Simple Monthly Finance Checklist For Manufacturing Owners

Are you running a manufacturing firm, but you can't give accurate details of where your business numbers.

Most owners or founders we speak to in the engineering and manufacturing world didn’t start out wanting to study spreadsheets. You built your business around quality, machinery, efficiency, and delivery not financial analysis.

But here’s the truth: you can’t afford to avoid your numbers because weak margins, silent cost creep, and delayed customer payments can quietly drag you under and you won’t see it coming until you’re in firefighting mode.

That’s why this isn’t a lecture. It’s a simple monthly checklist that any busy director can run through in under an hour. You don’t need to be a finance pro. You just need to know where to look.

What’s the point of a monthly finance review?

Think of it like a maintenance check on your machines. You wouldn’t let a press brake or CNC lathe run for months without checking for wear and tear. So why let your business finances do the same?

A short monthly check helps you:

·        Catch profit leaks before they grow

·        Stay ahead of cash problems

·        Spot where projects or customers are costing more than they bring in

·        Know whether your pricing still makes sense

A Simple 6-Point Monthly Checklist

Here’s what we recommend reviewing at the end of each month:

1. Gross Margin by Job or Product

Are you earning what you should be per unit or per contract? Look at actual income vs. direct costs for each key project or product. This tells you where your profit is made or lost. Many firms undercharge without realising.

2. Overheads Compared to Last Month

What’s creeping up without permission? Compare your core overheads (like energy, rent, salaries, subscriptions) to the previous month. If admin costs rise slowly over time, you won’t notice until it’s a problem.

3. Aged Receivables

Who owes you money, and for how long? Run an aged receivables report. Any client who hasn’t paid after 30 days should be flagged. Don’t let unpaid invoices pile up, it kills your cash flow fast.

4. Cash In vs. Cash Out

Did you bring in more than you spent? Simple as it sounds this is your real “health check.” Not turnover. Not profit. Just cash movement. If you’re spending more than you bring in, that’s a red flag.

5. Pricing vs. Costs

Are your prices still working? If raw materials, labour or energy have gone up but your prices haven’t you’re shrinking your margin without noticing. Make time monthly to check this.

6. Upcoming Commitments

What’s coming in the next 30 days? This isn’t just about the past, it’s planning for what’s ahead. Look at payroll, VAT, supplier payments, and big bills due next month. Can you cover it all?

This Doesn’t Replace Your Professional Accountant, it's just a summary guide

This checklist isn’t about replacing your accountant or bookkeeper. It’s about giving you, the director, enough visibility to lead your business with confidence not guesswork. When you check these six areas monthly, you start spotting patterns. You make better decisions. And you stop letting your business run on crossed fingers and late-night worry.