Accounts approval timetable for small companies
Create a practical accounts approval timetable that protects the Companies House deadline and accountant review time.
Companies House filing is becoming more software-led, and accounts preparation needs to be clean before the filing window opens. A filing deadline is easier to meet when the approval process starts before the accounts are finished. This guide covers accounts approval timetable for UK companies that want fewer surprises at approval and submission.
For wider context, use Year-end and annual accounts . If the topic affects a filing deadline, software choice or tax treatment, confirm the live position before acting. The workflow below is designed to keep the evidence in one place so the owner, bookkeeper and accountant can all review the same record.
Official point to verify
GOV.UK accounts guidance gives current Companies House filing duties and states that from 1 April 2028 small companies and micro-entities must deliver a profit and loss account, with opt out details for publication still to be confirmed. Check the current wording in GOV.UK preparing and filing company accounts guidance before making a binding filing, software or tax decision.
What to control
| Area | Control | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Close date | Set the internal month-end and year-end close dates | The accounts cannot start from open books |
| Accountant review | Reserve time for queries and revisions | Review work always finds something |
| Director approval | Schedule approval before the filing deadline week | Directors need time to read the accounts |
| Submission buffer | Leave time for rejection or correction | Software filing can still need follow-up |
Review routine
Treat the accounts file as a controlled data pack. Reconcile the trial balance, agree disclosures, confirm director approval, keep filing evidence and make sure the same figures can support HMRC, Companies House, shareholders and the accountant.
A useful review note should answer three questions: what source evidence was used, what judgement was applied, and who approved the treatment. Keep that note beside the transaction or period report rather than in a separate inbox.
Common mistakes
- Treating the Companies House deadline as the accounts preparation date
- Booking director approval after filing
- Ignoring bank or VAT reconciliations until the accountant asks
The best prevention is a short, repeated checklist. If a control is too complicated to run every month or quarter, it will probably fail when the deadline is close.
How ReAI helps
ReAI supports the handover from bookkeeping to accounts production by keeping reconciliations, journals and review evidence together. That reduces the need to rebuild annual accounts from disconnected exports. For hands-on help with setup, see Accounting Assistance for Small Businesses .
Summary
Treat Accounts approval timetable for small companies as a recurring accounting control, not a one-off admin task. Put the source data, review owner, exception list and submission evidence in the same system before the deadline arrives. That makes compliance work easier to check and much less dependent on memory.