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Reporting & visibility (max 25)

1. Do key management reports come from NetSuite (not rekeyed into Excel)?

   1 = Most reporting is manual export + Excel; 5 = All key reports are saved searches or NetSuite reports.

2. Do finance and operations have dashboards that they actually use?

   1 = No dashboards or unused; 5 = Role-based dashboards updated and used daily.

3. Can you drill from summary to detail inside NetSuite?

   1 = No; 5 = Yes, for P&L, AR, AP, and other key areas.

4. Are report schedules and distributions set up for recurring packs?

   1 = Everything is run manually; 5 = Board pack and management reports are scheduled and delivered automatically.

5. Is there a single place to see open AR, AP, and key GL balances?

   1 = No, we pull from multiple places; 5 = Yes, and it's accurate and used.

Workflows & automation (max 25)

1. Are approvals (e.g. POs, expenses, credit) handled in NetSuite workflows?

   1 = Mostly email or paper; 5 = All key approvals are workflow-driven in NetSuite.

2. Is bank reconciliation supported by NetSuite (or a reliable integration)?

   1 = Fully manual; 5 = Automated matching with minimal manual intervention.

3. Are recurring journal entries and allocations set up where they should be?

   1 = We post most recurring items manually; 5 = Recurring JEs and allocations run on a schedule.

4. Is there a clear dunning or collections process in NetSuite?

   1 = Ad hoc; 5 = Defined process with reminders and escalation.

5. Are there workflows that could replace custom scripts but haven't been built yet?

   1 = We don't know; 5 = We've reviewed and use workflows where possible.

Month-end & close (max 15)

1. Is the month-end close checklist in NetSuite (or a single shared place)?

   1 = In someone's head or scattered; 5 = Documented and tracked in NetSuite or a linked tool.

2. Do we know how long each close step takes and who owns it?

   1 = No; 5 = Yes, and we track it.

3. Are intercompany and consolidation steps clear and repeatable?

   1 = Chaotic or opaque; 5 = Clear process, documented and consistent.

Integrations & data (max 15)

1. Do critical integrations (CRM, bank, eCommerce, payroll) run without constant fixes?

   1 = Frequent errors and manual fixes; 5 = Stable with monitoring and clear error handling.

2. Is there a map of which systems are the "source of truth" for key data?

   1 = No; 5 = Yes, and it's updated when we change integrations.

3. Do we reconcile key data (e.g. AR, bank) between systems regularly?

   1 = Rarely or never; 5 = Yes, on a defined schedule.

Security, access & maintenance (max 20)

1. Are roles and permissions reviewed at least annually?

   1 = Never or ad hoc; 5 = Regular review, documented, and aligned with segregation of duties.

2. Do we have a simple way to see what customizations we have (workflows, scripts, saved searches)?

   1 = No; 5 = Yes, and we know what we'd need to test after an upgrade.

3. Is there a plan for NetSuite releases (testing, communication, rollback)?

   1 = We just click "Accept" or ignore; 5 = We test and communicate before each release.

4. Are we on a supported NetSuite version and do we use standard features before building custom?

   1 = Lots of custom code, unclear version; 5 = We prefer standard + configuration and know our version.

1. Reporting & dashboards

What to look for: Reports still built in Excel, repeated manual pulls, no single view of AR/AP/GL.

Ideas:

• Replace top 5–10 management reports with saved searches or NetSuite reports.
• Build one dashboard per role (e.g. Controller, AR, AP).
• Use report scheduling and distribution for board and management packs.
• Add drill-down from summary to transaction where possible.

Pro tip: Start with the report that takes the most manual time each month. Automating that one often pays back quickly.

2. Workflows & automation

What to look for: Approvals by email, manual bank rec, no dunning, recurring items entered by hand.

Ideas:

• Move PO, expense, and credit approvals into NetSuite workflows.
• Set up bank feeds and reconciliation workflows (or improve existing ones).
• Define a dunning process (reminders, escalation) and implement in NetSuite.
• Create recurring journal entries and allocation schedules for common month-end entries.

Pro tip: Prefer NetSuite workflows over custom script where they can do the job. They're easier to change and to support.

3. Month-end close

What to look for: Unclear steps, no checklist, inconsistent timing, intercompany or consolidation bottlenecks.

Ideas:

• Document the close in a checklist (in NetSuite or a shared doc).
• Assign owners and target dates for each step.
• Standardize intercompany and consolidation steps and document them.
• Track close duration and address the slowest steps first.

4. Integrations

What to look for: Frequent errors, no clear owner, no reconciliation between systems.

Ideas:

• List all integrations and assign an owner (NetSuite vs source system).
• Define error handling and alerting for critical flows.
• Schedule reconciliations (e.g. AR subledger vs CRM, bank vs GL).
• Clean up or retire integrations that are no longer needed.

5. Security & access

What to look for: Roles not reviewed, unclear segregation of duties, too many super-users.

Ideas:

• Review roles and permissions at least annually; align with SOX or local compliance.
• Reduce full-access accounts; use role-based access.
• Document who has what access and why.

6. Performance & maintenance

What to look for: Slow searches or reports, unknown customizations, no upgrade plan.

Ideas:

• List customizations (workflows, scripts, saved searches) and note which are critical.
• Archive or simplify unused or heavy saved searches.
• Plan for NetSuite releases: sandbox testing, communication, go-live and rollback.