Close

Close answers whether this period can be finished, and what is still in the way.

Open Close in the left menu. The rows under it are Current close and Reconciliation Hub. Current close is the period in flight. The page header names the month and whether it is in flight.

You will see:

• A scope chip, Client-wide or the entity name, and period pills for the months still open.
• Two tabs: Close and Financial package.
• On Close, the sheet for the period. The columns are status, entity, item, evidence, and what's next. Under that are the gates that rule the lock. Lock the books for this period sends a lock request. The period locks when that request is signed in the Inbox, under Signatures. Ask Kraal does not lock a period. A completed close is not locked yet.
• On Financial package, where you build and review the package for that period. This is the only place those packages live. Review the files, then the period reports.

Reconciliation Hub is under Close. It is the account-by-account coverage of the balance sheet. See Reconciliation Hub.

Ask Kraal can explain this page and take you to the close.

Working one period's items, evidence, and client requests is The Close Sheet.

Close words

Word	What it means
Open	The period accepts postings. Close work may not have started, or it may be in progress.
In review / Awaiting approval	The close steps are done. A reviewer or approver still has to act.
Completed	Every step is done and approved, and the financial package can be built. Not locked yet. Postings are still possible until the period is locked.
Locked	No new postings. The binder and the package are frozen.
Lock request / Sign the lock	Lock the books for this period sends a lock request to the named approver. The period locks when that request is signed in the Inbox, under Signatures. Ask Kraal never locks a period and never signs for anyone.
Closed through a date	The one date the books are closed through for this client or this entity.
Books closed before Kraal	The date the books were already closed through when Kraal started. It is not a Kraal lock.
Reopen	Unlock a locked period, with a reason and a signature. Postings are allowed again until it is locked again.
Lock readiness	The checks that must pass before a lock request can be sent.
Financial package	The month-end reports for a completed close. It lives on Close.

Related guides

• The Close Sheet — one period's items, gates, and requests to the client.
• Client Setup & Close Workflow — close templates, close schedules, and catch-up.
• Close Items in Depth — what each close item computes.
• Reconciliation Hub — account-level evidence, differences, and signoff.
• Your first hour — the door, in the order you meet it.