For growing restaurant chains, slow month-end closes can stall decision-making, frustrate finance teams, and delay growth. One UK-based chain faced exactly this challenge: multiple locations, inconsistent reporting, and manual reconciliations stretched month-end over weeks. Management couldn’t rely on timely insights, and errors crept into reports.

Here’s how creating a dedicated controller pod transformed their finance function and dramatically reduced closing time.

The Problem: Slow, Manual Month-End Processes

Each location managed its own books with varying templates and processes. Reconciling accounts was tedious, errors were common, and the finance team was constantly under pressure to deliver accurate reports quickly.

The Solution: Create a Dedicated Controller Pod

We established a focused team of accountants and controllers—a “controller pod”—tasked with standardizing month-end workflows, managing reconciliations, and ensuring that reporting was accurate and timely. This central structure provided clear accountability and consistent results across all locations.

The Challenge: Lack of Standardization & Visibility

Without uniform processes, each location reported differently. Finance managers spent excessive time reviewing and correcting reports, slowing down decision-making and increasing operational risk.

The Action: Standardize Processes & Leverage Automation

We implemented standardized templates, automated reconciliations, and clear workflows for each pod member. Automation reduced manual work, minimized errors, and ensured consistent reporting across all sites.

The Result: 70% Faster Month-End & Accurate Reporting

The restaurant chain now closes its books in a fraction of the time. Management receives reliable, timely reports, the finance team operates with less stress, and strategic decisions are made with confidence. The controller pod became a key enabler of growth rather than a bottleneck.

Is Your Month-End Slowing Down Growth?

• Centralize and standardize accounting workflows
  
• Build dedicated pods to manage reporting efficiently
  
• Automate reconciliations to save time
  
• Provide management with timely, accurate insights
  

Don’t let month-end chaos stall your business. DM us ‘POD’ for a free guide to building a controller pod for faster closes.