Closing the books has long been one of finance’s most painful rituals.
Endless reconciliations, version-control battles in spreadsheets, and long nights for accounting staff define the process for many organizations. But with NetSuite Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), the close is shifting from a stressful scramble to a streamlined, strategic process.
The before picture
Picture a typical global organization. Each subsidiary works on its own timeline, using spreadsheets to reconcile accounts and emailing files to headquarters. Controllers spend days chasing missing information. CFOs receive partial updates and cannot see the full picture until late in the process. Compliance documentation is scattered, and last-minute errors derail reporting.
The result? A close that takes weeks, drains morale, and leaves leaders with little time for forward-looking analysis.
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The after picture with NetSuite EPM
Now imagine the same organization post-implementation. Close tasks are assigned and tracked automatically. Reconciliations run in the background, with exceptions flagged instantly. Dashboards show executives exactly where each entity stands. Audit trails are created as part of the process, not after the fact.
Instead of waiting for information, leaders see bottlenecks in real time and can resolve issues proactively. The close is no longer a fire drill—it is a predictable, reliable process.
Beyond the close
EPM’s value does not stop with reconciliations. Because it connects seamlessly to planning and forecasting, the close becomes a launchpad for strategy. As soon as the books are closed, insights flow into budgets and forecasts. CFOs do not just report history, they use it to shape the future.
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The strategic payoff
For executives, the benefits of this transformation are profound:
Speed: Close cycles shrink from weeks to days.
Accuracy: Automated reconciliations reduce human error.
Transparency: Real-time dashboards provide visibility across the enterprise.
Compliance: Built-in controls and audit trails reduce regulatory risk.
Agility: Closed books feed directly into planning for faster, data-driven strategy.
Why it matters now
Markets move too quickly for slow, error-prone closes. Stakeholders demand timely, accurate reporting, and finance teams cannot afford to spend half the month looking backward. NetSuite EPM offers a way out of the cycle, turning the close into a source of confidence and strategic advantage rather than a recurring headache.
