One of our guiding principles is that we never slow your close. When we first implement the AFRM® solution, we do ZERO re-engineering of your processes. Instead, we capture your processes exactly as they are. This is because, in general, your processes are actually quite good already, and they have been successful at closing your books. Our goal is to help you improve those processes in a highly effective and efficient manner with no risk of slowing your close.
The initial procedure of capturing your current close process is called Discovery.
During this discovery stage, experienced members of our implementation team who have both firsthand knowledge of the financial close process and the AFRM® solution will visit your company to gain further knowledge about your close process. We will work together with your team to capture the activities comprising your financial close.
Our team will first become knowledgeable of your existing process by examining your current close checklist, reviewing the reconciliation and journal entry binders and all the related supporting documents used in your close. Additionally, we will review your audit, SOX and any other system documentations, BEFORE we utilize your time. You are busy with your daily activities and do not need to “educate” another set of consultants.
Based on our review we will start developing our customized implementation plan which is specifically tailored to your close process. This includes understanding and documenting:
- Close sub-processes
- Close calendars
- Journal entries
- Close tasks (including those not documented elsewhere)
- Review processes
- User roles and Security
- Analytical review process
- Controls (documented and undocumented)
- Internal audit, SOX or other process validation
Once this general discovery is completed, and we have detailed background about your close process, then our team will meet with each person from your team involved in the close to ensure that we have a detailed and thorough understanding of each team member’s contribution to the close.
Our team will then do the work required to configure the system, document, and load the close processes into the AFRM® system.
Discovery is the first step in a full service implementation approach where our team will assist with the complete implementation of the AFRM® solution. Unlike many implementations we will not abandon you as soon as the system is live. Through the entire implementation process our team will be there not only to support, but to do much of the hands-on implementation work.
Discovery is the beginning of a journey that will end with a fully implemented solution, an optimized close process and a completely satisfied customer.
Best of all, initial discovery is at no charge to you and will be used as the basis for developing an implementation plan which is low risk and low disruption and providing you with a fixed-fee implementation quote.
Remember we are going to be with you for several close cycles and we guarantee your satisfaction.