End of Month… Done or Just “Looks Done”?

Let’s be honest…

Is your month end actually done?

Or does it just look done in Xero because everything has a green tick?

There’s a big difference.

Because clicking reconcile on transactions isn’t the same as knowing your numbers are right.

What does a proper month end look like?

This is where you step back and check the whole picture — not just the bank feed.

A solid end of month process gives you confidence that:

• Your BAS is going to be right

• Your payroll figures are correct

• Your reports actually mean something

A few key things I always check

Here’s what a proper review looks like (not just ticking boxes):

Bank accounts

Are they properly reconciled to your actual bank statements?(Not just “reconciled” in Xero)

Super payable

Does it tie back to your clearing account?Anything sitting there that shouldn’t be?

PAYGWDoes it match your payroll reports year to date?Or are things starting to drift?

Clearing accounts

Wages payable, super clearing, loan clearing…Are they zero? If not — do you know why?

GST control account

Does it make sense based on your BAS?

Or is it slowly building up errors?

General Ledger

Quick scan — does anything look off?

Unusual coding, duplicates, big swings?

ATO Integrated Client Account (ICA)

Is it reconciled to your Balance Sheet?

Or is there a mystery difference sitting there?

Why this actually matters

Because if you’re not checking this monthly…

Issues don’t stay small.

They build.

And by the time you get to BAS or EOFY, you’re trying to fix months of problems under pressure.

Business owners — this is for you too

Even if you have a bookkeeper (hopefully a good one 😉), this still matters.

Your numbers drive decisions.

If they’re wrong… your decisions are too.

If you’re a bookkeeper (or starting out)

This is the difference between:

Just “doing the data entry”

And actually adding value

A solid month end process is what sets you apart.

Want a shortcut?

I’ve put together my End of Month workpaper that I use across clients.

It steps through exactly what to check, how to check it, and what “right” should look like.

It’s designed for:

• Business owners who want more visibility

• New bookkeepers learning the ropes

• Bookkeepers setting up their own processes

It’s a paid resource (kept it simple and practical), and it’ll save you a lot of guesswork. Find it here: https://buy.stripe.com/8x2bJ3gsl5dn1XG3HV6J200

Final thought

If your month end is just based on green ticks…

There’s a good chance something’s being missed.

Take the extra time to check it properly - your future self (and your accountant) will thank you.

End of month that's seamless