Have you asked AI to compare two exports and list what does not match?

Upload the ledger detail and the bank or sub-ledger file, and an approved AI tool lists unmatched items and likely reasons like timing or duplicates.

How to automate it

How to automate “reconcile balance sheet accounts at month end”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today and, for AI fixes, a prompt to copy.

240 min

typically, once a month

50%

of the time can be automated

Some setup

to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Use reconciliation software instead of spreadsheet recs

FloQast, Numeric, BlackLine and similar tools pull balances directly, auto-match transactions, and keep sign-off and support in one place for the auditors.

Typically saves about 45% of the time8 h to set up

1List your reconciliations and how long each takes.
2Start with the high-volume ones (bank, credit card, intercompany, clearing accounts).
3Trial FloQast, Numeric, BlackLine or Trintech Cadency, or the reconciliation module in your ERP.
4If budget is tight, build one Excel template with Power Query that pulls both sides and flags differences.

Tools: FloQast · Numeric · BlackLine · Trintech Cadency · Excel Power Query

Fix 2 of 2

Have AI compare two exports and list what does not match

Upload the ledger detail and the bank or sub-ledger export; AI lists unmatched items and likely reasons such as timing, duplicates or transposed digits.

Typically saves about 40% of the time10 min to set up

1Export both sides to CSV or Excel. Use only your company-approved AI account.
2Upload both files to ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot in Excel with the prompt below.
3Ask it to show the formula or matching logic it used.
4Check each proposed match yourself before booking any adjustment.

Prompt to copy

File A is our [GL ACCOUNT] detail for [PERIOD]. File B is the [BANK STATEMENT / SUB-LEDGER]. Match items between them by amount and date (within [N] days) and reference where possible. Return: 1) matched pairs, 2) items only in A, 3) items only in B, 4) likely explanations for each unmatched item (timing, duplicate, transposed digits, split payment). Show the total difference and confirm it equals [EXPECTED DIFFERENCE].

Tools: ChatGPT or Claude with file upload · Copilot in Excel

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Have you asked AI to compare two exports and list what does not match?: Upload the ledger detail and the bank or sub-ledger file, and an approved AI tool lists unmatched items and likely reasons like timing or duplicates.

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Staff accountant Controller / accounting manager

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