Ensure that all users are logged out.
Take a backup directly before the year-end process is to be run.
Note: If this isn't done, any work to fix errors is likely chargeable.
If possible, run the process during a quiet period of server activity - e.g. early morning or late afternoon.
Run the year-end connected to the server on which the SQL data is housed if at all possible.
Take a backup directly after the process has run to allow comparison, in case of future queries.
There is a known issue in some versions beginning 7.2 which requires a minor data fix after the process has been run, you should already be aware of this. It should not be an issue with users being on the newer versions