Client Reconciliation Handoff Checklist
Use this checklist before you send a reconciliation package to a client, controller, or downstream accountant so matched items and open review cases are clearly separated.
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Problem statement
A client handoff fails when the reviewer sends only a net total, hides unresolved rows inside notes, or does not show what matched, what needs review, and what must carry forward.
Numeric example
| Line item | Amount |
|---|
| Matched deposits | $24,880.00 |
| Needs review | $380.00 |
| In-transit or carry-forward | $420.00 |
| Unknown bank deposits | 2 rows |
Why the numbers do not match
- Matched rows must be distinct from open review items.
- Unknown bank deposits and unpaid source rows need clear next-action labels.
- Carry-forward balances and timing items should be explicit at handoff time.
- The client or downstream accountant needs the source-file evidence, not just a summary number.
What files to export
- Reconciliation report export with matched, review, unknown, unpaid, and difference sections.
- Source exports used, including bank, payout, invoice, order, or processor files that support the report.
- Reviewer notes for unresolved rows, carry-forward items, and next actions.
Manual workflow
- Confirm the date range, account scope, and source files included in the review package.
- Separate matched rows, needs-review rows, unpaid items, unknown deposits, and carry-forward balances.
- Label unresolved differences conservatively instead of assigning unsupported root causes.
- Attach the source exports or clear references needed to reproduce the review.
- State the next action for each open item: follow-up, another export, timing check, or accounting decision.
- Send the package only after the report and notes agree about what is final and what is still open.
Handoff review checks
- Open items were sent as if they were final matches.
- A note says fee, refund, or FX without export evidence proving it.
- The handoff omits the source export needed to reproduce the review.
- Carry-forward items are missing from the next-step summary.
How Reconcile Locally helps
- Exports the reconciliation result in review-ready sections instead of one collapsed total.
- Keeps open items visible for the handoff instead of hiding them in spreadsheet formulas.
- Supports local-first review before the package is sent to a client or downstream accountant.
What still needs manual review
- The checklist improves the handoff package but does not approve accounting entries or replace client sign-off.
- Sensitive data handling and final posting controls remain part of the team's separate accounting process.
Content review and sources
Written and reviewed by the Reconcile Locally product team. Last reviewed June 7, 2026.
Guidance is checked against current product behavior and first-party documentation where available. Reconciliation results still require human review.
Frequently asked questions
What should be in a reconciliation handoff package?
At minimum: the reviewed report, the supporting exports, clear labels for matched and open items, and next-action notes for unresolved rows.
Should I assign a final cause to every difference before handoff?
No. If the exported files only prove an amount difference, keep the wording conservative and state what evidence is still missing.