M.4 Revisión de un extracto mensual de la tarjeta de crédito elaborado por un contable

Escrito por Winona Dorris y Poppy Davis 

What is a credit card reconciliation and why should I review it?  

A credit card reconciliation is just like a bank reconciliation - but instead of proving that all the activity in a bank account was recorded in your bookkeeping it proves that all the activity on a credit card was recorded in your bookkeeping. 

A bank account usually has a positive balance in your bookkeeping because it represents money you own. A credit card represents money you owe, so it will show as a negative balance in your bookkeeping. That is why we talk about the bank reconciliation and the credit card reconciliation as two different activities, even though they are almost identical. 

A credit card reconciliation is a way to prove that everything that went into and out of your credit card was recorded in your bookkeeping system, and that everything that was recorded in your bookkeeping system as going in or out of your credit card account did in fact go in or out of your credit card account. 

Usually the only differences between the activity shown on the credit card statement and the activity shown on your bookkeeping detail for that credit card account are due to a difference in timing - perhaps a refund or a payment you made that has not yet been recorded by the credit card company.  

It is important to look at the credit card reconciliation report each month to make sure that your bookkeeper is staying current with recording your transactions each month, and to make sure that no one is using your credit cards without your knowledge or permission. 

How do I review a credit card reconciliation?

1. Necesitarás:
   
   1. Credit Card Reconciliation Report, you can ask your Bookkeeper for this report and it can be found in your bookkeeping system.
   2. Your Credit Card Statement for the prior month. 
2. Check the Credit Card Reconciliation Report dates: 
   
   1. Reconciliation Period: The report should cover the prior calendar month (e.g., July 1–31).
   2. Date Performed: The report should be completed within 10 days of month-end. If the date is a month or more after the end of the prior month that means your bookkeeper is running behind - why might that be? If you are providing the information in a timely manner you should be getting  timely reports each month. If you are providing information to your bookkeeper on time but not getting reports within two weeks of the end of the month, you should ask your bookkeeper why they are running behind.
3. Compare the Beginning Balance
   
   1. Find the Statement Beginning Balance on the Credit Card Reconciliation Report
   2. Compare this amount to the beginning balance on your Credit Card Statement. These two numbers should match exactly. If the numbers do not match, there is an error in the report and you should ask your bookkeeper to explain what happened or re-do the reconciliation so it is correct. 
4. Compare the Ending Balance
   
   1. Find the Statement Ending Balance on the Credit Card Reconciliation Report
   2. Compare this amount to the ending balance on your Credit Card Statement. These two numbers should match exactly. If the numbers do not match, there is an error in the report and you should ask your bookkeeper to explain what happened or re-do the reconciliation so it is correct. 
5. Review Cleared and Uncleared Transactions
   
   1. Go to the section called Cleared and Uncleared Transactions. 
   2. Scan the entire section looking for any large items that you were not expecting. 
   3. If you see any large items that are unexpected:
      
      1. Ask your bookkeeper to show you the details for that amount and make sure that you understand the answer. Otherwise you may need to contact your credit card company to dispute an unauthorized charge. If you need to dispute an unauthorized charge on your credit card, remember the following:
         
         1. Contact your credit card company as soon as you become aware of the unauthorized charge, and within 60 days. Some credit card companies have shorter or longer periods of time in which to dispute a charge. 
6. You're Done! Congratulations, you have reviewed your Credit Card Reconciliation Report!