For established businesses, year-end financial reviews are critical to ensuring ongoing profitability, compliance, and strategic alignment for the next year. A comprehensive financial review will not only close the books on the current year but set the stage for long-term growth.
General Guidance
High performing businesses need to focus on accurate financial reporting, tax compliance, and strategic planning to improve profitability. Year-end financial reviews should align with broader business goals, such as reducing costs or expanding services.
Pre-Year-End Checklist
Complete the following tasks before the year ends to ensure financial accuracy and readiness.
- Review Financial Statements: Check that income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements are accurate and up to date.
- Analyze Budget vs. Actual Performance: Compare your business's financial performance against the budget. Identify areas where costs were higher or lower than expected and adjust spending accordingly.
- Tax Planning: Consult your tax advisor to explore year-end strategies, such as deferring revenue or accelerating deductible expenses, to minimize tax liability.
- Inventory and Asset Management: Conduct a physical inventory count if applicable. Review assets and equipment for depreciation and dispose of obsolete items.
- Reconcile Receivables and Payables: Ensure that all customer payments have been collected and supplier invoices have been paid or appropriately documented.
- Assess current liabilities with the client to determine if expenses will be paid out by year end, in the following quarter (Q1 2025) or should be reclassed as a long- term liability.
Post-Year-End Checklist
After the year closes, focus on finalizing financials and preparing for the next fiscal year.
- Close Financial Books: Perform a final reconciliation of all accounts and transactions to ensure that your financials are clean for year-end reporting.
- Prepare Year-End Financial Statements: Generate final financial statements, including profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow reports. These will serve as the foundation for tax filings and performance analysis.
- File Tax Returns: Work with your tax advisor to file the appropriate federal, state, and local taxes. Ensure all deductions, credits, and depreciation are correctly accounted for.
- Evaluate Cash Flow and Reserves: Assess your company's liquidity and set cash reserves for future expenses or investments.
- Plan for Strategic Growth: Use year-end data to identify new opportunities for growth, whether through expansion, cost-cutting, or market adjustments. Update your budget and financial projections for the coming year.
