[01] COURSE INTRODUCTION

In today’s fast-paced business environment, timely and accurate financial reporting is critical for informed decision-making. Yet, many organizations struggle with delayed month-end and year-end closings due to manual processes, poor coordination, and outdated systems.

This intensive 1-day workshop helps finance professionals accelerate the monthly closing cycle through process redesign, automation mindset, and effective workflow management. Participants will gain practical insights on shortening closing timelines, minimizing adjustments, improving inter-departmental communication, and transforming the finance function into a proactive business partner that drives performance and value creation.

[02] COURSE OUTCOMES

After completing the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Implement a clear month-end and year-end closing schedule

• Reduce manual adjustments and redundant tasks

• Strengthen communication channels across departments

• Increase the speed and reliability of financial data for decision-making

• Drive process improvement projects that add measurable value to the business.

[03] COURSE OBJECTIVES

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

• Identify the key bottlenecks and causes of slow month-end and year-end closing

• Redesign finance workflows to achieve faster, more accurate financial reporting

• Apply structured approaches to process improvement and data validation

• Enhance collaboration between Finance, Operations, and other departments

• Align finance functions with organizational goals for better cost control and performance

[04] WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This course is designed for:

• Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Finance Directors

• Finance and Accounting Managers / Executives

• Business Controllers, Financial Analysts

• Entrepreneurs, Bankers, and Business Owners

• Auditors, Supervisors, and Department Heads involved in financial reporting and operations

[05] METHODOLOGY

• Interactive Lectures: Step-by-step review of fast-closing principles

• Case Studies & Real Scenarios: Based on actual organizational challenges

• Group Discussions: Collaborative problem-solving on participants’ own issues

• Hands-on Exercises: Mapping and improving the financial closing workflow

[06] DATE, TIME & FEE

Date:           3 November 2025 (Mon) 
Time:           9.00am – 5.00pm
Mode:          Online/ Interactive

FEE

[ HRDF Claimable ]

   - Early Bird Offer (before 16 Oct 2025) – RM 700
   - Special Offer (before 30 Oct 2025) – RM 750
   - Normal Fee – RM 800

- Fee includes Course Notes, Certificate of Completion and 8% Service Tax

OFFER  

- 10% Cashback for SST2u Learner Card+ (SLC+) members. T&Cs applied.

[07] COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1: Understanding Fast Closing

• Definition and key principles of “Fast Closing”

• Benefiits to management, operations, and business strategy

• Benchmarking: How world-class organizations achieve fast closing

Module 2: Common Challenges in Month-End & Year-End Closing

• Manual processes & inadequate system integration

• Poor document flow and late submissions

• Data inconsistency between departments (budget vs. actuals)

• Legacy transactions and incomplete reconciliations

• Organizational culture and lack of accountability

• Delayed reporting from subsidiaries or outlets

• System migration and data alignment issues

• Unbalanced workloads across teams

Module 3: Redesigning the Closing Process

• Establishing a structured and systematic month-end routine

• Streamlining journal entries & reducing manual adjustments

• Designing a simplified finance cycle for faster execution

• Leveraging technology and templates to improve accuracy

• Building finance as a business partner in budgeting, forecasting, and advisory roles

• Enhancing cash flow visibility and control mechanisms

Module 4: Finance’s Contribution to Organizational Results

• Linking fast closing to business performance

• Accelerating asset conversion and collections

• Reducing costs through better data visibility

• Enhancing revenue recognition accuracy

• Strengthening purchasing and approval policies

Module 5: Strengthening Accounts Payable Processes

• Managing payment delays due to incomplete documentation

• Improving invoice handling & vendor communication

• Ensuring proper PO matching and accruals

• Addressing late invoice submissions and price discrepancies

• Setting clear internal controls for AP closing

Module 6: Creating an Efficient Monthly & Year-End Closing Schedule

• Developing a step-by-step closing calendar

• Applying Gantt Chart workflow for better tracking and accountability

• Techniques to shorten the closing timeline

• Integrating year-end audit preparation into the monthly process

• Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) for continuous improvement

Including Hands-On Session

Q&As and Conclusion

End of Training

[08] TRAINER PROFILE

DR. STEVEN LIEW

HRDF Certified Trainer, Consultant

Dr Steven Liew is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and a Chartered Account.ant (MIA). He holds an Executive MBA from the National University of Singapore and a PhD in International Finance from Rushmore University, USA.

With over 30 years of experience across multinational corporations in ASEAN and South Asia, Dr. Liew has led numerous finance transformation projects, specializing in fast closing, strategic budgeting, forecasting, GST, and cost management.

His clients include major corporations such as Nestlé, Proton Edar, Sime Darby, Sony Malaysia, Bank Islam Brunei, Perodua, and UDA Holdings. Known for his practi.cal, high-impact teaching style, Dr. Liew blends real corpo.rate experience with actionable strategies that participants can immediately apply.

[09] ENQUIRY & REGISTRATION

Enquiry: yes@sst2u.com

Contact:

   - Whatsapp Only (012 - 824 8874)
   - Teo (011 - 3178 9203)
   - Logesh (012 - 503 0346)
   - Siti (012 - 383 8603)
   - Nisa (019 - 851 5134)
   - Central Region (03 - 8604 7270)
   - Northern Region (04 - 222 6950)
   - Southern Region (07 - 213 3676)
   - East Malaysia (011 - 3178 9203)