Background: Errors or omissions can be made to the company's bank account records due to the many
cash transactions that occur. Therefore, it is necessary to prove the monthly balance
shown in the bank account register. Cash on deposit with a bank is not available for
count and is therefore proved through the preparation of a reconciliation of the company's
record of cash in the bank and the bank's record of the company's cash that is on deposit.
Definitions: Batch. All of the day’s credit card transactions are collected into a “batch” of
transactions. The batch is closed, usually at the end of the day, and the result is submitted
to the merchant processor as a single “batch”.
Settlement. The processor clears the credit card transactions in the batch and the result is
“settled” to the designated bank account. Settlement varies by Credit Card Company but
usually occurs in 2-3 days after a batch is closed.
Processor. The processor is responsible for authorizing credit card transactions and
settling each batch. The processor is also the company that one must interface with on all
discrepancies or “chargebacks”.
Charge backs. A chargeback occurs when a customer (cardholder) disputes a charge that
appears on their monthly credit card statement. If the dispute is unable to be resolved
then the transaction is charged back to the merchant. The processor charges the merchant
and returns the cardholder’s money.
Procedure:
1.0 BANK STATEMENT PREPARATION
1.1 After receipt of the monthly bank statement, including cleared checks, deposit slips and any other
transactions; the Controller should prepare the monthly bank reconciliation and have it carefully
reviewed by the CFO. The CFO review is especially important if a bookkeeper is hired to
perform other cash drawer or cash posting transactions. To preserve proper segregation of duties,
no single employee, other than the owner, should perform both cash transaction functions and
bank account reconciliations.
1.2 Prior to preparing the bank reconciliation, the accountant should review the bank statement for
any interest credits, bank charges and other fees. These should all be posted to the checking
account before reconciling. Note: some accounting systems allow for the entry of interest credits,
bank charges and other fees during the reconciliation process.
2.0 COMPUTERIZED FORMAT
2.1 In the computerized environment, the accounting system may provide an automated bank
reconciliation task. This task is generally selected once a month in conjunction with
receiving the month end bank statement. Once selected, the screen shows a list of all
items that have been posted to the cash account and that have not been cleared from the
previous month's account reconciliation. The screen is usually divided into two
segments: one half is a list of all checks and other charges reducing cash, and the other
half is a list of all deposits and other items increasing cash. This screen would also have
a field for entering the proper month end date and the balance at month end, per the bank.
2.2 After the account-reconciling task is successfully completed, a report is provided which
shows the reconciliation process, including outstanding checks and deposits in transit.
The actual format will vary depending on the accounting system, but in general, will
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
contain the same information as shown on the manually prepared report in CSH107 Ex1
SAMPLE BANK AND BOOK BALANCES RECONCILIATION TO CORRECTED
BALANCE.
Note: Print out the full (not a summary) report, staple it to the applicable bank statement, and file
the result as an important control feature. This will document that the bank statement has been
successfully reconciled.
3.0 MANUAL PREPARATION AND RECONCILING ITEMS
3.1 A monthly bank reconciliation starts with the ending bank statement balance. List any deposits in
transit that were made but were not yet recorded by the bank and add to the bank balance. Then,
list any checks that were written on the account prior to month-end, but which have not yet
cleared the bank and deducted from the bank balance. The ending balance should agree with the
balance "per books", i.e.: the balance recorded in the checking account.
3.2 Now perform the same process with the monthly reconciliation of the ending balance per the
company's books.
Total deposits and total disbursements should be reconciled to the bank statement, then
adjustments such as any interest or any other bank credit items should be listed and added to the
balance. Then, any bank charges, transfer fees, etc. should be listed and deducted from the
balance.
From these steps, the "corrected" ending “book” balance is derived and should equal the
"corrected" bank balance from the previous step.
3.3 Any discrepancies between the derived balance and the checkbook balance will require
research to determine the cause, such as recording errors, omissions, incorrect postings,
etc. In some cases, the discrepancy can be caused by not accurately entering all bank
generated credits and charges; such as fees, interest, etc. If the balances still do not equal,
the bank statement should be carefully reviewed for possible errors; such as, checks or
deposits clearing for amounts that do not agree with those posted to the store's checking
account.
4.0 COMPUTERIZED PREPARATION AND RECONCILING ITEMS
4.1 The same procedures as the manual tasks described above are followed in a computerized
environment. The primary difference is in the ease of preparation. All transactions, which were
not already cleared in the prior month’s reconciliation, are listed.
4.2 Start by checking or clicking off with the mouse or keyboard those transactions, (mainly checks
and other debit memos, and deposits and other credit memos) that agree with the bank statement.
Once all bank statement items have been found and clicked off on the screen, the remaining "un-
cleared" entries on the screen are, in effect, the list of outstanding checks and deposits in transit.
Furthermore, the screen typically provides a continually updating reconciled cash amount that
should agree to the ending bank balance amount once all items are correctly accounted for and
cleared. Usually the accounting system does the math and the screen displays both the ending
bank balance and the reconciled cash amount with the remaining difference, if any.
4.3 Investigate all differences and enter any adjustments to the reconciliation or post to the cash
account in order to ensure an accurate bank balance.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
5.5 Any outstanding checks or deposits in transit over six months old should be reviewed for
disposition including write-off by a journal entry.
Revision History:
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SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.
SAMPLE POLICY FROM THE CEO- COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SERIES INCLUDES AN
EXAMPLE POLICY AND CONTENTS OF ALL NINE MANUALS.