Printable checklist

Finance System Readiness Checklist

For finance managers and controllers deciding whether it’s time for a new finance system, and what needs to be in place first. Work through it with whoever runs month-end day to day.

To print, use your browser’s print command (Ctrl+P, or ⌘P on a Mac).

Business
Completed by
Current system
Date

Keep it general. Don’t write account numbers, passwords or confidential figures on this checklist.

Tick one box per line. “Partly” is a useful answer, so don’t round it up.

Processes

Month-end close steps are written down, with who does each one.If the close lives in one person’s head, document it before choosing any system.
Purchase approval limits are documented and actually followed.
You can list the spreadsheets and manual workarounds used each month.Each one is either a requirement for the new system or something to retire.
Inter-company, multi-currency or stock processes are understood by more than one person.

Data

The chart of accounts has been reviewed in the last two years.
Customer and supplier records are free of obvious duplicates.
You’ve decided how much history needs to move: full detail, summary balances, or none.Moving less history often makes the first month simpler. Check any retention duties with your accountant.
Balance sheet accounts reconcile at the latest month-end.

People

A named person in finance can give the project time each week.
Directors agree on why the change is being considered.
Busy periods (year-end, audit, peak trading) are known and can be avoided for go-live.

Reporting

You can name the five reports directors look at most.
Each key measure (margin, debtor days, budget variance) has one agreed definition.
You know which reports are rebuilt by hand each month, and how long that takes.

Integrations

You have a list of every system that sends figures to finance: payroll, sales, ecommerce, banking, expenses.
For each one, you know whether data arrives automatically or as an uploaded file.
Each integration has an owner who can answer questions about it.

Budget and timing

There’s an agreed budget range covering licences, implementation and internal time.Get current licence pricing from Microsoft or a licensing provider. Don’t rely on old quotes.
A target go-live month has been chosen, away from year-end.
The current system’s contract or renewal date is known.

Summary for the directors

For each area, note an overall view (Ready, Some work, or Not ready), the main gap, and who will close it.

Area	Overall	Main gap	Owner
A · Processes
B · Data
C · People
D · Reporting
E · Integrations
F · Budget and timing

Several “No” answers in A or B usually mean tidying the current set-up first. That work carries over to whatever system you choose next.

Finance System Readiness Checklist · Silverline Ledger · silverlineledger.com/readiness-checklist.html · About the readiness review