Period Close in COUNT Practice Manager helps accounting firms standardize recurring month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes. You can collect information from clients, complete review workpapers, prepare financial reports, and manage approvals from one centralized workflow.
This guide walks you through configuring the required templates and creating a Period Close for one or more clients.

Before you begin

Before creating a Period Close, you'll need to configure the templates you'll use throughout the close process.
These include:

• Close Templates
• Questionnaires
• Report Templates

Once these have been configured, you can create a Period Close for one or multiple clients.

What are Close Templates?

A Close Template defines the workflow your team will complete during the closing process. It can include workpapers, review steps, questionnaires, reporting modules, and other activities required to complete the close.

For example, your template may include:

• Review bank reconciliations
• Review uncategorized transactions
• Verify payroll entries
• Review Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable
• Analyze Profit & Loss variances
• Finalize financial statements

Using templates helps ensure every client follows a consistent closing process.

What are Questionnaires?

Questionnaires allow you to collect information and supporting documents from clients as part of the close process.
For example, you might ask:

• Did you purchase any fixed assets this month?
• Are there any outstanding invoices?
• Were there any unusual transactions?

Questionnaires can collect:

• Text responses
• Numeric responses
• Document uploads
• Digital signatures

Client responses become part of the Period Close, helping your team complete their review.

What are Report Templates?

Report Templates define the financial reports generated as part of the close process.
Examples include:

• Profit & Loss
• Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow Statement

Report templates can be customized with your firm's branding, layouts, and report sections.

Create a Period Close

1. Select Period Close from the top navigation bar on your Practice Manager.
2. Click + Start New Close.
3. In the Clients section, select one or more clients:
4. • Select clients individually, or click Select All to select all visible clients.
   • Client selection is required. The remaining configuration fields appear only after at least one client has been selected.
4. Choose the relevant templates for Close Templates and Report Pack.
5. Select the Period Type, such as Monthly.
6. Select the applicable Period. The fiscal-year start shown on the screen is based on the selected client or clients.
7. In Reviewers (optional), click Add Reviewer to have someone from your team review the period close:
8. • Add reviewers in the order in which they should review the close.
   • Drag the reviewer rows to change the review order.
   • When a Close Template is selected, its default reviewers may be added automatically.
8. Review the configuration and click Create Period Close.

Once a Period Close has been created, you can monitor the overall status of the close. As work is completed, supporting documents are automatically stored with the Period Close, providing a centralized record of the engagement.

Updated on: 22/07/2026