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Claude for Operators

Month-End Close

Last verified: 13 February 2026 | Applies to: Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise

In 30 seconds

Section titled “In 30 seconds”

The Finance plugin can walk you through month-end close — reconciling accounts, running variance analysis, preparing workpapers, and producing the close checklist. This workflow covers a practical close process using Claude, from initial reconciliation through to the final review package.

Step by step

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Step 1: Seed your finance context

Section titled “Step 1: Seed your finance context”

If this is your first month-end with Claude, seed your context:

We're a [company type], fiscal year ending [month]. We use [accounting standard — GAAP/IFRS/AASB]. Our chart of accounts is [upload file]. Key accounts that typically need reconciliation: cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, prepaid expenses, accrued liabilities.

This gets stored in memory. Next month, you skip this step.

Step 2: Run reconciliations

Section titled “Step 2: Run reconciliations”
/reconciliation — Here's our bank statement and GL cash account for February [upload both files]. Match transactions, flag any discrepancies over $100, and produce a reconciliation summary.

Claude matches transactions, identifies unmatched items, and produces a formatted reconciliation. Review and resolve discrepancies.

Repeat for each account that needs reconciliation:

  • Cash / bank accounts
  • Accounts receivable (against sub-ledger)
  • Accounts payable
  • Prepaid expenses
  • Accrued liabilities

Step 3: Variance analysis

Section titled “Step 3: Variance analysis”
/variance-analysis — Compare our February actuals against budget [upload both]. Highlight any line items that deviate by more than 10% or $5,000. For each significant variance, suggest a likely explanation.

Claude produces a variance table with:

  • Account / line item
  • Budget amount
  • Actual amount
  • Variance ($ and %)
  • Suggested explanation
  • Flag (favourable / unfavourable)

Step 4: Prepare journal entries

Section titled “Step 4: Prepare journal entries”

For any adjusting entries identified during reconciliation:

/journal-entry — Create adjusting entries for: (1) prepaid insurance amortisation of $2,500, (2) accrued payroll of $45,000, (3) depreciation of $8,200 for the month.

Claude produces properly formatted journal entries with debits, credits, and supporting descriptions.

Step 5: Generate the close package

Section titled “Step 5: Generate the close package”
Compile the close package for February: include the reconciliation summaries, variance analysis, adjusting journal entries, and a close checklist. Format as a PDF I can share with our auditor.

Claude assembles the package as a downloadable document.

Step 6: Close checklist

Section titled “Step 6: Close checklist”
Generate our month-end close checklist for February. Mark completed items based on the work we've done. Flag any items still outstanding.

How operators actually use it

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