Every time I hear someone arguing that using the checklist is a waste of time I end up finding silly mistakes or simple things forgotten within an Annual Report. They are the bits that could have easily been avoided with using the checklist. Why people don’t use them? The reason is simple. They think, with being experienced and all that they already know everything that should be within an Annual Report and what may go wrong and so they don’t need the checklist to remind them. Fact of the matter is we’re all humans and make mistakes. The checklist is not a shameful thing to be using, it’s smart.

An Annual Report checklist is there with simple and short questions and statements that one must consider when preparing an Annual Report. Since it’s a process that takes some amount of time and includes also some parts being done at one time, amended and adjusted in the light of new sections etc. on another time, there are always cross-referenced information that gets in contradict with the rest. Also you may be so focused on one part that you completely ignore and then forget something you also had to do. This is exactly why you have the checklist and with smart usage of it (i.e. certain procedures are to be left as last etc.) it will really help you.

I personally find it surprising when people think they are able to compile their Annual Report without one and then I still see mistakes. Surprising in a way that I don’t get why they wouldn’t want to make things right in the first place and how come they’re okay with reports being sent back because of such silly mistakes. Time and time again. Be smart and start using the Annual Report checklist with your next Annual Report!

If you want to learn more about Annual Report, please check out our Office ToDo UNI.