Optimize year-end close with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance

The process of closing the fiscal year can be daunting. To mitigate this stress and carry out a smooth year-end closure, it’s imperative to leverage all available tools for boosting efficiency. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance’s add-in for optimizing year-end closure provides an opportunity to enhance performance and lessen the strain on the SQL database. This article outlines the features of the year-end close add-in, highlighting improvements in performance, new viewing and selection capabilities, the architecture and flow of data, and an overview of the year-end close processing procedures.

The Optimize year-end close service add-in in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance utilizes microservice technology, allowing the year-end closure to function externally from the Application Object Server (AOS). Here are the steps to maximize this add-in:

1. Install the Optimize year-end close service add-in.
2. Activate the Optimize year-end close feature in feature management.

Enhancements in Performance

Handling vast amounts of data during year-end close is often a challenge; however, the Optimize year-end close function has been designed to expedite the process and simplify it. Specifically, it helps in:

• Cutting down the runtime of year-end closure, thereby enhancing performance.
• Minimizing interference with concurrent processes.
• Enabling more efficient reporting and adjustments, owing to reduced closure time.

Introduction of New Options and Visibility

Enabling the Optimize year-end close feature adds two new columns, Results and Status, in various locations such as:

• Year-end close page.
• Year-end close results dialog box.
• Options for balance sheet financial dimension transfer on the Year-end close template page.

An added benefit of this feature is the availability of the Balance sheet financial dimensions FastTab on the Year-end close template page, allowing for detailed specifications during the closure of a fiscal year.

Architecture and Flow of Data

To take advantage of the Optimize year-end close feature, the corresponding add-in must be installed from Lifecycle Services, followed by enabling the feature in Feature management.

Outline of Year-End Close Processing

• The year-end close begins in Finance, creating tasks for the legal entities being closed along with batch jobs.
• The system decides whether to run the year-end close on current closing logic or on the microservice, depending on the installation and activation of the Optimize year-end close service add-in.
• A separate year-end close service job is created for each legal entity, executed by the microservice.
• Finance monitors the year-end close through the microservice to recognize when it has concluded. Subsequently, the results are updated on the Year-end close page in Finance.
• If the Optimize year-end close service is neither installed nor enabled, the year-end close runs on the current closing logic.

Next Steps

For more information about optimizing year-end closes with Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance, contact us here to find out how we can help you grow your business. You can also email us at info@loganconsulting.com or call (312) 345-8817.