Reconciliation
Reconciliation is checking that two records of the same thing agree — a bank statement against the ledger, a supplier invoice against what was received, counted stock against what the system says — and investigating the differences.
Also written: matchingArabic: المطابقة
Why so much of it exists
Every reconciliation is a place where the same fact is held twice. Some of that is unavoidable and healthy — your bank's record should be independent of yours, and checking them against each other is a control, not a defect. Much of the rest is a symptom: two internal systems holding the same number because neither was made to read the other.
What automation can and cannot take
Matching is mechanical and automates well. Investigating why two numbers differ is judgement and does not. A good automated reconciliation clears the routine matches and puts a short, specific list of exceptions in front of a person.
Questions people ask
Ask whether the second record is external. Bank, supplier, customs — keep and automate. Two of your own systems disagreeing is not a control, it is a missing integration.
Related serviceTechnology consulting