Most CEOs think of the monthly close as a necessary evil — something accounting does in the background. But the close is actually the single most important recurring financial process in your company. It determines the accuracy of your dashboards, the reliability of your forecasts, and the confidence your board has in your numbers. A 3-4 week close means you're making decisions on stale data. A 7-10 day close means your January board meeting actually reflects January performance. The difference isn't just speed — it's decision quality. Companies that close faster make better capital allocation decisions, catch problems earlier, and present more credibly to investors and lenders.
Dave Burton, CPA
Founder & Lead Advisor, Maverick Advisors