Book Close

Book Close coordinates the work the team already tracks for a client period. Each close run records the period, due date, linked-task progress, readiness checks, reviewer decision, journal lock, and status history. The client's current assignees own the work without a separate close assignment.

Open Book Close

Select a client, then choose Book Close in the client sidebar. Calendar-month clients select a month. A client with a configured 52/53-week fiscal calendar can switch between Monthly and Reporting period and select one of its configured periods.

Choose Firm dashboard to open the organization-wide Monthly Close page. That page shows every active client for the selected month, including clients that have not started, linked-task progress, current action reasons, due dates, current client assignees, submissions awaiting review, and approved closes ready to lock.

Start a close run

1. Select the intended month or reporting period.
2. Choose Start close.

Wesley links applicable existing client tasks to the run. It does not create a second checklist or another assignment to maintain. New client tasks created during an active close are linked automatically when their due date falls inside the close work window. The due date defaults to ten days after the period end.

Only one close run can exist across any overlapping date range for the same client.

Work the client tasks

Use the existing task surfaces:

• the task control in the client top bar;
• the Tasks column on the Clients page;
• Manage tasks in Book Close.

These are the same client_tasks records, not copies. Creating, editing, completing, reopening, automating, or deleting a task in one surface updates the other surfaces. Complete or archive every linked task before submission.

Read close readiness

Readiness is recalculated from the current books. It shows:

• open client tasks linked to the close;
• pending or duplicate-review transactions in the close period;
• documents waiting for review;
• open client work and legacy close tasks;
• out-of-balance reconciliation reports in the close period.

Select a readiness item to open the underlying workspace. Readiness exceptions remain visible when a run is submitted so the reviewer can make the decision with the same evidence. Completed linked tasks are required for submission; other exceptions require reviewer judgment.

Readiness is a control signal. It does not prove that every account has been reconciled, that every adjustment is correct, or that the report package has been delivered.

The firm dashboard does not treat ordinary incomplete close work as an exception. Linked tasks remain in Close work progress. Action required is reserved for an overdue close, requested changes, or an open transaction, document, client-request, or reconciliation exception, and the row shows the primary reason directly.

Submit, review, approve, and lock

The close status follows this sequence:

1. A user with client write access completes the linked client tasks and chooses Submit for review.
2. A firm Manager or Owner either chooses Request changes with a required note or Approve close.
3. After approval, a Manager or Owner chooses Close & lock books.
4. Wesley creates the exact journal-period lock and marks the run Closed. An existing overlapping lock must be reviewed and removed through its own authorized workflow first.

If a submission was premature, a user with client write access can choose Move to in progress. If approval was accidental, a Manager or Owner can choose Undo approval to return the close to review. Neither action deletes history.

The history records close creation, submission, reverse transitions, review decisions, approval, lock, and reopen events with actor and time. Task completion remains in the existing client-task record.

What the journal lock does

A closed period blocks ledger actions dated inside its range, including journal creation, editing, and deletion and Banking posting or unposting. Imports, automation, recurring journals, and connected-system actions can fail when they attempt to post into the locked range.

Closing does not create a closing entry, reconcile an account, publish a report package, change ledger balances, or prove the reports are correct.

Reopen a close

Only a Manager or Owner with the required client control access can reopen closed books.

1. Open the closed run.
2. Enter the reason for reopening.
3. Choose Reopen books.
4. Make the approved correction.
5. Repeat affected tasks, reconciliation, reports, submission, approval, and lock.

Reopening removes the journal-period lock connected to the run and changes the run to Reopened. It does not undo prior edits, restore an earlier report, or certify changes made while the books were open.

Troubleshooting

Start close is unavailable. Check client write access and whether another close already overlaps the selected period.

Reporting period is unavailable. Configure a supported 52/53-week fiscal calendar for the client, or use a monthly date range.

Submit for review is unavailable. Complete or archive every client task linked to the close.

Approve or close is unavailable. Only a Manager or Owner can review, approve, and lock books.

The status was advanced by mistake. Use Move to in progress after submission or Undo approval after approval. Closed books still require Reopen books with a reason.

Close & lock books reports an overlapping lock. Another journal lock covers part of the selected range. Review the existing lock before changing either control.

A transaction, journal, recurring run, or import is blocked. Its posting date is likely closed. Do not move the date merely to bypass the control.

Reports changed after reopen. Identify entries created or edited while the range was open, then rerun affected tasks and reports before resubmitting.

For the full sequence, return to the Bookkeeping guide.