How to Cut Month-End Close Time in Half: 5 Proven Methods

5 Proven Strategies to Cut  Month-End Close Time by 50%

In this post, we’ll break down the five strategies we used to cut our month-end close time by 50%, while maintaining accuracy and compliance across complex, high-volume clients. These aren’t just quick hacks. We’ve tested each approach firsthand, and now we’re here to show you how to apply them yourself.

1. Automate multi-platform transaction management

Reconciling transactions used to be a constant struggle. We were pulling data from Stripe, PayPal, Amazon, and QuickBooks Online, all speaking different languages. Nothing lined up. Names didn’t match, formats were all over the place, and we spent hours cleaning it up by hand. It was one of the most time-consuming parts of our workflow, and it only got worse as volume increased. To solve this, we implemented a unified system built by Synder, an accounting automation solution that automates transaction syncing and streamlines month-end close across all major platforms our clients use. We’ve taken the manual work out of exporting, cleaning, and reconciling data, saving 6–8 hours per client each month, and creating more accurate books that our clients actually trust.

The bigger shift was in our mindset. We stopped seeing automation as a shortcut and started treating it as the foundation for scaling.

Decimal’s tip:

Don’t wait until your team is overwhelmed to automate. 

Start by mapping the platforms your clients actually use, then connect the dots with tools that sync everything automatically. The sooner you build an integrated system, the sooner you stop cleaning up messes and start driving strategy.

2. Real-time access to data for better insights

Month-end used to be a scramble. We were piecing together numbers from different sources, line by line in spreadsheets, hoping everything added up. By the time the reports were ready, the data was already old—and so were the insights. That reactive process left little room for proactive advice or quick pivots when clients needed them most.

Since restructuring around real-time reporting with Synder, everything’s changed. Automated categorization and synced dashboards mean we’re now working with up-to-date data that shows what’s happening in a client’s business right now, not a week behind. Now, decisions can be made more timely, and our clients feel more confident because they don’t have to wait too long for financial clarity. 

Decimal’s tip: 

Accounting shouldn’t be hindsight management. 

Real-time visibility flips the script—no more waiting for reports to catch up. With always-on access to current data, you make faster calls, earn client trust, and shut down issues before they spiral.

3. Custom categorization by client need

We kept running into the same headache: cleaning up miscategorized transactions—again and again. Our chart of accounts looked good on paper but didn’t match how our clients actually operated. It was rigid, generic, and completely disconnected from the real-world complexity of their businesses. 

So we changed course. We started building flexible categorization systems tailored to each client’s unique setup, whether that meant different revenue streams, tax treatments, or geographic considerations. By using Synder’s dynamic Smart Rules that automatically classify transactions, we make sure all transactions are automatically sorted based on criteria that make sense for that business, not some generic template.

This approach has drastically reduced the time spent reviewing and correcting categories. More importantly, it’s increased the accuracy of our financial reports, especially for clients with high transaction volumes and complex tax requirements. By using custom rules, we’re able to get things right from the start, avoiding cleanup later and giving clients the confidence that their books are in order.

Decimal’s tip: 

Ditch the default chart of accounts. 

Building flexible, client-specific categorization rules saves time and ensures the data reflects the real structure of each business. The more tailored your setup, the fewer corrections you’ll need, and the more value you can deliver from day one.

4. Global & multicurrency optimization

As our client base grew beyond borders, so did the complexity. What started as a few international payments quickly turned into a tangle of currencies, fluctuating exchange rates, and endless spreadsheets. Every conversion became a risk: one wrong rate, one manual entry off, and the numbers didn’t add up. 

To address this, we used Synder to automate the entire multicurrency process. By syncing exchange rates in real time and automating currency conversions, we were able to seamlessly consolidate financials across borders. It took manual adjustments off our plate and kept reports accurate and up-to-date, no matter where our clients are doing business.

Decimal’s tip: 

Don’t let borders wreck your books.

Manual currency tracking is a trap. Automate exchange rates, conversions, and global workflows to keep your data tight and audit-ready. Less hands-on, more high-impact, because international growth shouldn’t come with bookkeeping chaos.

5. Scaling without burnout

When our firm started growing, we did what most teams do—we pushed harder. More clients meant longer hours, more late nights, and a growing list of repeatable tasks we kept handling by hand. It worked for a while. But it didn’t take long before we hit our limit.

That’s when it hit us: efficiency isn’t just about going faster. It’s about building systems that can scale with you. Real growth meant letting go of the manual grind and finding smarter ways to handle the work, because doing more shouldn’t mean doing it all yourself.

By automating repeatable tasks and optimizing our workflows, we’ve been able to grow our client base without stretching our team too thin. This has allowed us to scale operations while maintaining high service quality and giving our team members more time to focus on strategic, high-value work, all with the help of Synder. As a result, we created a financial workflow that supports growth without the risk of burnout, both for our team and our clients.

Decimal’s tip: 

Growth shouldn’t burn out your team.

If scaling means piling on more work, something’s broken. Automate the grunt work, tighten your workflows, and free your team to focus on what actually moves the needle.

5 takeaways to reduce your month-end close in half

Our experience shows that cutting the month-end close by 50% is entirely possible with the right approach and an automation tool like Synder. Focus on these core strategies to save time and increase efficiency in your month-end close:

1. Automate data sync across platforms
2. Deliver real-time financial visibility
3. Customize processes for your client base
4. Simplify global and multi-currency workflows
5. Build systems that scale with you

These changes won’t happen overnight, but the payoff is worth it, with less burnout, better insights, and a stronger foundation for growth.

Ready to rethink your month-end close?

At Decimal, we’ve learned that shaving days off your close isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter, with the right tools and systems in place. Whether you're managing complex clients, global operations, or just trying to reclaim your nights and weekends, the strategies we’ve shared are built to help you scale without the chaos.

If you're ready to stop firefighting and start building a finance function that actually supports growth, we’re here to help. Let’s make your month-end close faster, cleaner, and a whole lot less stressful.

Let’s talk.