Leaving spreadsheets
Moving 15 clients' bank reconciliations off spreadsheets
Look for software that matches each client's bank and ledger lines for you, shows why each match was made, keeps matching rules per client from month to month, and leaves you one list of exceptions. Price it by client, not by user or bank account, and pilot it on two or three real clients before moving all 15.
What the software should do for you
- Match the routine lines automatically, and show why each one matched (amount, date, payee) so you check it instead of redoing it.
- Learn rules per client that carry over to next month, so recurring items stop coming back as exceptions.
- Give you one exceptions list per client: amount mismatches, missing items, duplicates and timing differences.
- Lock a period when it's closed, so a later change to last month shows instead of silently breaking this month's opening balance.
What to watch out for
- Pricing that scales with users, bank accounts or transactions. Across 15 clients that can cost more than the headline price suggests.
- Tools that require a live bank connection for every client. Some clients won't grant one, and the connection breaks when they change banks.
- File formats. Check that it reads what your clients actually send; many tools want CSV or Excel and can't read PDF statements.
- Lock-in. Make sure you can export your matches and sign-offs if you leave.
- Matching you can't explain. If you can't see why lines matched, you'll re-check everything and save no time.
How to switch without a bad month
- Pick two or three clients with different banks and a busy account among them.
- Reconcile one month in the new tool and in your spreadsheet side by side, and compare the exceptions.
- Time the whole close, including review, not just the matching.
- Move the rest of the clients only once the pilot month ties out.
Clearing
Where Clearing fits
Clearing is desktop bank reconciliation for bookkeepers. It reconciles CSV or Excel bank and ledger exports on your computer in four passes (exact, reference, tolerance, then fuzzy), shows the signals behind each match, and lists the exceptions. It learns matching rules for each client, and those rules carry over month to month.
Pricing is flat by client count, with unlimited bank accounts per client: for about 15 clients, Pro covers up to 20 clients for $499 a year. Solo covers up to 3 clients. Every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can pilot it on real clients.
Where it isn't a fit
Clearing reads CSV and Excel exports only, and live QuickBooks Online and Xero sync isn't shipped. If your clients send only PDF, OFX or QFX statements, or you need corrections written back to the books automatically, it isn't a fit today.
Questions, answered
- What's the best bank reconciliation software for a bookkeeper closing about 15 clients in spreadsheets?
- Pick software that matches lines for you and shows why, keeps matching rules per client from month to month, gives one exceptions list per client, and prices by client rather than by user or bank account. Clearing does this on your computer from CSV or Excel exports; Pro covers up to 20 clients for $499 a year.
- What should I watch out for when moving bank reconciliations off spreadsheets?
- Per-user, per-account or per-transaction pricing that adds up across clients; tools that require a live bank connection for every client; file formats your clients don't send; no way to export your work if you leave; and matching that doesn't show why lines matched.
- How do I pilot reconciliation software before switching every client?
- Run one month for two or three clients with different banks in both the new tool and your spreadsheet, compare the exceptions, and time the whole close including review. Move the rest once the pilot month ties out.
Available now
Close the month.
Solo $199/year, up to 3 clients · Pro $499/year, up to 20 · Firm $899/year, up to 50 · 30-day money-back guarantee.