Master the Oracle General Ledger month-end close process across all subledgers.
The General Ledger (GL) Period Close is the final step in the monthly financial cycle. It ensures all transactions from subledgers (AP, AR, PO, INV, FA) are accounted for, reconciled, and posted to the GL before locking the period for financial reporting. This guide walks you through the critical steps of the period close process.
Ensure all normal daily transactions (invoices, receipts, shipments) are entered for the period.
Create Accounting must be run in Final mode for all subledgers.
The upcoming period must be opened in GL and subledgers so daily operations can continue.
Supply Chain Manager
AP Manager
AR Manager
Fixed Assets Accountant
General Ledger Accountant
General Ledger Accountant
Financial Controller
Actor: Supply Chain Manager | Module: Oracle Inventory (INV) / Order Management (OM)
Before closing financial modules, the supply chain modules must be closed. This involves ensuring all pending shipments are interfaced to inventory, all move orders are transacted, and the Inventory period is closed.
Example: Run the "Interface Trip Stop" program to ensure all shipped sales orders have hit inventory and COGS is recognized, then close the INV period.
Navigation Path:
Costing > Manage Cost Accounting Periods
Key Actions:
Ensure Costing processes are complete before closing the Costing period.
Actor: AP Manager | Module: Oracle Payables
Ensure all invoices are entered, validated, and accounted. Run the "Unaccounted Transactions Sweep" program to move any problem invoices to the next period so the current period can be closed.
Example: Run the "Unaccounted Transactions Sweep" to move 3 invoices with holds to the next month, then close the AP period.
Navigation Path:
Payables > Manage Accounting Periods
Key Actions:
Use the Period Close workspace to view exceptions and close the period.
Actor: AR Manager | Module: Oracle Receivables
Ensure all invoices are generated (Autoinvoice run), receipts are applied, and accounting is created. Once verified, close the AR period.
Example: Verify the "Unapplied Receipts Register", ensure Create Accounting is run, and close the AR period.
Navigation Path:
Receivables > Manage Accounting Periods
Key Actions:
Review the Period Close Exception Report before closing.
Actor: Fixed Assets Accountant | Module: Oracle Fixed Assets
Run the Depreciation program. In Fixed Assets, running depreciation automatically closes the period. You cannot re-open an FA period once it is closed.
Example: Run the "Run Depreciation" program for the Corporate Book for the month of January. The period automatically rolls forward to February.
Navigation Path:
Fixed Assets > Depreciation > Calculate Depreciation
Key Actions:
Ensure all mass additions are processed before running depreciation.
Actor: General Ledger Accountant | Module: Subledger Accounting (SLA)
Run the "Transfer Journal Entries to GL" process to move all accounted subledger transactions into the General Ledger interface tables, and import them into GL batches.
Example: Run the transfer program for AP, AR, and FA. The system generates Journal Batches in GL ready for posting.
Navigation Path:
Scheduled Processes > Import Journals
Key Actions:
Ensure the Import Journals process completes successfully.
Actor: General Ledger Accountant | Module: Oracle General Ledger
Post all imported subledger journals and any manual GL journals. Run Trial Balances and reconcile the Subledger balances against the GL Control Accounts.
Example: Run the "AP to GL Reconciliation Report" and verify that the AP Liability balance in the subledger matches the GL account balance.
Navigation Path:
General Accounting > Journals > Post
Key Actions:
Can be automated via AutoPost criteria sets.
Actor: Financial Controller | Module: Oracle General Ledger
Once all subledgers are closed, all journals are posted, and trial balances match, the GL period is closed to prevent any further financial postings to that month.
Example: Change the GL Period Status for Jan-2026 from "Open" to "Closed".
Navigation Path:
General Accounting > Period Close
Key Actions:
Use the Period Close checklist to ensure all tasks are completed before closing.
Troubleshoot common errors blocking your period close.
Read GuideUnderstand the data flow from subledgers to the General Ledger.
Read Guide