Inventory the sources and periods. Record statement dates, row counts, opening and closing balances, ledger coverage and any partial exports.
Check each opening balance against the prior period's closing balance. Record differences and their supporting evidence for accountant review before continuing.
Reconcile each bank and card account. Match statement lines to ledger entries by supported identifiers, date, amount and context. Keep timing differences, unmatched entries and duplicate candidates visible in both directions.
Categorize using the owner's existing chart and supplied accounting policies. Preserve the original transaction. Record uncertain categories with the evidence and the decision needed.
Check transfers and settlements. Separate movement between the owner's accounts from income or expense. Reconcile gross sales, refunds, fees and net payouts as separate amounts; a bank payout alone does not establish gross revenue.
Reconcile open customer invoices and supplier bills to their source lists. Account for credits and partial settlements once. Keep aged receivables and payables separate from bank cash.
Review timing items such as prepayments, accruals and deferred revenue under the confirmed basis. Propose an entry with date, accounts, amount, supporting source and rationale; do not post it.
Tie payroll and relevant tax control accounts to supplied reports. Label missing filings, statements or review evidence. Use the applicable specialist procedure where professional interpretation is needed.
Produce the period and year-to-date P&L, closing balance sheet and open-item schedules only to the extent the records support them. A balanced arithmetic presentation is not proof of complete records.
Reconcile movement from opening to closing balances and explain material variance against the supplied comparison period. Preserve unexplained differences instead of inserting a balancing figure.
Assemble the accountant pack with the source inventory, statements, reconciliations, proposed entries and exceptions. State the basis and period on each output.