When the books are months or years behind, or simply wrong, I rebuild them account by account until every balance can be supported.
Cleanup work is detective work. Duplicate transactions, deposits booked twice as income, uncleared items from years ago, payroll posted to the wrong accounts, opening balances nobody can explain. I work through each one methodically and keep a log of what was changed and why.
What is included
- A review of the file with a written list of problems before any changes are made
- Reconciliation of every bank, credit card and loan account back to the starting point we agree
- Removal of duplicates and correction of miscategorized income and expenses
- Cleanup of undeposited funds, uncleared transactions and suspense accounts
- Chart of accounts tidy-up so reports are readable
- Correction of payroll, sales tax and owner-equity postings
- Closed, locked periods and a year-end package ready for CPA review
- A change log explaining the adjustments
How it works
- Diagnose. I review the file and report what is wrong and how far back it goes.
- Agree the scope. You decide which periods to fix. I give a fixed scope for that work.
- Sample first. I clean one month or one account so you can check the approach.
- Rebuild. I work forward period by period, reconciling as I go.
- Hand over. You receive clean reports, the change log and a list of anything your CPA should decide.
A good fit if
- Your bank balance in QuickBooks does not match the bank
- You have not reconciled in months, or ever
- A previous bookkeeper left and nobody knows the state of the file
- Your CPA cannot prepare the return from the books as they are
- You are applying for a loan or preparing for a sale and need reliable statements
Common questions
How long does a cleanup take?
It depends on the number of accounts, the transaction volume and how far back the problems go. After the diagnostic review I give you a scope with a clear timeline.
Will you change prior-year numbers my CPA already filed?
Not without discussing it. Where a filed year is affected, I list the issues for your CPA to decide and make corrections in the current period where appropriate.
Can you continue monthly after the cleanup?
Yes. Most cleanup clients move to a monthly close so the books stay clean.
Related
After a cleanup, monthly bookkeeping keeps the file in order. Related reading: signs your QuickBooks Online file needs a cleanup.
Books in a mess? Start with a review.
Send a short note about your business and where things stand. I will reply with a clear scope and next step. No sensitive documents are needed at this stage.