TOOLS FOR CONTROLLERSHIP SERIES

1. General Ledger Worksheet
This is an example of a GL worksheet with tabs for monthly expense summaries, itemized expenses and YTD.

2. Financial Reporting Policy Instructions
This is a guide for developing a financial reporting policy.

3. Accounts Receivable Template
This is an example template that can be utilized for tracking accounts receivable.

4. Cash Forecast Template
This is an example template that provides an outline of items that would be considered in preparing a cash forecast. The individual line items should be tailored to each organization.

5. Close the Books Process Questionnaire
Closing the books primarily covers the accounting activities surrounding the closing of the general ledger and all associated ledgers for each accounting period (e.g., month, quarter, etc.) Activities for closing the books vary significantly from one company to the next. This process should cover all activities leading up to the closing day, ledger related activities, review activities, reporting activities and reconciliation activities.

6. Financial Close Process Questionnaire
The financial close process is important to a company, as it is the function directly related to producing company financial results for each period end. Restricting access to accounting and reporting applications and establishing clear write-off and reserve policies are examples of financial close process controls. These controls can be preventive or detective in nature. This template can be used as a guide for identifying controls.

7. Financial Close Process Questionnaire Analyze Results
This process includes reviewing and analyzing consolidated financial information and business segment information. Locate the standard reports from financial reporting used in this process each period (monthly, quarterly, annually). Ensure that the reports go through a review process on a regular basis. This template can be used as a guide for identifying controls.

8. Generating Financial Statement Disclosures
Financial Reporting drafts the financial statements and disclosures based on information gathered from various sources. The financial statements should come directly from the consolidations system. Information for disclosures will come from a variety of company business units such as Corporate Accounting, Legal and Payroll. Once drafted, Financial Reporting circulates the draft FS to a group of individuals, including the company executives, board of directors, audit committee, disclosure committee and controllers, for review and approval. This template can be used as a guide for identifying Financial statement disclosures.

9. Financial Close Process Questionnaire – Upload Data from The General Ledger to Consolidated Systems
This is a template that helps identify the process for uploading data from the GL to consolidated systems. The process should include someone at the business unit level approving the finalized GL and then preparing the GL data for upload into the consolidations system. Someone in Financial Reporting or at the business unit should reconcile the data in the consolidations system to the GL to verify that it was entered completely and accurately.

10. Sample Financial Close Policy Schedule
This is an example policy for the closing cycle. The close cycle will facilitate the production of timely and accurate information.

11. Comprehensive Internal Control Checklist
This is a comprehensive checklist for evaluating internal controls within the following areas: Accounts receivable and sales, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other expense controls, cash disbursement controls, cash receipt controls, general accounting controls, fixed asset controls, intangible controls, inventory and cost of sales controls, investment controls, long-term liability controls, notes receivable controls, payroll controls, prepaid expenses and deferred charges controls, shareholder equity controls.

12. Inventory Spreadsheet
This is an example of a spreadsheet that can be used to record inventory.

13. Alternative Format Inventory Spreadsheet
This is an alternative format to utilize to track total inventory in a warehouse as well as the value of the inventory.

14. Depreciation Spreadsheet
This is an example template to track MACRS depreciation.

15. Bank Reconciliation Process
This is a description of how to perform a bank reconciliation.

16. Instructions for Documenting Process Controls
This document describes how to document process controls using narratives and flowcharts.

17. Example Fraud Policy
This is a sample fraud policy for an organization.

18. Instructions for Developing Accounting Policy
This is a general document describing how to develop an accounting policy.

19. Instructions for Developing an Accounts Payable or Accounts Receivable Policy
This document provides general instructions for developing an accounts payable or accounts receivable policy.

20. Instructions for Developing Miscellaneous Expense Policy
This document provides general instructions for developing a miscellaneous expense policy.

21. Instructions for Developing a Purchasing Policy
This document provides general instructions for developing a purchasing policy.

22. Instructions for Developing a Revenue Policy
This document provides general instructions for developing a revenue recognition policy.

23. Instructions for An Accounting Manual
This document provides general instructions for developing an accounting manual.