Simpsons Cloud Accounting

How Our Monthly Close Works

Two fixed monthly reviews, a controlled Exception Pack workflow and a formal close and lock.

The operating model

Two fixed review points every month.

The timetable is deliberately predictable. Everyone knows when the books will be reviewed, what is outstanding and when the period is due to close.

01 · FIRST FRIDAY

Review 1

We issue the Initial Exception Pack after month end.

02 · EXCEPTIONS

Items identified

Missing evidence, unreconciled transactions and explanations required are made explicit.

03 · SECOND FRIDAY

Review 2

We issue the Final Exception Pack and confirm what remains unresolved.

04 · CONTROL

Closure & lock

Resolved items are closed and the month is locked.

What is an Exception Pack?

It is the practical control document for the monthly close. Instead of sending a vague email asking for “missing paperwork”, the review identifies the individual transactions or accounting questions that need an invoice, receipt, explanation, correction or explicit waiver.

Missing evidence

Transactions that may have been paid and reconciled but do not yet have the supporting document required for the accounting treatment.

Unreconciled items

Bank or card activity that is still unmatched, duplicated, incomplete or otherwise unresolved.

Accounting questions

Items where the business purpose, VAT treatment, ownership or appropriate ledger treatment needs clarification.

Why close and lock?

Once a month has been reviewed and closed, it should not be casually rewritten whenever a late document appears. Late information is handled through a controlled post-close adjustment so previously reviewed periods remain intelligible.

This is a discipline, not bureaucracy. The point is to move document chasing and accounting questions closer to the transaction date, when the people involved can still answer them quickly.