A complete manual should encompass all stages of data gathering, analysis, synthesis and presentation. It should cover the mapping for the primary financial statements and other numeric disclosures, provide a checklist of commonplace closing journal entries, and set the standards for approval and supporting documentation. With 12 years of experience in financial statement preparation behind my back, I am well qualified to assist you in preparing a process narrative that meets all of these requirements.

Many financial statement disclosures are typically calculated in Excel and involve complex manipulations of data – such as financial highlights or per share operating performance. As a result, many professionals have built their own Excel models. While your auditors might share their spreadsheets with you, the latter will probably not be customized to your circumstances. When you hire me to perform this task, you are guaranteed to receive templates that are tailored to reflect your fund's structure, portfolio composition, and any systems limitations you may have.

If your personnel is not experienced in financial statement preparation, and especially if you anticipate being under pressure to meet reporting deadlines, I can help educate your team on the basics of the process. I know from practice that the few hours I spend with your staff prior to year end will yield significant efficiencies once it's time to close the books.