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2021 is over.

That means it’s time again for Gabbies to prepare the year end financial statements and reports of their respective agencies.

February 14 is the deadline to beat.

Just thinking about it, it’s already overwhelming, stressful and alarming, not to mention starting a new year is another challenging endeavor. Marami sa mga Gabbies hindi na alam kung ano ang uunahin.

But, as they say, planning is the key. To plan is to be ready. It’s a cliche, but if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

So how do we plan and be ready with this gigantic task ahead of us?

Below, we share with you 10 things or people we should all be ready with (pwedeng dugtungan, gawing 11) to be able to finish successfully our respective reports and submit them ON TIME.

1. Yourself

Your self is your best friend during this time. Hence, dapat ready sya. Dapat ready ka. Being ready means you are physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually okay.

By this time, you should have already accepted the fact that this is a difficult task and you should have set your mind that this is going to be messy (lalo na sa year end adjustments) and a seemingly endless trial and error err trial balancing. Accept it as part of the job we are paid for.

While we cannot avoid having to work late at night, let’s guard our physical body of any form of illness as we cant afford to be sick during this time.

We also know, we barely have time to go out to dine out and window shop, but we tell you, these are not necessary for now as aside from it’s very dangerous to roam around (coz you know you might catch omicron) but save your time as much as possible for more important things — your reports.

2. Your Tools and Machines

Nakakaramdam ng stress ang printer, calculator, and your computer. That’s why, even them should also be ready. You need them all throughout the journey.

Hence, ensure that you have enough ink for your printer. Ensure that the ink is enough when it’s time to print your reports. Have a backup supply if practicable.

And speaking of backup, make it a habit to save your work. You don’t want to lose a whole day of work just because you forgot to click the save button. Madami na ang umiyak dahil dito. An unsaved work is a wasted time.

Uso din ang brownout sa panahon ngayon. Does your office have a generator? If you have, you are lucky. Pero gumagana ba naman sa panahong kailangan mo ito? If not, what do you do in case walang kuryente? Have a back up plan. Ika nga what’s your Plan B?

3. Your Working Papers

A good report comes from well-prepared working papers. That’s why, before you prepare your financial position, cash flows, notes to FS, etc. have your working papers prepared first.

Your working papers might include your registries, journals, ledgers, manuals, etc. It also includes your previous reports, references from other offices such as bank statements, debit/credit memos, contracts, etc.

Also, have a list of all the adjustments that you need to record so that you won’t miss anything. Once it pops in your mind, note it down so that you wont forget them.

Some of these year end adjustments may include your petty cash, issuances of office supplies, depreciation, amortization, accounts payable, accounts receivable, prior period adjustments, etc.

4. Your Environment

Your environment is very very important on being able to finish your reports on time. Do away with any distractions in and around your office or at home (if you’re working from there).

Some of these distractions may include cluttered files and folders (uy, may guilty sa hindi pagpa-file), food (ay no hindi pala, okay lang, lalo ang coffee), your colleagues (more on this later), and others.

If you are working from home, you want to work away from your television. Sabi nila, wag din magtrabaho sa kwarto kasi baka antukin ka. Do not work in your garden, lalo kung plantito or plantita ka kasi baka di mo namamalayan yung mga halaman mo na ang inaasikaso mo instead na yung FS mo.

What is important here is ensure that you are working in an environment na makakatulong sayo upang matapos mo agad ang mga reports mo.

5. Your Colleagues

If you’re working with a team to finish your reports, it’s important to have a very strong coordination with your them. Lalo na kapag nakadepende sa bawat isa ang ikakatapos ng inyong reports.

It’s a good thing if you discuss briefly your progress para malaman ninyo kung mahahabol ba ninyo ang deadline.

This is very true especially for those working in the Central Office. Nakadepende ang reports nila from their operating units. That’s why it’s very important to have efficient coordination.

But if you’re a one-man team, what you have to manage is your colleagues who might give you distractions. Di ba may mga ganun sa opisina? Yung iba super daldal na halos di ka na maka-work kasi distracted ka.

6. Your Boss

Your Boss also plays an important role in your success. You also have to manage your Boss lalo na kung sya yung klase na tambak lang ng tambak ng trabaho. But that’s what most Bosses are — that’s their job — to efficiently delegate.

What is important here is we should be able to communicate our priorities and we learn how to say no to less important things and we learn to suggest alternatives.

7. Your Family

We need support and understanding during this time and we need our family on this. We need their support and understanding. This may be the time of the year where we may sacrifice some of our personal time and miss some special occasions with our love ones. But just like other professions we get a fair share of sacrifices — para sa bayan.

8. Your Time

Your time is the most important thing on all of these. If you fail to manage your time, surely you will not be able to submit your reports on time.

9. Your Auditor

Reach out. Your auditor might help you with your reports. Most auditors are more than very willing to assist you in the preparation of your reports. After all, sa kanila mapupunta yung reports mo, so gusto nila maayos na pagdating sa kanila.

Don’t hesitate to ask or clarify matters that you don’t understand especially if it will affect your reports. Baka may mga updates na di mo alam pero ineexpect pala yun ni Auditor sa reports mo.

So yeah, work closely with your Auditor.

10. Your Money

Done ka na with your reports? Congrats! Pa-burger and milk tea ka naman sa sarili mo (if one-man team ka) or sa staff mo na sinamahan ka all the way. Because you all deserve a treat for doing a great job!