Account reconciliation process flowchart
Account reconciliation process flowchart for supporting-balance preparation, reconciling-item resolution, correction approval and independent account certification.
What the account reconciliation process is
An account reconciliation connects a balance in the general ledger to the records that substantiate it: subledgers, bank schedules, counterparty confirmations, fixed-asset registers or other support. A balance that cannot be explained at this level may still add correctly in the trial balance, but it is not reconciled.
The process separates a timing item from an error requiring correction, and it separates journal preparation from approval. The account owner supplies operational context, the accountant prepares the schedule, and a different reviewer certifies that the balance and open-item ageing are acceptable for the close.
What this flowchart covers
In this template
- Preparation of a balance-to-support schedule with evidence that can be retrieved by a reviewer or auditor.
- A controlled route for timing items, aged reconciling differences and corrections requiring independent approval.
- Reviewer certification that returns incomplete evidence and unresolved exceptions for correction rather than signing them through.
When to use this template
- You need a reusable reconciliation workflow for balance-sheet or key profit-and-loss accounts.
- Account reconciliations are spreadsheet exercises with no explicit treatment for errors, timing items or review.
- You are strengthening month-end controls before implementing a close-management tool.
How it works
Name the support
For each account, identify the independent source that proves the balance and the period-end cut-off it uses.
Set ageing and correction rules
Define when a timing item must clear or escalate, and require independent approval before a correcting journal posts.
Certify the completed balance
Give the reviewer the balance, support, open-item log and evidence of any correction, not only a signed summary.
Frequently asked questions
What is an account reconciliation?
An account reconciliation compares a general ledger balance to independent supporting detail and explains every difference. It is a control over the validity and completeness of the reported balance.
What should a reconciliation include?
It should include the ledger balance, supporting schedule, each reconciling item with source evidence and ageing, any required correction, and independent review or certification.
Why separate correction approval from preparation?
Separating the preparer from the approver reduces the risk that an unsupported correction is used to force a balance to agree. The reviewer can test the rationale and evidence before a journal posts.