Free Checklist Templates for Accounting

Accounting

OR

Cash Flow Analysis Checklist

Statement Setup and Tie-Out

Confirm period and analysis scope

Pull cash flow statement and supporting reports

Tie net income to the income statement

Confirm ending cash ties to bank reconciliations

Operating Activities Analysis

Walk working capital changes

Reconcile non-cash add-backs

Assess earnings quality

Investigate the working capital gap

Investing Activities Review

Walk capital expenditures by category

Review asset disposal proceeds

Review investment and acquisition activity

Financing Activities Review

Reconcile debt activity to lender statements

Walk equity transactions

Check loan covenant compliance

Cash Flow Projection Review

Compare prior projection to actual

Stress-test the forward forecast

Build the liquidity contingency memo

Ratio Analysis and Sign-Off

Compute liquidity and coverage ratios

Compute leverage and free cash flow ratios

Draft the analysis memo

Partner or CFO sign-off

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Cash Flow Analysis Checklist

Engagement Setup & Data Pull

Confirm the close period is locked in QBO

Export trial balance and statement of cash flows

Tie cash GL balance to bank statements

Confirm prior-period restatements

Operating Cash Flow Review

Reconcile net income to operating cash

Analyze A/R aging and DSO movement

Analyze A/P aging and DPO movement

Review inventory and prepaid movement

Investing & Financing Activities

Review capex against the fixed-asset roll-forward

Tie debt activity to the loan amortization schedule

Review owner distributions and equity contributions

Variance & Trend Analysis

Build the trailing 12-month cash flow trend

Compute period-over-period variances

Flag material unexplained variances

Escalate variance to engagement partner

Liquidity & Forecast Assessment

Compute current ratio and quick ratio

Compute cash runway in months

Build the 13-week rolling cash forecast

Client Deliverable & Sign-Off

Draft the management commentary

Partner review and sign-off

Deliver package via client portal

Schedule the monthly review call

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Cash Flow Management Checklist

Cash Position and Forecast

Pull beginning cash balances from each operating account

Update the 13-week cash flow forecast

Compare actual vs. forecast variance

Identify minimum cash balance for the period

Draft a liquidity action plan

Receivables and Collections

Run the A/R aging report

Issue invoices for revenue recognized this period

Work the 60+ day past-due accounts

Run credit checks on new customer accounts

Calculate DSO for the trailing period

Payables and Disbursements

Run the A/P aging and proposed payment list

Three-way match on inventory and PO-backed bills

Capture early-payment discounts where economic

Submit the check run for partner approval

Calculate DPO and review against terms

Reserves and Short-Term Investments

Confirm operating reserve covers target months

Sweep surplus cash above the operating ceiling

Review yield and FDIC exposure on cash holdings

Expense and Revenue Review

Review opex variance against budget

Audit recurring SaaS and subscription charges

Review pricing and revenue mix for the period

Check customer concentration risk

Reporting and Sign-Off

Build the monthly cash flow report package

Hold the cash flow review with the CFO or owner

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Cash Management Checklist

Daily Cash Position

Pull prior-day balances from each bank portal

Update the daily cash position worksheet

Investigate unexpected debits or credits

Flag any borrowing or sweep action needed

Cash Forecasting

Refresh the 13-week rolling forecast

Review actual vs. forecast variances

Document drivers behind material variances

Brief the CFO on liquidity outlook

Cash Receipts Processing

Post lockbox and ACH receipts to AR

Reconcile deposits to bank credits

Work the AR aging over 30 days

Cash Disbursements Controls

Verify three-way match on vendor bills

Confirm dual approval on the AP batch

Schedule payments against the cash forecast

Enable positive pay on issued checks

Bank Reconciliation

Reconcile each operating account

Clear stale outstanding checks and deposits

Flag reconciling items over $1,000

Submit reconciliation for controller review

Internal Controls and Compliance

Test segregation of duties on cash handling

Confirm bank signers and user access lists

Review the WISP and fraud-monitoring logs

Investment and Debt Management

Compare surplus cash to the target peg

Place surplus per the investment policy

Confirm upcoming debt service obligations

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Chart of Accounts Maintenance Checklist

Pre-Review Preparation

Export the current chart of accounts

Pull 12-month activity by account

Confirm the COA size threshold

Structural Cleanup

Map redundant accounts for merging

Reclassify dimension misuse to classes or tags

Deactivate stale accounts with zero activity

Classification and Naming Review

Verify account types against US GAAP categories

Confirm QBO detail types match account purpose

Apply the firm's account numbering scheme

Standardize account names and descriptions

Reconciliation and Balance Validation

Tie balance-sheet accounts to supporting schedules

Investigate suspense and Ask My Accountant

Post reclassification AJEs with memos

Controls and Documentation

Restrict COA edit permissions in the GL

Log all changes to the change register

Controller signs off on the updated COA

Maintenance Cadence

Schedule the next quarterly COA review

Update the COA documentation in SmartVault

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Chart of Accounts Review Checklist

Pre-Review Setup

Export the current chart of accounts

Pull prior review notes and change log

Confirm reporting framework and entity type

Structure and Numbering

Verify account number ranges by category

Check parent-subaccount hierarchy depth

Flag accounts with mismatched type and number

Classification and Tax-Line Mapping

Verify asset and liability classifications

Confirm revenue and COGS segregation

Map accounts to the entity tax form

Review IFRS presentation requirements

Cleanup and Consolidation

Identify duplicate or near-duplicate accounts

Review accounts with no 24-month activity

Inactivate stale accounts in the GL

Reclass Ask My Accountant entries

Consolidate fragmented expense accounts

Documentation and Sign-Off

Document each change with rationale

Update the COA change log

Brief bookkeeping staff on new account usage

Obtain partner sign-off on the revised COA

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Client Engagement Closeout Checklist

Financial Reconciliation

Post final WIP and unbilled time entries

Reconcile fixed-fee vs. time-and-materials billing

Issue final invoice and clear A/R

Confirm scope creep status

Issue change-order invoice for overage

Workpaper and Documentation Archival

Compile final workpaper binder

Index supporting documents in SmartVault or Suralink

Apply seven-year retention lock

Document independence assessment for next year

Client Sign-Off

Deliver final report and management letter

Hold final client review meeting

Capture signed acceptance of deliverables

Resolve open items before closing

Administrative Closure

Mark the engagement closed in Karbon or TaxDome

Cancel client-portal access for temporary collaborators

Update CRM with renewal and cross-sell notes

Team Debrief and Resource Release

Run the engagement post-mortem

Submit staff performance feedback

Release staff back to the scheduling pool

Log CPE hours earned during the engagement

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Client Engagement Letter Renewal

Prior Engagement Review

Pull the current engagement letter

Confirm the engagement type and standards

Run independence and conflict check

Review prior-year realization and write-offs

Scope and Service Assessment

Document scope changes from the prior year

Hold the renewal discovery call

Document the change-order scope

Refresh the PBC and deliverable list

Pricing and Profitability

Recalculate the fixed-fee budget

Apply the annual rate increase

Set proposed fees and payment terms

Engagement Letter Drafting

Draft the renewal engagement letter

Insert SSARS or audit-specific language

Update the WISP and data-handling addendum

Internal Review and Approval

Route for partner review

Route for legal or risk review

Update the practice management system

Client Acceptance and Signature

Send the letter via Practice Ignition or DocuSign

Capture the client's renewal decision

Issue the disengagement letter

File the executed letter and kick off the engagement

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Client Onboarding Checklist

Engagement Acceptance

Run client acceptance and conflict check

Determine engagement type and scope

Confirm independence for attest engagements

Send engagement letter for signature

Compliance and KYC

Collect entity formation documents

Collect signed Form W-9 and beneficial-owner info

Verify entity type drives downstream tax setup

Confirm WISP coverage and data-handling protocol

Systems and Access Setup

Provision client portal and folder structure

Request accountant access to QBO or Xero

Obtain IRS and state tax authorizations

Set up payroll and AP tool integrations

Opening Balances and Historical Cleanup

Collect prior-year tax returns and financials

Reconcile opening balances to prior CPA

Audit and clean the chart of accounts

Review historical bank feeds for uncategorized items

Scope and quote the historical cleanup project

Kickoff and First Deliverable

Hold the kickoff call with the client

Build the recurring PBC document request list

Schedule recurring close and review cadence

Deliver the first month's close package

Complete partner sign-off on onboarding

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Collections Management Checklist

Aging Review and Triage

Reconcile A/R sub-ledger to the GL

Pull the 30/60/90/120+ aging report

Identify the highest-risk balance

Confirm unapplied cash and credit memos

Dunning and Customer Outreach

Send the 30-day reminder email

Call the A/P contact on 60-day balances

Issue the formal demand letter at 90 days

Log every touch in the CRM

Dispute and Credit Hold

Open a dispute case with the account owner

Place the customer on credit hold

Issue a corrected invoice or credit memo

Escalation and Write-Off Review

Decide on escalation for 120+ accounts

Place the account with the collections agency

Post the bad-debt write-off entry

Cash Application and Reporting

Apply the week's lockbox and ACH receipts

Update the DSO and collections KPIs

Send the weekly A/R package to the CFO

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Consulting and Advisory Services Checklist

Discovery and Scoping

Hold the discovery call with the client

Run the independence and conflict check

Escalate independence conflict to managing partner

Define engagement scope and deliverables

Select fee structure and estimate hours

Engagement Setup

Draft and send the engagement letter

Open the engagement in Karbon or TaxDome

Send the PBC list to the client

Collect the retainer or first invoice

Fieldwork and Analysis

Hold the kickoff meeting with client stakeholders

Review PBC documents and tie to GL

Build the analysis model in Excel or Fathom

Identify findings and recommendations

Submit workpapers for partner review

Address partner review notes

Deliverable and Client Presentation

Draft the client deliverable

Run partner sign-off on the final deliverable

Present findings to the client

Capture follow-up requests and scope changes

Issue the change order for additional scope

Engagement Closeout

Issue the final invoice and clear WIP

Archive workpapers in document management

Run the post-engagement review

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Contract Review Checklist

Contract Identification

Capture the counterparty's legal name and entity type

Classify the contract type and effective date

Log the contract in the register

Commercial Terms Review

Review the scope of work and deliverables

Verify payment terms and pricing schedule

Examine renewal and termination clauses

Legal and Compliance

Confirm governing law and dispute resolution forum

Review indemnification and liability caps

Evaluate confidentiality and data-handling obligations

Decide whether outside counsel review is needed

Route the contract to outside counsel for redlines

Financial and Accounting Impact

Capture total contract value and term length

Assess ASC 606 revenue recognition treatment

Determine ASC 842 lease classification if applicable

Flag whether the contract is material to financials

Draft a technical accounting memo for the CFO

Risk and Insurance

Verify the counterparty COI meets required limits

Review force majeure and business continuity clauses

Log residual risks in the risk register

Performance and Delivery

Clarify acceptance criteria for deliverables

Confirm SLA metrics and breach remedies

Review liquidated damages and late-performance penalties

Approval and Sign-Off

Capture controller review and route to signers

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Corporate Tax Preparation Checklist

Engagement Setup & Entity Confirmation

Confirm legal name, EIN, and DBAs

Confirm entity type and applicable form

Pull prior-year return and carryforward schedules

Send PBC list to client controller

Trial Balance & Book-to-Tax Workpapers

Tie trial balance to year-end financials

Reconcile bank and credit-card accounts

Post Schedule M-1 and M-3 book-to-tax adjustments

Roll forward depreciation and Section 179 schedules

Income & Expense Substantiation

Tie payroll wages to Form 941 and W-3

Verify officer compensation on Form 1125-E

Review meals, travel, and auto allocations

Deductions, Credits & Special Items

Identify R&D credit qualifying activities

Document Section 174 capitalization positions

Apply NOL carryforwards under TCJA limits

Update shareholder basis schedules

Compliance & Estimated Payments

Confirm Q1-Q4 federal estimated payments posted

Reconcile state apportionment and PTET elections

Decide whether to file Form 7004 extension

Partner Review & E-File

File Form 7004 and remit balance due

Run partner technical review and tickmark workpapers

Send return to client for Form 8879 e-signature

E-file return and archive IRS acknowledgment

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Corporate Tax Return Preparation Checklist

Engagement Setup & Entity Confirmation

Confirm signed engagement letter on file

Verify entity type and filing form

Verify registered address and nexus footprint

Trial Balance & Book Tie-Out

Import year-end trial balance from the GL

Reconcile cash to year-end bank statements

Tie A/R and A/P aging to the GL

Roll forward the fixed asset register

Lock the prior period in the books

Source Document Collection (PBC)

Send the PBC list to the controller

Collect year-end bank and brokerage statements

Gather payroll filings and W-3 totals

Pull 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC summaries

Confirm whether to file an extension

Book-to-Tax Adjustments

Build the Schedule M-1 reconciliation

Apply the 50% meals disallowance

Calculate Section 179 and bonus depreciation

Compute state apportionment factors

Update shareholder basis on Form 7203

Return Preparation & Compliance

File Form 7004 extension

Prepare the federal return in the tax software

Prepare state and local returns

Clear all critical diagnostics

Tie estimated payments to IRS transcripts

Partner Review & E-File

Schedule the partner review meeting

Clear partner review notes

Send return to client for 8879-C signature

E-file federal and state returns

Roll forward to next-year file

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Cost Accounting Checklist

Cost Identification and Classification

Pull GL cost transactions for the period

Classify each cost as direct or indirect

Tag costs as variable, fixed, or mixed

Segregate non-operational costs from product cost

Cost Allocation and Apportionment

Trace direct costs to cost objects

Select allocation bases for indirect costs

Apportion overhead using the chosen bases

Reassess allocation bases against current usage

Update allocation bases in the costing model

Budgeting and Variance Analysis

Build the flexible budget at actual volume

Calculate price and quantity variances

Investigate variances above materiality threshold

Update forecasts based on variance findings

Cost Control and Reduction

Review cost-center performance against budget

Flag cost centers exceeding tolerance

Document cost-reduction opportunities

List supplier renegotiation candidates

Inventory Management and Valuation

Value inventory under the elected costing method

Run cycle count or full physical inventory

Reconcile physical count to perpetual records

Post obsolescence and impairment write-downs

Performance Measurement and Reporting

Compile actual-versus-standard cost report

Apply activity-based costing to key cost pools

Deliver cost report package to management

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Cost-Benefit Analysis Checklist

Scope and Objectives

Draft the decision question

Set the analysis horizon and discount rate

Confirm the project sponsor and approver

List the key assumptions and constraints

Cost Identification

Build the direct cost schedule

Estimate indirect and overhead costs

Account for switching and disruption costs

Attach vendor quotes and supporting documentation

Benefit Quantification

Quantify direct revenue and cost savings

Estimate indirect and productivity benefits

Identify strategic and risk-reduction benefits

Validate benefit estimates with the operating owner

Financial Modeling

Build the discounted cash flow model

Calculate NPV, IRR, and payback period

Run sensitivity analysis on key drivers

Determine whether NPV is positive at the hurdle rate

Alternatives Evaluation

Identify two to three viable alternatives

Model the do-nothing baseline

Score alternatives on cost, benefit, and risk

Recommendation and Sign-Off

Draft the recommendation memo

Review with the controller and CFO

Present to the approval committee

Document post-implementation tracking plan

Re-scope or kill the project

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Credit and Collections Checklist

Aging Review and Triage

Pull the A/R aging report from the GL

Tie aging to the GL control account

Bucket receivables by 30/60/90/120+ days

Flag accounts over $5,000 in 60+ bucket

Customer Risk Reassessment

Pull updated D&B or Experian commercial reports

Recalculate credit limits using the scoring matrix

Document any credit hold decisions

Tiered Collections Outreach

Send statement reminders to 1-30 day accounts

Make first-call outreach on 31-60 day accounts

Issue formal demand letter on 61-90 day accounts

Document every contact in the customer record

Confirm whether 90+ accounts have responded

Escalation and Legal Review

Compile the escalation packet for counsel

Review FDCPA and state-law applicability with counsel

Approve assignment to third-party collections

Bad-Debt Reserve and Write-Offs

Recalculate the allowance for doubtful accounts

Post the bad-debt reserve adjusting entry

Process specific write-offs with controller approval

Reporting and Policy Review

Publish the monthly collections KPI dashboard

Review credit policy exceptions granted this period

Schedule the quarterly credit committee meeting

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Customer Credit Approval Checklist

Application Intake

Send the credit application packet

Collect signed application and W-9

Confirm requested limit and product mix

Identity and Entity Verification

Run OFAC and SDN screening

Verify legal entity and good standing

Request a personal guaranty

Credit Bureau and References

Pull D&B and Experian Business reports

Call three trade references

Confirm bank reference and average balance

Financial Statement Analysis

Review two years of financial statements

Calculate liquidity and leverage ratios

Assess DSO trend and aging quality

Terms, Limit, and Committee Decision

Recommend credit limit and terms

Submit file to the credit committee

Document required collateral or guaranty

Issue ECOA adverse action notice

Customer Setup and Notification

Countersign and file the credit agreement

Set up the customer in NetSuite or QBO

Notify sales and AR of approved terms

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Daily Bookkeeping Checklist

Bank Feed and Transaction Review

Pull today's bank and credit-card feeds

Categorize feed transactions to the COA

Match transfers between linked accounts

Flag unclear charges for client follow-up

Receipt and Source-Document Capture

Process receipts from Hubdoc or Dext

Email client about missing W-9s

Accounts Receivable

Issue invoices for today's billable activity

Apply customer payments received today

Run the A/R aging report

Send dunning notices to delinquent customers

Accounts Payable

Enter vendor bills from Bill.com or Ramp

Schedule the day's bill payments

Reconcile vendor statements to A/P aging

Cash Position and Reporting

Update the 13-week cash forecast

Check operating account against minimum cash threshold

Notify the controller of the cash shortfall

End-of-Day Close-Out

Verify sales-tax liability accrual

Back up QBO/Xero exports to SmartVault

Log billable time in Karbon or TaxDome

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Deal Closure Checklist

Due Diligence Completion

Sign off on the quality of earnings report

Resolve open items in the virtual data room

Bind representations and warranties insurance

Confirm all closing conditions are cleared

Escalate outstanding conditions to deal counsel

Financial Settlements

Finalize the closing flow of funds memo

Reconcile working capital to the agreed peg

Wire the purchase price to the paying agent

Fund the escrow and indemnity holdbacks

Contractual and Legal Execution

Collect signatures on the purchase agreement

Execute bills of sale, assignments, and IP transfers

Confirm third-party consents from landlords and lenders

Update the stock ledger and corporate records

Regulatory Compliance and Filings

Determine HSR notification threshold

File HSR notification with the FTC and DOJ

Determine SEC reporting obligations

File Form 8-K within four business days

File state transfer, bulk-sale, and franchise-tax forms

Post-Closure Accounting and Communication

Issue the closing announcement to staff and customers

Open the working capital true-up workpaper

Record opening balance sheet under ASC 805

Schedule the 90-day integration review

Risk Management and Integration

Bind the D&O tail and update commercial insurance

Cut over payroll, GL, and bank-feed access

Stand up the integration KPI dashboard

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Debt Management Checklist

Debt Assessment

Pull the current debt schedule

Map the maturity profile by quarter

Compute leverage and coverage ratios

Benchmark leverage against industry peers

Covenant Compliance

Re-read the covenant package

Build the covenant compliance certificate

Notify counsel and request a waiver

Set covenant headroom alerts in the model

Restructuring & Refinancing

Decide whether to pursue refinancing

Solicit term sheets from three lenders

Compare term sheets on all-in cost

Negotiate covenant and pricing terms

Cash Flow & Working Capital

Refresh the 13-week cash forecast

Work the A/R aging over 60 days

Review inventory and A/P days

Confirm liquidity meets the next two debt service payments

Stakeholder Communication

Draft the lender quarterly update

Prepare the board debt summary

CFO sign-off on the quarterly debt package

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Employee Expense Policy Compliance Checklist

Intake and Eligibility

Log the report in the AP queue

Confirm employee is eligible per policy

Verify approver matches the policy hierarchy

Substantiation and Documentation

Check receipts for every expense over $75

Verify business purpose is documented

Confirm date, amount, and vendor on each line

Determine if all required documentation is present

Request missing receipts from the employee

Category Limits and Per-Diems

Check meal expenses against per-diem limits

Verify lodging stays within nightly cap

Validate mileage against IRS standard rate

Flag any policy exceptions for VP approval

Route exception items to VP approver

Tax and GL Treatment

Confirm the report meets accountable-plan rules

Identify taxable fringe items for payroll

Apply correct GL accounts and 50% meal split

Verify currency conversion and FX rate source

Approval and Reimbursement

Confirm submission is within the 60-day window

Verify ACH banking details on file

Record the final review decision

Release payment in the next ACH run

Return the report to the employee with reasons

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Employee Expense Reimbursement Checklist

Intake and Policy Verification

Log the submitted expense report

Confirm submission within the 60-day window

Review against the current T&E policy

Verify the expense is business-related

Receipt and Substantiation Review

Match each line item to a receipt

Check that meal receipts are itemized

Confirm attendees logged for business meals

Verify mileage logs against the IRS rate

Identify any policy exceptions

Exception Handling

Document the exception and route to the controller

Obtain controller written sign-off on exception

Manager Approval and Coding

Route the report to the employee's manager

Confirm GL coding and cost-center allocation

Capture manager digital approval

Payment and Posting

Schedule the ACH reimbursement

Post the journal entry to the GL

Notify the employee of payment

Recordkeeping and Audit Trail

Archive the report and receipts

Update the employee reimbursement ledger

Tag for sample selection in the next AP audit

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Employee Termination Checklist (Accounting Department)

Termination Intake

Confirm separation type and effective date

Identify the accounting role and key duties

Notify the controller and HR business partner

Final Payroll and Benefits

Calculate the final paycheck

Verify state final-pay timing rules

Process outstanding expense reports

Issue COBRA election notice

Distribute final 401(k) and HSA paperwork

Access and System Security

Deactivate accounting system access

Remove banking and ACH authorities

Collect company devices and access cards

Rotate shared credentials and API keys

Forward email and preserve mailbox

Knowledge Transfer and Reassignment

Map open items to a successor

Document recurring close procedures

Hold a debrief with the outgoing employee

Rebalance segregation of duties

Financial Audit and Handover

Review recent journal entries and bank recs

Investigate any material issues

Notify clients, vendors, and bank contacts

Update HRIS and retain termination file

Confirm NDA and non-solicit obligations

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End-of-Month Sales and Revenue Reporting

Transaction Cutoff and Verification

Confirm POS and billing system feeds posted

Reconcile invoice register to GL revenue

Document returns, credit memos, and discounts

Flag period-end cutoff exceptions for review

Post cutoff reclass entries

ASC 606 Revenue Recognition

Recognize product revenue at transfer of control

Release deferred revenue for completed services

Accrue unbilled revenue earned in period

Review multi-element contracts for allocation

Accounts Receivable Reconciliation

Tie A/R aging to GL receivables balance

Apply unapplied customer payments

Review 60+ and 90+ day buckets

Assess allowance for doubtful accounts

Post specific bad-debt write-offs

Sales Tax and Nexus Compliance

Pull state-by-state taxable sales summary

Confirm new nexus states or registrations

Initiate registration in new nexus states

Prepare jurisdiction returns for filing

Reconcile sales tax payable to filed returns

Reporting, Variance Analysis, and Delivery

Generate monthly revenue and net sales report

Run variance analysis vs. budget and prior period

Update rolling forecast with actuals

Partner sign-off on revenue package

Lock the period and deliver to client

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