Prepare for an Exit
If someone asks what sits behind revenue, answer from records.
Tie revenue to contracts, billing records and cash, and keep the support in one place. If a sale, merger, handover or investment conversation starts, Finance answers from records.
Who this is for
CFOs, controllers and founders who may one day sell the company, merge, hand it over or bring in an investor, and want Finance ready if that conversation starts. Companies with no deal in sight are welcome too.
What Finance should be able to demonstrate
- Revenue ties to contracts, billing records and cash received.
- Monthly numbers agree with the statements and with each other.
- Each balance has a record someone else can check.
- Supporting documents sit in one organized, current place.
- Open process and data gaps are listed, owned and tracked.
- Key systems and workflows are written down.
Readiness areas
Spend · Accounts payable
Show obligations and vendor terms in one place.
Get Paid · Order to cash
Trace revenue from contract to invoice to cash, and explain receivables from clear records.
Payroll · Payroll and benefits
Show who approved pay changes and how payroll accounts tie to the books.
The Close · Month-end close
Month-end numbers that tie to support and to each other.
Plan vs Actual · Budgeting and FP&A
Explain how the budget and forecast were built and how actuals compare.
Cash Ops · Treasury and cash
Explain cash movement and debt terms from clear records.
Controls · Internal controls
Show how key balances are reviewed and approved, and keep policies and records organized.
Reporting · Financial reporting
Produce consistent reports and schedules others may request.
How your GAAPx Score sets your priorities
Your score is the same for every outcome.
For this outcome, findings that affect how quickly you can answer from records move to the top, such as revenue support, reconciled balances and document organization.
Your findings are priorities to work on, and they describe how Finance runs today.
Slow close
Late monthly numbers make questions slower to answer. Look first at a dependable month-end, then tie each balance to support.
Weak revenue support
Answers on revenue may depend on old emails and memory. Look first at gathering contracts, billing records and recognition support in one place.
Missing control evidence
Reviews happen but cannot be shown to someone outside the team. Look first at recording who reviewed the key balances, and when.
Fragmented systems
Numbers differ between systems, so reports are hard to reconcile. Look first at naming the system of record for each key figure.
Start with a pathway
Pathway
First financial audit
Get your books ready for independent outside auditors.
See the first financial audit pathway
Three ways to get support
Do it yourself
Use the GAAPx platform and playbooks to organize records and close gaps on your own schedule.
Do it with you
Get guidance and playbooks from GAAPx as you work the plan.
Done for you
GAAPx carries out the work through managed implementation, and your team reviews and approves every step.