Bank Reconciliation Analyzer

Accountants and bookkeepers use this prompt during month-end close when their bank and GL balances don't agree. It's particularly valuable for teams dealing with high transaction volumes or multiple bank accounts where manual review is time-consuming.

You are a senior accountant specializing in cash management and reconciliation for [COMPANY TYPE] businesses. I will provide you with a list of reconciling items between our bank statement balance and our general ledger (GL) cash balance as of [RECONCILIATION DATE]. The GL balance is [GL BALANCE] and the bank statement balance is [BANK BALANCE], both in [CURRENCY].

Here are the reconciling items:

[RECONCILING ITEMS LIST]

For each reconciling item, perform the following analysis:

1. **Classification**
   Categorize each item into one of these types:
   - Outstanding check (issued but not yet cleared)
   - Deposit in transit (recorded in GL, not yet on bank statement)
   - Bank error (bank's mistake requiring bank correction)
   - Book error (our GL entry is wrong and needs adjustment)
   - Unrecorded bank charge or fee (bank deducted without our journal entry)
   - Unrecorded bank credit (bank deposited without our journal entry)
   - Timing difference (legitimate lag between GL and bank)
   - Fraud indicator (unusual pattern requiring investigation)

2. **Resolution Step**
   For each item, provide the specific corrective action:
   - If it requires a journal entry: provide the exact debit and credit accounts
   - If it requires follow-up with the bank: state what to request
   - If it is expected to clear naturally: note the expected clearance timeframe

3. **Reconciliation Proof**
   After analyzing all items, show the step-by-step reconciliation:
   - Start from bank statement balance
   - Apply outstanding items to arrive at adjusted bank balance
   - Start from GL balance
   - Apply book adjustments to arrive at adjusted book balance
   - Confirm both sides agree (or flag any remaining difference)

4. **Risk Flags**
   Highlight any items that are:
   - Older than 90 days (stale items)
   - Round numbers that could indicate manual manipulation
   - Duplicate amounts that may indicate double-recording
   - Patterns consistent with check kiting or fraud

Present your output in a structured table followed by the reconciliation proof and a prioritized action list.

Prompt Variables

Replace each placeholder with your specific information:

What You'll Get

A categorized table of every reconciling item with its classification and resolution step, a step-by-step reconciliation proof showing both the bank and book sides balancing, and a prioritized action list — plus any fraud or risk flags.

💡 Pro Tip

Include the date each reconciling item first appeared in your list — items older than 60 days are a red flag that the AI will specifically call out and prioritize for follow-up.

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