The Month-End Close page lets you create closing periods, work through a checklist of month-end tasks, calculate trial balances, and lock periods so no further changes can be made. It is the formal process for closing the books each month.
This guide walks through every section of the page, step by step, in the order you see on screen.
Getting Here
- Open the main sidebar and select a Bookkeeping Client.
- In the client sidebar, click Month-End Close (under the Operations section).
The page opens to the month-end dashboard. If no periods exist yet, you will see an empty state. Otherwise, each period appears as a card in a vertical list.
Understanding the Dashboard
Empty State
If you have never created a month-end period for this client, the page shows an empty state with a calendar icon and a Create Period button. Click it to get started.
Period Cards
Each month-end period appears as a card showing key information at a glance:
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Period Name | The month and year (for example, "March 2026"). |
| Status Badge | The current status: open, in progress, review, or closed. |
| Locked Badge | A red lock badge if the period has been locked. |
| Period | The month name and year. |
| End Date | The last day of the period. |
| Trial Balance | Shows a green checkmark if the trial balance is balanced, or "Not calculated" if it has not been run yet. |
| Tasks | How many checklist items have been completed out of the total. |
Click View Details on any period card to open its full detail page.
Creating a Period
- Click the New Period button at the top-right of the page.
- A dialog opens with two fields:
| Field | What To Enter |
|---|---|
| Month | Select the month you want to close. |
| Year | Select the year. The dropdown shows the current year and the four previous years. |
- Click Create Period.
The new period appears in the list. Its status starts as open.
⚠ Warning: You can only create one period per month. If a period already exists for the selected month and year, you will see an error.
The Period Detail Page
Click View Details on any period card to open its full workspace. The detail page has four main sections:
Header and Action Buttons
The top of the page shows the period name, its status badge, and a set of action buttons that change based on the period's current status:
| Status | Available Actions |
|---|---|
| Open | Start Period — begins the month-end process. |
| In Progress | Submit for Review — sends the period for approval. |
| Review | Approve & Close — finalizes and closes the period. |
| Closed (not locked) | Lock Period — calculates monthly balances and prevents further edits. |
| Locked | Unlock Period — reopens the period for edits. |
⚠ Warning: Locking a period is a significant action. It calculates and stores monthly balances to the database and prevents any transaction edits within that period. If prior periods are not yet locked, they will be locked automatically as part of the process. A confirmation dialog will warn you before proceeding.
Period Information Card
Four summary fields give you a quick read on the period's state:
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Period Start | The first day of the period. |
| Period End | The last day of the period. |
| Trial Balance | A green "Balanced" checkmark or a red "Out of Balance" warning. |
| Checklist Progress | How many tasks are done out of the total (for example, "3 / 8"). |
Trial Balance Card
This is where you verify that debits equal credits for the period.
- Click the Calculate button.
- The system computes the trial balance and displays three summary numbers:
| Number | Description |
|---|---|
| Total Debits | The sum of all debit balances in the period. |
| Total Credits | The sum of all credit balances in the period. |
| Difference | The absolute difference between debits and credits. Green means zero (balanced); red means there is a discrepancy. |
- If the trial balance is not zero, a detailed table appears below the summary showing every account with its account number, account name, debit amount, and credit amount. Review this table to find the source of the imbalance.
ℹ Info: For locked or closed periods, the trial balance is loaded automatically so you can see the balances without clicking Calculate.
Month-End Checklist
The checklist ensures you complete all required steps before closing. Each item appears as a row with a checkbox:
- Check the checkbox to mark an item as complete. A green checkmark appears, and the completion date and time are recorded.
- Required items show a "Required" badge. These must be completed before the period can be closed.
- Items that are not yet completed show only the title and description.
The checklist items come pre-configured for your firm and may include tasks such as:
- Reconciling bank accounts
- Reviewing accounts receivable and payable aging
- Verifying inventory counts
- Reviewing journal entries for the period
- Confirming inter-company balances
- Running depreciation
- Reviewing income statement and balance sheet
✓ Tip: You do not need to complete every item in one sitting. The page saves each checkbox as you click it. You can return to the checklist at any time.
The Month-End Workflow
Here is the full lifecycle of a month-end period:
Step 1: Create the Period
Click New Period from the main list page and choose the month and year.
Step 2: Start the Period
Open the period detail and click Start Period. The status changes from open to in progress.
Step 3: Work Through the Checklist
Check off each item as you complete it. Use the progress counter in the Period Information card to track how many tasks remain.
Step 4: Calculate the Trial Balance
Click Calculate in the Trial Balance card. If the books are out of balance, investigate the account-level table to find and fix the discrepancy. Recalculate until the trial balance shows zero.
Step 5: Submit for Review
Once the checklist is complete and the trial balance is balanced, click Submit for Review. The status changes from in progress to review.
Step 6: Approve and Close
A reviewer opens the period and clicks Approve & Close. The status changes to closed. At this point, the period is finalized but transactions can still be edited.
Step 7: Lock the Period
Click Lock Period to calculate and store monthly balances permanently. Once locked, no transactions in this period can be added, edited, or deleted. The red Locked badge appears.
⚠ Warning: Locking is irreversible through the normal interface. If you need to make changes to a locked period, you must click Unlock Period, make your edits, and then lock again. Unlocking should be done sparingly and with caution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip the checklist and close a period directly?
You can submit a period for review even if not all checklist items are completed. However, required items should be addressed before final approval.
What happens if the trial balance is not zero?
You cannot lock a period with an out-of-balance trial balance. Use the detailed account table below the trial balance summary to find which accounts have discrepancies, then correct the underlying transactions.
Can I close a period from a previous year?
Yes. When creating a period, you can select any of the last five years. This is useful for catching up on past periods that were never formally closed.
What does locking a period actually do?
Locking calculates the monthly balances for every account and stores them in the database. It also prevents any new transactions from being created or modified within that period. Prior unlocked periods are locked automatically to maintain chronological integrity.
How do I unlock a period?
Click the Unlock Period button on a locked period. Confirm the action in the dialog. The period becomes editable again. Remember to re-lock it after making your changes.