Upcoming Sessions

09-13 Dec 2024Online$3,950
19-23 May 2025Online$3,950
08-12 Dec 2025Online$3,950

The training course is also available in Classroom format. Discover the dates

View Classroom format

Online Training Course Overview

The volume of financial data we handle continues to grow daily. Are your procedures for closing period-end accounts adequate and current? Chances are, they may not be. In the last decade, the speed at which we complete the period-end accounting close process has emerged as a critical KPI for assessing management performance. It also serves as an indicator of management's capability to execute strategic plans and uphold good corporate governance. This trend has spurred many organizations worldwide to adopt Fast Close or Record to Report (R2R) initiatives.

This Anderson online training course offers a thorough exploration of Fast Close, which involves swiftly concluding period-end accounts, gathering all necessary financial reporting data, and consolidating and publishing precise and dependable financial statements. The widespread adoption of Fast Close by contemporary global organizations has yielded numerous advantages. These include compliance with stringent stock exchange regulations, the ability to generate more timely information for strategic decisions, cost reduction, increased time for reviewing financial statements to minimize errors, and safeguarding strategic information from competitors prior to publication.

This Anderson online training course will feature:

  • Different types of fast close and their benefits
  • Development of the fast-close process and identification of roadblocks
  • Change management and technological issues of fast close
  • Measuring and benchmarking the fast-close process
  • Financial reporting issues including IFRS disclosure requirements

The Structure

This comprehensive training course consists of two modules which can be booked as a 5-Day Online Training event, or as individual, 1-Day online training courses.

Module 1: Fast Closing Accounts and Developing a Fast-Close Strategy

Module 2: Fast Close Implementation: Change Management and Technology

Online Training Course Objectives

By the end of this Anderson online training course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify fast close processes, strategies and best practices
  • Consider organisational policies, procedures, and documentation related to fast close
  • Appreciate the importance of the fast-close process on financial and operational decision-making
  • Provide faster and more accurate data for month-end and year-end accounts closing
  • Consider the departmental requirements for financial reporting

Designed For

This Anderson online training course is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

  • All accounting professionals involved in the preparation of financial statements
  • Financial controllers, finance managers, financial systems analysts, senior accountants, financial accountants, management accountants, general ledger accountants, assistant accountants, accounts receivable accountants, accounts payable accountants, payroll accountants
  • Decision-makers who rely on timely and accurate financial information
  • Operations, logistics, and procurement professionals
  • Professionals who have responsibility and accountability for financial performance and the integrity of financial and information systems.

Online Training Course Outline

Module 1: Fast Closing Accounts and Developing a Fast-Close Strategy

  • The different types and benefits of fast close
  • Steps needed to achieve a fast close
  • Analysis and review of the current closing process
  • Redesign of the closing cycle
  • Finance function re-design and solutions
  • Examination of closing activities and requirements
  • Best practice in attaining fast close, soft close and virtual close
  • Optimisation of charts of accounts and journal entry requirements
  • Organisation of corporate resources to achieve fast close
  • Identification of potential roadblocks, or obstacles to fast close

Module 2: Fast Close Implementation: Change Management and Technology

  • Standardisation, customisation and centralisation
  • Review of paradigms and the difficulties of effecting change
  • Force field analysis
  • Use of technology to improve organisational re-design
  • Examination of the pre-close and fast close processes
  • Benchmarking and other measurement standards, and key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Documentation of fast close processes incorporating the utilisation of checklists
  • Design and implementation of controls needed for financial reporting
  • Improvement of the closing process and adoption of improvement measures
  • Identification of management reporting criteria
Download Course Brochure in Pdf format
Download Course Brochure

Online Training Course Overview

The volume of financial data we handle continues to grow daily. Are your procedures for closing period-end accounts adequate and current? Chances are, they may not be. In the last decade, the speed at which we complete the period-end accounting close process has emerged as a critical KPI for assessing management performance. It also serves as an indicator of management's capability to execute strategic plans and uphold good corporate governance. This trend has spurred many organizations worldwide to adopt Fast Close or Record to Report (R2R) initiatives.

This Anderson online training course offers a thorough exploration of Fast Close, which involves swiftly concluding period-end accounts, gathering all necessary financial reporting data, and consolidating and publishing precise and dependable financial statements. The widespread adoption of Fast Close by contemporary global organizations has yielded numerous advantages. These include compliance with stringent stock exchange regulations, the ability to generate more timely information for strategic decisions, cost reduction, increased time for reviewing financial statements to minimize errors, and safeguarding strategic information from competitors prior to publication.

This Anderson online training course will feature:

  • Different types of fast close and their benefits
  • Development of the fast-close process and identification of roadblocks
  • Change management and technological issues of fast close
  • Measuring and benchmarking the fast-close process
  • Financial reporting issues including IFRS disclosure requirements

The Structure

This comprehensive training course consists of two modules which can be booked as a 5-Day Online Training event, or as individual, 1-Day online training courses.

Module 1: Fast Closing Accounts and Developing a Fast-Close Strategy

Module 2: Fast Close Implementation: Change Management and Technology

Online Training Course Objectives

By the end of this Anderson online training course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify fast close processes, strategies and best practices
  • Consider organisational policies, procedures, and documentation related to fast close
  • Appreciate the importance of the fast-close process on financial and operational decision-making
  • Provide faster and more accurate data for month-end and year-end accounts closing
  • Consider the departmental requirements for financial reporting

Designed For

This Anderson online training course is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

  • All accounting professionals involved in the preparation of financial statements
  • Financial controllers, finance managers, financial systems analysts, senior accountants, financial accountants, management accountants, general ledger accountants, assistant accountants, accounts receivable accountants, accounts payable accountants, payroll accountants
  • Decision-makers who rely on timely and accurate financial information
  • Operations, logistics, and procurement professionals
  • Professionals who have responsibility and accountability for financial performance and the integrity of financial and information systems.

Online Training Course Outline

Module 1: Fast Closing Accounts and Developing a Fast-Close Strategy

  • The different types and benefits of fast close
  • Steps needed to achieve a fast close
  • Analysis and review of the current closing process
  • Redesign of the closing cycle
  • Finance function re-design and solutions
  • Examination of closing activities and requirements
  • Best practice in attaining fast close, soft close and virtual close
  • Optimisation of charts of accounts and journal entry requirements
  • Organisation of corporate resources to achieve fast close
  • Identification of potential roadblocks, or obstacles to fast close

Module 2: Fast Close Implementation: Change Management and Technology

  • Standardisation, customisation and centralisation
  • Review of paradigms and the difficulties of effecting change
  • Force field analysis
  • Use of technology to improve organisational re-design
  • Examination of the pre-close and fast close processes
  • Benchmarking and other measurement standards, and key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Documentation of fast close processes incorporating the utilisation of checklists
  • Design and implementation of controls needed for financial reporting
  • Improvement of the closing process and adoption of improvement measures
  • Identification of management reporting criteria
10:30 - 11:00:Welcome, Setup, Registration
11:00 – 12:30:First Session
12:30 – 12:45:Break (15 minutes)
12:45 – 14:15:Second Session
14:15 – 14:30:Break (15 minutes)
14:30 – 16:00:Third Session

The Certificate

    An Anderson e-Certificate will be provided to delegates who attend and complete the online training course

Info & In-house Solution

For more information about this course, call or email us at:

Call us: +971 4 365 8363

Email: info@anderson.ae

Request for a Tailor-made training and educational experience for your organization now:

Request for In-house

Callback Request

    Callback Request

      Category/venue filter

      Share