Sample data Live dashboard

Month-End Close Command Center

SOP-linked close checklist with dependency tracking

A close checklist where every task carries an owner, a close calendar day, a status, and a link to the procedure for that specific task. The panel on the right ranks what is holding up the rest of the close by how many downstream tasks each item blocks.

General sample data. Every row, name, figure, and date is invented to illustrate the structure of this kind of dashboard. It is not a depiction of any employer’s system, data, configuration, or results, and no company or person named here is real. Every number shown is computed from the rows in the source data view, so you can check any of them yourself.

Every figure below is computed from the source rows.

Day 3 of the close

Close progress

48%

14 of 29 tasks signed off by a reviewer

Waiting on a predecessor

8

Cannot start until an upstream task completes

Overdue

0

Past their close day and not complete, as of day 3

Awaiting review

3

Prepared and sitting with a reviewer

Procedure coverage

93%

27 of 29 tasks link to an SOP

Progress by area

  • Cash3/3
  • AP3/4
  • AR3/5
  • Inventory2/5
  • Revenue1/3
  • Payroll2/2
  • GL0/4
  • Reporting0/3

What is gating the rest of the close

Ranked by how many other tasks each one blocks. This is the difference between a late task and a problem.

  • Post recurring and accrual journal entriesC-23 · day 3 · Senior Accountant
    In progressgates 2 tasks
  • Value period receipts and post to inventoryC-15 · day 3 · Cost Accountant
    Blockedgates 1 task
  • Review standard cost variancesC-16 · day 3 · Cost Accountant
    Not startedgates 1 task
  • Value ending inventory and reconcile to GLC-17 · day 4 · Accounting Manager
    Not startedgates 1 task
  • Review and close subledgers to GLC-26 · day 4 · Accounting Manager
    Not startedgates 1 task

The checklist itself

Every task in the close, in sequence. A task is not finished when the preparer completes it. It is finished when a reviewer signs it, and the reviewer is never the person who prepared it. Each task links to the procedure for that specific task, which is what lets someone pick up work they have not done before.

Day 12026-10-01

4 of 4 signed off
TaskProcedurePreparerReviewerStage
Import bank statements for all accountsC-01 · CashSOP linked✓Staff Accountant2026-10-01 11:40✓Senior Accountant2026-10-01 16:35Signed off
Run automated bank reconciliation matchingC-02 · Cash · after C-01SOP linked✓Staff Accountant2026-10-01 10:05✓Senior Accountant2026-10-01 14:05Signed off
Close AP subledger to new invoicesC-04 · APSOP linked✓AP Specialist2026-10-01 11:50✓Senior Accountant2026-10-01 17:50Signed off
Close AR subledger and post final invoicesC-08 · ARSOP linked✓AR Specialist2026-10-01 11:15✓Senior Accountant2026-10-01 14:15Signed off

Day 22026-10-02

9 of 9 signed off
TaskProcedurePreparerReviewerStage
Review and clear reconciliation exceptionsC-03 · Cash · after C-02SOP linked✓Senior Accountant2026-10-02 09:50✓Accounting Manager2026-10-02 16:40Signed off
Accrue received not invoiced (RNI)C-05 · AP · after C-04SOP linked✓Senior Accountant2026-10-02 12:40✓Accounting Manager2026-10-02 17:15Signed off
Reconcile AP subledger to general ledgerC-06 · AP · after C-04SOP linked✓Senior Accountant2026-10-02 09:15✓Accounting Manager2026-10-02 16:35Signed off
Apply unapplied cash receiptsC-09 · AR · after C-08SOP linked✓AR Specialist2026-10-02 10:20✓Senior Accountant2026-10-02 16:40Signed off
Reconcile AR subledger to general ledgerC-10 · AR · after C-09SOP linked✓Senior Accountant2026-10-02 13:50✓Accounting Manager2026-10-02 17:15Signed off
Post final receipts and shipmentsC-13 · InventorySOP linked✓Cost Accountant2026-10-02 12:40✓Accounting Manager2026-10-02 15:35Signed off
Reconcile cycle count variancesC-14 · Inventory · after C-13SOP linked✓Cost Accountant2026-10-02 13:20✓Accounting Manager2026-10-02 16:15Signed off
Review contracts executed in period for ASC 606 termsC-18 · RevenueSOP linked✓Accounting Manager2026-10-02 11:05✓Controller2026-10-02 14:50Signed off
Accrue wages and payroll taxesC-21 · PayrollSOP linked✓Staff Accountant2026-10-02 12:05✓Senior Accountant2026-10-02 15:40Signed off

Day 32026-10-05today

1 of 9 signed off
TaskProcedurePreparerReviewerStage
Review aged AP over 90 daysC-07 · AP · after C-06SOP linked✓Accounting Manager2026-10-05 12:20—Controllernot reviewedAwaiting review
Update allowance for credit lossesC-11 · AR · after C-10SOP linked✓Accounting Manager2026-10-05 10:40—Controllernot reviewedAwaiting review
Review and reserve disputed balancesC-12 · AR · after C-10SOP linked—Senior Accountantnot prepared—Accounting Managernot reviewedNot started
Value period receipts and post to inventoryC-15 · Inventory · after C-13SOP linked—Cost Accountantnot prepared—Accounting Managernot reviewedBlocked
Review standard cost variancesC-16 · Inventory · after C-15SOP linked—Cost Accountantnot prepared—Accounting Managernot reviewedNot started
Record variable consideration and allowancesC-19 · Revenue · after C-18SOP linked✓Senior Accountant2026-10-05 09:05—Accounting Managernot reviewedAwaiting review
Calculate returns reserve by channelC-20 · Revenue · after C-08SOP linked—Senior Accountantnot prepared—Accounting Managernot reviewedNot started
Reconcile payroll clearing accountsC-22 · Payroll · after C-21No SOP✓Staff Accountant2026-10-05 12:40✓Senior Accountant2026-10-05 14:15Signed off
Post recurring and accrual journal entriesC-23 · GLSOP linked—Senior Accountantnot prepared—Accounting Managernot reviewedIn preparation

Day 42026-10-06

0 of 4 signed off
TaskProcedurePreparerReviewerStage
Value ending inventory and reconcile to GLC-17 · Inventory · after C-16SOP linked—Accounting Managernot prepared—Controllernot reviewedNot started
Reconcile prepaid and accrual schedulesC-24 · GL · after C-23SOP linked—Accounting Managernot prepared—Controllernot reviewedNot started
Complete balance sheet account reconciliationsC-25 · GL · after C-23SOP linked—Senior Accountantnot prepared—Accounting Managernot reviewedNot started
Review and close subledgers to GLC-26 · GL · after C-06, C-10, C-17No SOP—Accounting Managernot prepared—Controllernot reviewedNot started

Day 52026-10-07

0 of 3 signed off
TaskProcedurePreparerReviewerStage
Prepare draft financial statementsC-27 · Reporting · after C-26SOP linked—Accounting Managernot prepared—Controllernot reviewedNot started
Budget vs actual variance analysisC-28 · Reporting · after C-27SOP linked—Accounting Managernot prepared—Controllernot reviewedNot started
Management review and sign-offC-29 · Reporting · after C-28SOP linked—Controllernot prepared—CFOnot reviewedNot started

2 tasks have no linked procedure: C-22 Reconcile payroll clearing accounts; C-26 Review and close subledgers to GL. On a real close these are the tasks that cannot be handed to someone else, which is exactly what the checklist is meant to prevent.

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