Bank reconciliation in practice: batches, carried-forward items and finding differences
For bookkeepers, AP/AR clerks and office managers who already know the difference between bank-side and book-side reconciling items and now reconcile a real business account every month. Prerequisite: the course on bank reconciliations in practice (bank-side and book-side items). This course works one full month with realistic complications: proving the opening position against last month's reconciliation, matching batched deposits and card settlements paid net of fees, locating a difference that won't clear, deciding what carries forward and what needs follow-up, and assembling a package a reviewer can check, in a spreadsheet or in accounting software. Examples use US practice and IRS Publication 583; your company's procedure and your accountant's advice take priority. The course does not grant an accounting qualification and is not legal advice or tax advice.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Length
- About 95 minutes
- Contents
- 5 lessons · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 10 Oct 2026
Skills you'll practise
- Prove the starting point by tying the opening balances and last month's outstanding items to the prior reconciliation
- Match statement lines to ledger entries, including batched deposits and card settlements paid net of fees
- Calculate the adjusted bank balance and adjusted book balance, and locate a difference when they don't agree
- Identify which reconciling items need a ledger entry, which carry forward, and which need follow-up
- Prepare a reconciliation package with evidence that a reviewer can check
Course outline
- 1.Prove the starting point against last month's reconciliationLesson · 16 min
- 2.Match statement lines to ledger entries, including batches and net settlementsLesson · 20 min
- 3.Calculate both adjusted balances and locate a differenceLesson · 20 min
- 4.Decide what needs an entry, what carries forward and what needs follow-upLesson · 17 min
- 5.Prepare a reconciliation package a reviewer can checkLesson · 12 min
- 6.Bank reconciliation in practice: batches, carried-forward items and finding differences: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 14 questions
- 7.Bank reconciliation in practice: batches, carried-forward items and finding differences: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
- 8.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- IRS Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records (Reconciling the checking account; supporting documents)
- IRS: What kind of records should I keep (supporting documents for receipts, purchases and expenses)
- Xero US: How to do a bank reconciliation
- Xero US: What is bank reconciliation?
- Xero US: Bank reconciliation software (bank feeds, suggested matches, bank rules, reconciliation summary report)
- U.S. SBA: Manage your finances (bookkeeping functions including bank reconciliation)
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