QuickBooks Month-End Close Packet Checklist

Assemble the evidence the reviewer needs

A month-end packet is a dated collection of requested reports, supporting records and unresolved questions. It should help the owner or accountant see what is ready for review and what remains incomplete. Preparing the packet does not mean the assistant has approved the books or closed the period.

Agree on the business entity, reporting period, requested report settings and delivery deadline before gathering files. Use the reviewer's checklist rather than assuming every business needs the same exports. Record the source and preparation date so an older version cannot be mistaken for the current packet.

Organize the packet around decisions

Keep the requested reports together, with their date ranges and settings visible. Attach or link the supporting statements and documents in the approved location. Maintain a separate questions list identifying the affected record, the missing evidence, the responsible reviewer and the next action.

Distinguish missing documents from unresolved accounting decisions. A receipt request may belong to an employee; a proposed correction may belong to the accountant. Do not bury both in a general note saying the close is incomplete. The reviewer should be able to see which dependency prevents the next step.

Example: a statement arrives after preparation

An account statement arrives after the assistant has assembled the first packet. Record its arrival and notify the reviewer which part of the packet may need another review. Preserve the first version and label the updated package clearly if the reviewer asks for one.

Do not silently replace a report or describe the whole packet as final. Record which files changed and which questions remain open. The reviewer determines whether the new evidence affects the close or requires an approved correction.

Deliver a traceable handoff

Before delivery, open the links using the intended access permissions, check period labels and confirm every unresolved item has an owner. Summarize what is included, what is missing and what needs a decision. Keep the reviewer's response with the packet rather than relying on a separate chat thread.

The reporting calendar can track these dependencies across months. Define recurring packet preparation with reporting support, while approval of reports, adjustments and period closure stays with the authorized reviewer.