Finance Manager onboarding plan
Finance managers usually face a month-end close within weeks of starting. Onboarding should be timed around the close calendar so they observe one close before owning the next.
What good onboarding achieves
Run the month-end close and management reporting accurately, within the company's controls and approval rules.
Week one example
- Day 1: Accounting system and banking access (with the right approval levels); team intros.
- Day 2: Chart of accounts and the close checklist.
- Day 3: Management reports: who receives them and what they focus on.
- Day 4: Controls and approval limits; audit and tax calendar.
- Day 5: Meet budget holders; agree priorities with the manager.
30/60/90 progression
- Day 30: Has observed or supported one full month-end close.
- Day 60: Runs the close with review and delivers management reports.
- Day 90: Owns close and reporting, and proposes a control or process improvement.
People to meet (examples)
- CFO or finance lead
- Accountants and bookkeepers
- Budget holders in each department
- External accountant or auditor
Systems to learn (examples)
- Accounting system
- Expense and spend management tool
- Payroll interface
- Reporting spreadsheets or BI
Manager checkpoints
- Week 1: controls walkthrough
- First close: shadow review
- Day 60: first owned close
- Day 90: improvement proposal
Common mistakes
- Starting just before close with no preparation
- Granting payment rights before controls are explained
- Not introducing budget holders
- Undocumented close steps that live in one person's head
Checklist
- System access with correct approval levels
- Chart of accounts reviewed
- Close checklist reviewed
- Controls and limits explained
- Audit and tax calendar shared
- Budget holders met
- First close shadowed
- Reporting pack reviewed