Appearance
Close or hard close an accounting period
When to use it
Use this guide when you need to close or hard close an accounting period.
Before you start
- Open Accounting Periods from the module menu. Your account must have access to this screen and permission for the action you want to complete.
- Have the period reviewed before restricting further accounting entries.
What this changes
The accounting period’s posting status is changed.
Closing an accounting period restricts posting. Journals group accounting entries; manual journals must balance before saving and are reviewed before sync.
Steps
- Open Finance → Accounting Periods and find the correct year and month.
- Check the current status and completed accounting work for that period.
- Use Close or Hard close according to the decision made by the finance reviewer.
- Review the confirmation and check the saved status and close information.
Screenshot to add: Accounting Periods: close or hard close an accounting period. Capture filename: images/close-or-hard-close-an-accounting-period.png.
Restrictions
Close access is required. Closing affects whether dated transactions can be posted; hard closing is a further restriction. Follow the exact confirmation for the chosen action.
Close periods in order: an earlier open period must be closed first. A period must be closed before it can be hard closed. Closing prevents ordinary entries dated in that period; ask the finance team about any authorised correction.
If something went wrong
After an unclear Close or Hard close, check the same year/month's saved status and history before repeating it.
If the wrong period was closed, an authorised Finance reviewer can follow Reopen an accounting period with the reason. Do not change a transaction's date merely to work around a closed period; have Finance agree the correction.
Check the correction
Check the intended period's status and reopening history. Reopening permits eligible posting; it does not correct transactions or erase the earlier close.