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Have you ever wondered why your bookkeeping and accounting system is in shambles? We do realize how an organized, clean, well maintained books of accounts depict the health of the business. This scenario arises when a lukewarm attempt is made to DIY bookkeeping, lack of time, incompetent bookkeeper or just failing to get it done.
A sensible way is to start your bookkeeping in the correct way from the beginning. Maintaining the books and balance sheets regularly, or rather at the end of every month will generate squeaky clean books. Considering the fact that you haven’t been updating on a monthly schedule, you need to start all over. Installing QuickBooks or any other bookkeeping software of your choice will be the first step.
For your benefit, here is a run through of bookkeeping tasks to close the books every month. This monthly routine helps you maintain cleaner books, easier business decision making and get tax-ready for the end of the financial year.
Accounts Receivable
Your monthly invoices for work done for clients have to be scrutinized and all the deposits and cash are posted to QuickBooks should be checked. Try to reconcile your accounts receivable report, making adjustments against General Ledger and Balance Sheet.
Accounts Payable
Make sure monthly recurring bills and payments such as, car insurance and loan payments are entered in the respective books of accounts. Outstanding vendor bills and statements must be in line with Accounts Payable accounts and the Balance Sheet. The final monthly checkup of accounts should match your vendors’ records.
Monthly Reconciliation statements
Bank reconciliation statements for your multiple bank accounts, credit card transactions for the month should be updated, printed and filed for future reference. Reconciling loan balances and credit against the monthly statement should also be filed as it would make bookkeeping at the end of the financial year easier to handle.
Prepaid Income and expenses
Check for appropriate journal entries posted for prepaid income and expense adjustments, this would make your bookkeeper’s job a lot less time consuming.
Write off Bad debts
Bad debts that are uncollected are to be written off. QuickBooks has the facility to write off bad debts using the Credit Memo.
Keep an eye on your fixed assets
Any changes in your Fixed assets including depreciation must be updated on a monthly basis.
Validate all checks and Invoice numbers
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Check books and invoice statements are generated in numerical order. Watch out for any missing numbers on checks or missing transactions and bring it to records. Any void or cancelled checks are listed and kept on record.
Review Financial statements
Check all postings in the financial statements for errors, missing records and unusual balances. When you identify any untoward transactions, review them and make necessary adjustments. Printing and filing Financial statements and reports are required for perfect cleanup.
Close Books and Backup
The Closing Date feature in QuickBooks permits you to lock the previous months and is password protected as well. When all the adjustments for the month is completed, the bookkeeper closes the books for the month and a backup of the books are done.
Keep tabs on your Budget
Reassess your actual numbers against budgeted numbers. You will understand why there is a difference and how a workable budget can be reinforced and managed for the following month.
The above measures are not only helpful to clean up your books of accounts, but also gives you the confidence of running a healthy business. As we are drawing close to the end of the financial year, well maintained accounts are an advantage for preparation of taxes. One of our services in demand is the cleanup of books for small, medium and large businesses. So, if you are looking for a shipshape financial book of accounts on a monthly basis or at the year end; an added bonus is your peace of mind. Do contact us for a consultation.
