Manage your finances effectively with our structured Monthly Bank Reconciliation Templateā a complete guide to balance your books, identify discrepancies, and correct them efficiently.
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Gather bank statements for the month
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Gather accounting records for the same month
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Note the ending balance of bank statements
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Note the ending balance according to the accounting records
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Identify all un-cleared checks
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Identify all deposits in transit
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Record all bank charges not previously recorded in the general ledger
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Record all bank credits not in general ledger
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Update the cash account in the general ledger for changes
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Calculate adjusted balance for bank statement
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Calculate adjusted balance for company books
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Approval: Finance Team Member to verify calculations
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Compare the bank statement adjusted balance to the company books adjusted balance
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Identify discrepancies between two adjusted balances
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Investigate and resolve discrepancies
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Make necessary journal entries to correct discrepancies
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Review all reconciliation documentation for completeness
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Approval: Finance Director to review reconciliation process and documentation
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File all bank reconciliation documentation
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Ensure all steps done by generating a reconciliation report
Gather bank statements for the month
This task involves collecting all the bank statements for the specific month. It is important to gather statements from all the relevant bank accounts. The bank statements will provide information about all the transactions that have taken place during the month, including deposits, withdrawals, and any fees or charges. This task ensures that all the necessary information is available to reconcile the bank accounts.
Gather accounting records for the same month
In order to reconcile the bank accounts, it is essential to have access to the accounting records for the same month. This task involves gathering all the relevant accounting records, such as general ledger entries, cash receipts, and cash disbursements. The accounting records will provide information about the transactions that have been recorded in the company's books. It is crucial to ensure that all the accounting records for the specific month are obtained.
Note the ending balance of bank statements
To reconcile the bank accounts, it is necessary to note the ending balance of the bank statements for the specific month. The ending balance represents the amount of money that the bank shows as available in the account at the end of the month. This information will be used to compare with the ending balance according to the accounting records. It is important to accurately note the ending balance to ensure an accurate reconciliation process.
Note the ending balance according to the accounting records
This task involves noting the ending balance according to the accounting records for the same month. The ending balance in the accounting records represents the amount of money that should be available in the cash account based on the recorded transactions. It is important to compare the ending balance according to the accounting records with the ending balance of the bank statements to identify any discrepancies. Accurately noting the ending balance according to the accounting records is crucial for a successful reconciliation process.
Identify all un-cleared checks
To reconcile the bank accounts, it is necessary to identify all the un-cleared checks for the specific month. Un-cleared checks are the checks issued by the company that have not yet been presented for payment by the recipients. This task involves reviewing the bank statements and the accounting records to identify any checks that have been issued but have not yet cleared. Identifying all un-cleared checks is crucial for an accurate reconciliation process.
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Check #1
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Check #2
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Check #3
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Check #4
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Check #5
Identify all deposits in transit
This task involves identifying all the deposits in transit for the specific month. Deposits in transit are the payments that the company has made but have not yet been recorded by the bank. This may happen due to delays in processing the deposits by the bank. To identify the deposits in transit, it is necessary to compare the deposits recorded in the accounting records with the deposits shown in the bank statements. Identifying all the deposits in transit is crucial for an accurate reconciliation process.
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Deposit #1
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Deposit #2
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Deposit #3
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Deposit #4
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Deposit #5
Record all bank charges not previously recorded in the general ledger
This task involves recording all the bank charges that have not been previously recorded in the general ledger. Bank charges are the fees or charges levied by the bank for various services, such as monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or wire transfer fees. It is important to review the bank statements and identify any bank charges that have not been recorded in the general ledger. Recording all the bank charges ensures that the general ledger reflects the accurate financial position of the company.
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Bank charge #1
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Bank charge #2
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Bank charge #3
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Bank charge #4
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Bank charge #5
Record all bank credits not in general ledger
To reconcile the bank accounts, it is necessary to record all the bank credits that have not been recorded in the general ledger. Bank credits are the amounts of money that have been credited to the company's bank account but have not been recorded in the general ledger. This task involves reviewing the bank statements and identifying any bank credits that have not been recorded in the general ledger. Recording all the bank credits ensures that the general ledger accurately reflects the financial transactions of the company.
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Bank credit #1
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Bank credit #2
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Bank credit #3
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Bank credit #4
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Bank credit #5
Update the cash account in the general ledger for changes
This task involves updating the cash account in the general ledger to reflect the changes identified during the bank reconciliation process. The cash account is a crucial component of the general ledger as it tracks all the cash transactions of the company. It is necessary to update the cash account based on the information obtained from the bank statements, accounting records, and the identified discrepancies. Updating the cash account ensures that the general ledger accurately represents the financial position of the company.
Calculate adjusted balance for bank statement
To reconcile the bank accounts, it is essential to calculate the adjusted balance for the bank statement. The adjusted balance represents the accurate financial position of the bank account after considering all the identified discrepancies, un-cleared checks, deposits in transit, bank charges, and bank credits. This task involves performing the necessary calculations based on the information obtained during the reconciliation process. Calculating the adjusted balance for the bank statement ensures an accurate reconciliation of the bank accounts.
Calculate adjusted balance for company books
This task involves calculating the adjusted balance for the company books. The adjusted balance represents the accurate financial position of the cash account in the general ledger after considering all the identified discrepancies, un-cleared checks, deposits in transit, bank charges, and bank credits. To calculate the adjusted balance for the company books, it is necessary to perform the necessary calculations based on the information obtained during the reconciliation process. Calculating the adjusted balance for the company books ensures an accurate reconciliation of the bank accounts.
Approval: Finance Team Member to verify calculations
Will be submitted for approval:
Calculate adjusted balance for bank statement
Will be submitted
Calculate adjusted balance for company books
Will be submitted
Compare the bank statement adjusted balance to the company books adjusted balance
This task involves comparing the adjusted balance for the bank statement with the adjusted balance for the company books. The comparison helps identify any discrepancies or differences between the two balances. It is essential to ensure that the adjusted balances for both the bank statement and the company books match. Any discrepancies indicate errors or missing transactions in either the bank statement or the company books. Comparing the adjusted balances helps in identifying and resolving any discrepancies.
Identify discrepancies between two adjusted balances
To reconcile the bank accounts, it is crucial to identify any discrepancies or differences between the adjusted balances for the bank statement and the company books. Discrepancies can indicate errors, missing transactions, or inaccurately recorded transactions. This task involves carefully reviewing the adjusted balances and identifying any discrepancies. Accurately identifying discrepancies helps in resolving the issues and ensures an accurate reconciliation of the bank accounts.
Investigate and resolve discrepancies
This task involves investigating and resolving the discrepancies identified between the adjusted balances for the bank statement and the company books. Discrepancies can occur due to errors, missing transactions, or inaccurately recorded transactions. It is important to thoroughly investigate the discrepancies, review the supporting documents, and identify the root causes. Once the root causes are identified, appropriate actions can be taken to resolve the discrepancies and ensure an accurate reconciliation of the bank accounts.
Make necessary journal entries to correct discrepancies
To correct the discrepancies identified during the bank reconciliation process, it is necessary to make the necessary journal entries in the general ledger. Journal entries are used to record the adjustments required to rectify the discrepancies and bring the bank accounts into balance. This task involves identifying the appropriate accounts, determining the correct debit and credit amounts, and making the necessary journal entries. Making the necessary journal entries ensures an accurate reconciliation of the bank accounts.
Review all reconciliation documentation for completeness
This task involves reviewing all the reconciliation documentation to ensure completeness and accuracy. The reconciliation documentation includes the bank statements, accounting records, reconciled balances, supporting documents, and any journal entries made. It is important to review all the documentation to verify that all the necessary information and actions have been captured. Reviewing the reconciliation documentation for completeness helps in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the bank reconciliation process.
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Bank statements
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Accounting records
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Reconciled balances
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Supporting documents
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Journal entries
Approval: Finance Director to review reconciliation process and documentation
Will be submitted for approval:
Review all reconciliation documentation for completeness
Will be submitted
File all bank reconciliation documentation
This task involves filing all the bank reconciliation documentation for future reference and audit purposes. The bank reconciliation documentation includes the bank statements, accounting records, reconciled balances, supporting documents, and any journal entries made. Filing the bank reconciliation documentation ensures easy access to the information for any future inquiries, audits, or reference. Properly filed documentation also helps in maintaining a well-organized record-keeping system.
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Bank statements
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Accounting records
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Reconciled balances
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Supporting documents
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Journal entries
Ensure all steps done by generating a reconciliation report
To ensure that all the necessary steps have been completed and to provide a summary of the bank reconciliation process, a reconciliation report needs to be generated. This task involves compiling all the relevant information, including the starting and ending balances, identified discrepancies, actions taken to resolve the discrepancies, and the final reconciled balances. Generating a reconciliation report helps in documenting the entire reconciliation process and provides a record of the steps taken.