrating flux analysis into the reconciliation process, leveraging automated tools to streamline this critical task.

2. Not following a checklist: This will vary depending on the context of the company, but a classic checklist would be like this, making sure each one is accounted for:

• Routine vs Ad Hoc

• Risk Level

• Ownership

• Reviewer

• Instructions / P&P

• Deadline

• Completion Status

• Completion Date

• Completion Ownership

• Comments

• Source Documents

• Special Reference

• Result

3. Lack of proper training: Accounting actually has one of the lowest turnover rates of any profession, and yet that doesn’t mean it's not necessary to be prepared for any obstacles that might come your way. Cross-training and sharing duties will protect a team from being left high and dry.

There can be no doubt that it is simply a strategic must to take care of month-end reconciliation. If companies can operate with clear guidelines, robust checklists, and adequate training, they can mitigate common pitfalls while safeguarding against fraudulent activities. This consequently has the potential to enhance investor confidence and regulatory compliance. Companies should try their hardest to follow the best practices outlined above so that they can navigate the complexities of month-end close with confidence.