According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, businesses lose an average of 5% of their annual revenue to fraud each year, and a substantial portion of this can be attributed to irregularities in financial records. Payment reconciliation plays a key role in identifying and addressing these irregularities by aligning internal accounting records with bank statements and transactions.

In addition to safeguarding against errors and fraud, payment reconciliation contributes to informed and data-driven decisions, positive relationships with clients and partners, and adherence to legal and financial standards.

We'll cover the different aspects of payment reconciliation, dissecting its mechanics, best practices and the practical benefits that it offers businesses.

What's in this article?

• What is payment reconciliation?
  
• How does payment reconciliation work?
  
• Types of payment reconciliation
  
• Why payment reconciliation matters for businesses
  
• Payment reconciliation best practices
  
• Payment reconciliation with Stripe
  

What is payment reconciliation?

Payment reconciliation is a financial process that involves matching and comparing transaction records to ensure that the payments made or received are accurate and consistent with what is recorded in the business's accounting books or financial statements. This process is essential for verifying the accuracy of financial transactions, avoiding errors or discrepancies, and maintaining the integrity of financial records.

How does payment reconciliation work?

Payment reconciliation involves several steps that help ensure that the payments recorded in the financial statements are consistent with the payments made or received. The exact process varies from business to business, but generally includes the following steps:

• Gather data
  Collect all of the relevant financial documents and records, such as bank statements, invoices, receipts and the records in the accounting system. You will use this data to verify the accuracy of the payments.

• Match transactions
  Compare the records from the bank statements with the entries in the accounting system. Ensure that the dates, amounts and descriptions of the transactions match.

• Identify discrepancies
  During the matching process, you might find transactions that don't align. These discrepancies might come from differences in timing, errors or fraud. Make a list of these discrepancies for further investigation.

• Resolve discrepancies
  Investigate the discrepancies to determine their causes. This could involve contacting the issuing bank, checking the original transaction documents or reviewing the accounting entries. Once you have identified the reasons for the discrepancies, make the necessary corrections or adjustments in the accounting records.

• Record adjustments
  Sometimes, you may find that certain transactions are recorded incorrectly in the accounting system or are missing entirely. Record any adjustments needed to reconcile the account, such as bank fees, interest earned or correcting errors.

• Verify balances
  After you have made all of the adjustments, verify that the adjusted balance in the accounting records matches the ending balance on the bank statement.

• Document the process
  Keep a record of the reconciliation process, including any discrepancies and adjustments. This documentation is important for audit purposes and for ensuring accountability and transparency.

• Review and approve
  Depending on the size and structure of your organisation, a supervisor or manager may need to review and approve the payment reconciliation process, to ensure that it was conducted properly.

Payment reconciliation is usually performed on a regular basis, such as monthly or quarterly.

Types of payment reconciliation

Specific transactions or records call for different types of payment reconciliation. Here are some examples:

• Bank reconciliation
  Bank reconciliation involves matching the transactions recorded in the company's cash account with the transactions shown on the bank statement. Businesses use bank reconciliation to ensure that the cash balance in the accounting records is consistent with the balance the bank reports.

• Credit card reconciliation
  Credit card reconciliation is similar to bank reconciliation but meant specifically for credit card accounts. It involves matching transactions recorded in the accounting system against the credit card statements to ensure accuracy and detect any unauthorised or fraudulent transactions.

• Accounts receivable reconciliation
  Accounts receivable reconciliation involves matching customer payments and credit notes against the invoices issued. It helps businesses ensure that records of customer payments are correct and allows them to identify and resolve any discrepancies, such as underpayments or overpayments.

• Accounts payable reconciliation
  Accounts payable reconciliation is the process of matching supplier invoices, credit notes and payments made to the records in the accounts payable ledger. It helps businesses verify that the amounts they owe suppliers are accurate and that they are making payments in a timely manner.

• Intercompany reconciliation
  For businesses with multiple subsidiaries or divisions, intercompany reconciliation involves matching and reconciling transactions that occur between different entities within the same corporate group. This ensures that businesses record intercompany transactions consistently across the different entities.

• Payroll reconciliation
  Payroll reconciliation involves verifying the accuracy of payroll transactions, including wages, deductions and taxes, by comparing payroll records to bank statements and other supporting documents. It helps ensure that businesses are paying employees correctly and accounting for payroll taxes and other deductions in the proper manner.

• General ledger reconciliation
  General ledger reconciliation is a broader type of reconciliation that can encompass several of the aforementioned types. In general ledger reconciliation, businesses reconcile individual accounts within the general ledger with the corresponding sub-ledgers or supporting documents. This ensures that all transactions are accurately recorded in the general ledger.

Each type of payment reconciliation serves a specific purpose, and all are important for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of financial records. The exact type of reconciliation you use will depend on a number of factors relating to the nature of your business and the type of transactions you process.

Why payment reconciliation matters for businesses

For any business, financial accuracy and accountability are paramount. But the vast array and volume of transactions that businesses process on a daily basis make the financial landscape complex. Payment reconciliation is an important tool in navigating this complexity. It serves as a compass, guiding businesses in verifying the accuracy of financial records, ensuring compliance and making informed decisions. Here are some key reasons why payment reconciliation is so significant for businesses:

• Detecting errors and discrepancies
  Through payment reconciliation, businesses can pinpoint errors or discrepancies between accounting records and actual transactions. Errors and discrepancies can range from minor data entry mistakes to more serious issues such as missing transactions.

• Preventing fraud
  Regular account reconciliation acts as a safeguard, helping businesses detect unauthorised transactions or irregularities, which may signal fraud. Identifying these issues early on is necessary for damage control.

• Improving cash flow management
  Payment reconciliation helps businesses understand their true cash position. With an accurate understanding of the cash at hand, businesses can make smart decisions related to investments, expenses and debt management.

• Ensuring accurate financial reporting
  The reconciliation process ensures that financial statements mirror the business's financial status. This accuracy is essential not only for internal decision-making but also for transparent communication with investors, creditors and regulatory bodies.

• Compliance with laws and regulations
  Regular payment reconciliation plays a key role in ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, thereby mitigating the risk of penalties and legal challenges.

• Enhancing relationships with stakeholders
  When financial records are precise and up to date, stakeholders, including investors, suppliers and customers, are more likely to trust the business. This trust helps maintain strong and mutually beneficial relationships.

• Facilitating audits
  An organised and thorough payment reconciliation process eases the auditing process. Auditors can review reconciliation documentation and processes in an efficient manner, reducing the likelihood of audit adjustments or concerns.

• Optimising operational efficiency
  Payment reconciliation helps businesses highlight areas in need of process enhancements, such as payment procedures or internal controls. Optimising these areas can lead to increased efficiency and cost reductions.

• Supporting budgeting and forecasting
  Accurate financial data obtained through reconciliation is fundamental for effective budgeting and forecasting. It empowers businesses to make realistic predictions and plan for future financial requirements.

In addition to protecting a business against errors and possible fraud, payment reconciliation builds a foundation for strategic, fact-based decision-making, compliance and trust-based stakeholder relationships. The impact of payment reconciliation on a business's current and future health cannot be overstated.

Payment reconciliation best practices

Payment reconciliation is a fundamental financial process for businesses. To make it as effective and efficient as possible, businesses should adopt these best practices:

• Conduct payment reconciliation regularly
  Businesses should conduct payment reconciliation regularly, typically on a monthly basis. Regular reconciliation helps businesses detect and resolve errors and discrepancies in a timely manner.

• Segregate duties
  To minimise the risk of errors and fraud, the person who records transactions should not be the same person who reconciles accounts. This segregation of duties serves as a system of checks and balances for businesses.

• Use reconciliation software or tools
  Businesses can use specialised software or tools to automate much of the reconciliation process. This not only increases efficiency but also minimises manual errors and provides better tracking and reporting.

• Standardise the reconciliation process
  Establishing standardised procedures for reconciliation ensures consistency and accuracy. Document these procedures and make sure that the relevant staff understand and follow them closely.

• Document thoroughly
  Maintain detailed records of the reconciliation process, including explanations for any adjustments made. This documentation is needed for audits and for understanding the historical context of transactions.

• Investigate discrepancies promptly
  Investigate discrepancies immediately. Taking quick action is essential for correcting errors, recovering funds if necessary and preventing similar issues in the future.

• Train employees
  Ensure that all employees involved in the reconciliation process are properly trained. They must be well-versed in accounting practices, regulations and how to use any applicable reconciliation tools or software.

• Create a review and approval process
  A supervisor or manager should review and approve reconciliation reports. This additional layer of oversight helps to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the reconciliation process.

• Maintain security and access controls
  Limit access to financial records and systems to authorised personnel only. Implement strong security measures to protect sensitive financial information.

• Benchmark progress and strive for improvement
  Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of your reconciliation process on a regular basis. Compare your practices with industry standards and look for ways to improve your system.

• Establish clear communication channels
  Maintain clear lines of communication with banks, vendors and other parties involved in financial transactions. These channels will help resolve issues and obtain necessary information or clarifications.

By following these best practices for payment reconciliation, businesses can enhance the accuracy and integrity of their financial records, which contributes to better financial management, informed decision-making and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Payment reconciliation with Stripe

Stripe's suite of financial solutions helps businesses understand their money movement while automating much of the payment reconciliation process. This feature is tailored to ensure that revenue is captured accurately and a business's system of record remains in sync with the transactions processed through Stripe, including both charges and refunds.

Here's how Stripe can streamline the reconciliation process for businesses:

• Automation
  Stripe reconciliation automates the often arduous task of comparing internal records, such as invoices and fees, with external records such as settlement files, payout files and bank statements. This significantly reduces manual effort and minimises errors.

• Daily cash tracking
  One of the benefits of using Stripe for reconciliation is the ability to track cash on a daily basis. This gives businesses a real-time understanding of their cash position, which is important for effective financial management.

• Identifying discrepancies
  Stripe allows businesses to swiftly identify any gaps in fund flows or data discrepancies. By detecting these issues early, businesses can resolve them faster, preventing revenue leakages and ensuring accurate financial records.

• Transaction life cycle visibility
  With Stripe reconciliation, businesses gain visibility into the complete life cycle of each transaction. From the moment a transaction is initiated to the moment it is settled, businesses can track every stage, ensuring thorough monitoring and control.

• Implementing financial controls
  Stripe helps implement strong financial controls by automating reconciliation and providing detailed transaction tracking, which ensures that financial records are accurate and that businesses are protected from errors and fraud.

• Scalability
  As businesses grow, their financial operations become more complex. Stripe's reconciliation solutions are scalable, capable of accommodating the increasing transaction volumes and complexities that come with growth. This makes Stripe particularly valuable for businesses with high transaction volumes, multiple payment methods in a single transaction or long transaction life cycles.

Stripe's reconciliation functionality acts as a bridge between Stripe-processed transactions, including payments and refunds, and your internal accounting records. Stripe automatically matches and verifies each transaction and highlights any discrepancies for further investigation. Learn more about how Stripe facilitates payment reconciliation for businesses here.