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The Close Clock: Faster Month-End Without New Hires

Stop working harder and start fixing the bottlenecks that keep your month-end close stuck in a nine-day cycle.

Created bySteven Taylorworkspace_premiumBest Instructor
BeginnerUpdated Oct 13, 2026

What You'll Learn

  • check_circleMap the month-end close process to identify the critical path and specific bottlenecks.
  • check_circleApply the handover test to delegate tasks and remove the controller from the critical path.
  • check_circleImplement firm operational cutoffs to reduce reliance on manual chasing.
  • check_circleDesign audit-compliant controls for AI-assisted accounting tasks.
  • check_circleDevelop a 90-day transition plan to reduce total close duration.

About This Course

This course provides a systematic framework for reducing month-end close times by identifying and eliminating process inefficiencies rather than increasing headcount or software spending. It introduces the Close Clock model, which categorizes accounting delays into wait, match, chase, and explain, and demonstrates how to prioritize tasks based on a critical path analysis. The material covers practical strategies for setting firm cutoffs, automating routine reconciliations, and optimizing review processes to move the controller off the critical path. By focusing on process design and clear accountability, the course outlines a 90-day plan to transition from a manual, bottleneck-heavy close to a streamlined, efficient workflow.

Topics Covered:

  • Critical path analysis for accounting
  • Close clock leak identification
  • Materiality-based review thresholds
  • Automated intercompany reconciliation
  • Standardized month-end checklists
  • Operational data cutoff enforcement
  • AI-assisted variance commentary
  • Audit-ready control documentation

Course Content

1 activity • 1 videos • duration: 57m

remove
The Close Clock: Faster Month-End Without New Hires1 videos • 57 min
  • videocamThe Close Clock: Faster Month-End Without New Hires
    Duration 57:19

Your Instructor

Steven Taylor

CFO & Board Director

menu_book6 courses
star560 reviews

Steven Taylor is an experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) based in Australia, with over 18 years of leadership across aged care, healthcare, FMCG, manufacturing, mining, technology, infrastructure, and not-for-profit sectors. Known for his hands-on approach to financial strategy and operational excellence, Steven has built a reputation for helping organisations drive profitability, strengthen governance, and achieve sustainable growth. Steven holds an MBA and is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Financial Modelling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA). His work focuses on translating complex financial concepts into practical, easy-to-apply strategies for executives, boards, and managers. Passionate about mentoring future leaders, Steven brings real-world insights into his writing, blending financial expertise with a clear, straightforward writing style. His books and guides are designed to be practical tools that deliver immediate value for professionals navigating today's fast-changing business landscape.

Credit Information

Is this course eligible for my CPD requirements as a Canadian CPA?

Provincial regulators of CPAs in Canada do not require that independent providers of CPD be approved to offer courses. Instead, individual CPAs are responsible for assessing whether a CPD activity meets their requirements, and may take activities from any source provided those requirements are met.

Every course offered on LearnFormula is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, and advances learning objectives that are relevant to the responsibilities or professional competencies of Canadian CPAs. All activities on LearnFormula are quantifiable in terms of hours, and are also verifiable, in that users receive documented evidence of their attendance via a certificate of completion after finishing a course (and this certificate is stored by LearnFormula indefinitely). Nearly 100,000 Canadian CPAs successfully satisfy their CPD requirements via LearnFormula on an annual basis.

What Students Are Saying

4.7 out of 5
Student's Choice
19 reviews
  • HM
    Hartirath M.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Great Ai tool - very informative

  • HW
    Hollie W.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Yes loved this

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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