# Group month-end close checklist

> This free Excel checklist lays out a five-day group close task by task, with an owner, a company and a due date for each. Due dates follow the month-end date you enter, and a progress sheet shows the percentage complete for each day. It is built for groups of 3 to 30 companies.

Source: https://finconsol.com/blog/resources/group-month-end-close-checklist/ (updated 28 October 2026)

| Stage | Task | Owner | Done |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Day 1: books in | Reconcile bank and cash accounts to the statements | Subsidiary accountant | Yes |
| Day 2: mapped | Compare every intercompany pair and list the differences above the threshold | Group controller | No |
| Day 4: eliminate | Eliminate the agreed intercompany balances and transactions | Group controller | No |

*Three of the 30 tasks, as they appear in the checklist*

## How to use it

1. **Enter the month-end date.** Every due date is worked out from it, skipping weekends and the holidays you list.
2. **Put real names** in the Owner and Company columns, and copy a task's row once for each company that needs it.
3. **Set Done to Yes** as each task finishes. Tasks that are late and not done show in red.
4. **Read the Progress sheet** for the percentage complete for each day and for the whole close.

## Who is it for?

Group controllers and finance heads who close three to thirty companies each month and want one list that every accountant works from. The tasks follow [the five-day group close](/blog/five-day-group-close/). Change the days and owners to suit your own calendar. When the list grows too long to chase by hand, [Finconsol's close controls](https://finconsol.com/close-controls/) keep the steps and the lock in one place.

## Questions

**Can I change the number of days?**

Yes. The working day for each task is a number in column B. Change it, and the due date follows. Negative numbers are days before month-end.

**Does it work for a close longer than five days?**

Yes. Move the later tasks to a higher working day. The Progress sheet lists the stages found on the checklist, so add a row there if you create a new stage.

**Do I need Excel?**

The file uses standard formulas and opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets. Check the due dates after opening it in a different program.