From 30-Day to 7-Day Close: Automation & AI for Finance That Actually Works
- TruePro
- Sep 1
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 25
If your month-end close drags on for weeks, you don’t need a new ERP to fix it. You need a documented checklist, a few well-placed automations, and light AI for finance to catch errors before the auditors do. This playbook shows how to move from ad-hoc fire drills to a predictable 7-day close — by optimizing what you already have, then layering smarter tools where they matter.
Diagnose bottlenecks first
Map the current close (who/what/when).
Identify wait states: late entries, approvals, reconciliations, revenue cut-offs.
Set day-by-day owners and due times.
Quick automation wins (before big projects)
Bank feeds & rules to auto-code routine transactions.
Recurring journals & schedules for amortization, accruals, and deferrals.
Template PBCs for AP, AR, cash, payroll, revenue.
Practical AI for finance (keep humans in the loop)
Variance explanations: draft narrative from GL + budget (review required).
Anomaly flags: surface unusual vendors, amounts, or late entries.
Document search: pull policies/support fast during close.
System optimization — not a rip-and-replace
Clean the chart of accounts, lock posting calendars, standardize classes/depts.
Use integrations you already pay for (billing, payroll, expense) to cut manual entry.
Create a one-page close checklist with due dates and owners.
Prove it works in 90 days
Days 1–30: baseline checklist, top 3 automations.
Days 31–60: tighten cut-offs, finalize reporting pack.
Days 61–90: stabilize to a repeatable 5–7 day cadence.
