Reconciliation: Foundations in Quality Account Reconciliations
Access this expert-led webinar instantly, available anytime on-demand.
Included in All-Access Membership Live Webinar
On-Demand Webinar Available
Customer Satisfaction Guarantee Learn with confidence. If you're not happy, we'll make it right. That's our guarantee.
Master the essentials of high-quality account reconciliations in this comprehensive training led by Shana Cooper, CPA. This practical course is designed to help accounting professionals strengthen financial controls, improve month-end close efficiency, and build confidence in performing accurate, audit-ready account reconciliations. Through proven techniques and real-world insight, participants will gain the skills needed to enhance financial reporting accuracy and reduce financial risk across their organizations.
This 100-minute, technology-agnostic course covers reconciliation fundamentals, quality standards, and implementation strategies that work in any system environment. Whether you are looking to improve your reconciliation process, increase audit readiness, or develop stronger internal controls, this training provides the framework and practical guidance necessary to produce more reliable financial statements and a more efficient financial close process.
Topics Covered:- Core reconciliation concepts and terminology
- Essential elements of high-quality account reconciliations
- The connection between reconciliations and financial statements
- Step-by-step guidance for building effective reconciliations
- Real-world examples and scenarios
- Best practices for documentation and review
- Framework for creating a robust reconciliation program
- Strategies for improving reconciliation effectiveness over time
- Understand the importance of quality account reconciliations and their direct connection to financial statement accuracy
- Learn how to build and maintain proper, well-documented account reconciliations
- Identify and implement reconciliation best practices across any technology platform
- Gain confidence in performing and reviewing reconciliations
- Improve audit preparedness and reduce the risk of financial misstatements
- Increase efficiency in the month-end close process
- Strengthen your organization’s financial control framework
- Develop the ability to clearly communicate the “story” behind financial data
By attending this course, you will gain practical, immediately applicable tools to elevate your reconciliation process, enhance your professional confidence, and contribute more strategically to your organization’s financial reporting excellence.
Who Should Attend:- Accounting professionals seeking to strengthen reconciliation skills
- Finance teams aiming to improve the financial close process
- Organizations looking to enhance financial controls and reporting accuracy
-
Shana Cooper
Shana is a CPA and business coach for accounting teams. She brings more than 25 years of accounting experience spanning public accounting, firm operations, accounting technology and leadership roles in the Office of the CFO - giving her a rare, multi-seat perspective on the challenges accounting pro [...]
CPE Credit
Aurora Training Advantage is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, and cancellation please contact our offices at 407-542-4317 or [email protected].
ATATX Credit
Aurora Training Advantage is offering continuing education points designed to recognize dedication to training and excellence in accounting.
Invest in your future with confidence! Our Customer Satisfaction Guarantee eliminates all risk, letting you focus purely on mastering new skills and advancing your career. If you're not completely satisfied, we'll ensure you are. Your satisfaction is not just a promise; it's our guarantee.
This webinar received a total of 5 survey responses. Attendees have given an average rating of 4.6 stars out of a possible 5, reflecting the quality and value of the content presented.
Webinar Presentation
How many of the objectives of the event were met?
4.8 Stars
How useful was the information presented at this event?
4.6 Stars
Overall, how satisfied were you with this event?
4.4 Stars
Speaker Performance
Overall, how satisfied were you with this presenter?
4.6 Stars
How closely did the presenter follow the schedule?
4.4 Stars
Reviews From Webinar Survey
Our webinars are crafted to deliver exceptional value and insight to business professionals. Below, you'll find genuine feedback from attendees.
Sara P.
April 1, 2026
4.0 / 5
Webinar Rating:
4.0 Stars
Speaker Rating:
4.0 Stars
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?
Based on the attendees, I was expecting more in-depth details to ensure quality reconciliations, rather than just the basics of how to prepare a reconciliation. Most of the last slides were covered without sufficient detail
Susan B.
March 31, 2026
5.0 / 5
Webinar Rating:
5.0 Stars
Speaker Rating:
5.0 Stars
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?
The framework for reconciliations was very helpful. It will be very useful in updating our reconciliation guidelines.
Jessa J.
March 31, 2026
5.0 / 5
Webinar Rating:
5.0 Stars
Speaker Rating:
5.0 Stars
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?
Excellent class. I learned a lot of what I need to look out for while reviewing reconciliations.
Annette D.
March 31, 2026
4.8 / 5
Webinar Rating:
5.0 Stars
Speaker Rating:
4.5 Stars
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?
Power pack class. I learned a lot!!
Frank M.
March 31, 2026
4.0 / 5
Webinar Rating:
4.0 Stars
Speaker Rating:
4.0 Stars
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?
I think there were only two polls in the first 60 minutes+
Frequently Asked Questions
Account reconciliation is the process of comparing two or more sets of financial records to verify that they agree and that the general ledger balance is supported by accurate, complete documentation. Core terminology includes the general ledger (GL) — the central repository of all financial transactions; subledger — a detailed subsidiary record that aggregates to a GL balance; reconciling items — differences between the GL and the supporting source that have legitimate explanations such as timing differences or in-transit items; and open items — reconciling items that have not yet cleared and require resolution or escalation. Quality reconciliations demonstrate that every material GL balance is supported by independent evidence, reconciling items are understood and expected to clear within a defined timeframe, and the account is free of errors, unauthorized entries, or inappropriate balances. Building fluency in these foundational concepts enables accounting professionals to approach any reconciliation with a consistent analytical framework.
Account reconciliations are the primary mechanism by which accounting teams provide assurance that general ledger balances accurately represent the underlying economic reality of the organization. Every line item on the balance sheet and income statement derives from GL account balances, which means that undetected errors in those balances flow directly into published financial statements. A reconciliation that confirms a cash account balance matches the bank statement, that accounts receivable matches the aging report, and that accrued expenses are supported by appropriate calculations provides the evidence that the financial statements reflect actuality rather than accumulated errors. From an audit perspective, reconciliations are central evidence for evaluating internal controls — auditors specifically test whether reconciliations are completed timely, reviewed appropriately, and free of unsupported items. Organizations with strong reconciliation programs consistently produce more accurate financial statements and experience fewer audit adjustments and restatements.
A quality account reconciliation contains several essential elements that collectively provide complete assurance about the reliability of the account balance. First, a clear identification of the account — name, number, entity, and period. Second, the GL balance as of the reconciliation date, tied directly to the general ledger. Third, the balance from the independent supporting source — bank statement, subledger, confirmation, or calculation — as of the same date. Fourth, a clear reconciliation of any differences between the two, with each reconciling item described, explained, and assigned an expected resolution date. Fifth, supporting documentation attached or referenced for material items. Sixth, preparer signature and date, and reviewer signature and date. Seventh, a flag or escalation notation for any items outstanding beyond the organization's policy threshold. When all these elements are consistently present, the reconciliation provides genuine financial control assurance rather than a superficial matching exercise.
Improving month-end close efficiency through better reconciliation practices requires addressing the most common sources of close delay: late data availability, poorly designed reconciliation formats, inadequate reviewer capacity, and unresolved prior period items that carry forward. Preparing reconciliation templates in advance — with prior period information already loaded — allows preparers to begin work as soon as period-end data is available. Establishing clear completion deadlines for each account tier (high-risk accounts first, lower-risk accounts later) creates a structured sequence that prevents last-minute scrambles. Training preparers on what quality looks like and what reviewers need reduces rework cycles. Resolving open items during the period rather than at close removes the accumulated burden that slows high-volume close periods. Organizations that treat reconciliation design as a continuous improvement discipline — rather than a fixed process — steadily reduce close cycle times while maintaining or improving quality.
Communicating the story behind financial data is one of the highest-value skills an accounting professional can develop, because it bridges the gap between technical accuracy and business relevance. In the context of reconciliations, telling the story means going beyond confirming that numbers match to explaining why the balance exists, what drove significant changes from prior period, what the major reconciling items represent in business terms, and what risks or uncertainties remain. A preparer who can articulate these narratives in a concise reconciliation commentary enables reviewers and management to use the reconciliation as both a control document and a business insight tool. Developing this skill requires understanding the business operations behind the accounts — not just the accounting mechanics — and practicing the habit of asking whether a reconciliation reviewer with no prior context would understand the account's story from the documentation alone. Training programs focused on reconciliation quality help accounting professionals build this essential communication capability.