Question

Stephen used a reconciliation worksheet, but his checkbook balance does not match the final worksheet balance. Evaluate the following list of possible errors that he has made. Decide which items could potentially correct this problem if found and corrected.

Item number
Name of potential error
Explanation of what to verify
I
Clearing the checkbook
All the transactions on the statement that match transactions in the checkbook should be marked as cleared in the checkbook.
II
Correcting checkbook omissions
All transactions on the statement that were not found in the checkbook should have been entered into the checkbook.
III
Outstanding credits and debits
Verify that the sum of outstanding credits and the sum of outstanding debits are correct.
IV
Math
Verify that all addition and subtraction has been done correctly and there are no transpositions of numbers.
V
Previous reconciliation
Verify that the previous reconciliation was performed correctly, and that all cleared items are marked as such in the checkbook.

Choose the option below that correctly describes the items that could have caused this problem with Stephen’s reconciliation.
a.
I, III, IV, and V could cause the problem, but not II.
b.
I, II, III, and V could cause the problem, but not IV.
c.
All five of the potential errors could cause this sort of problem.
d.
I and II could cause the problem since there are no math errors.

Answer 1

c. All five could cause the problem.

Briefly:
- I: If items that cleared the bank aren’t marked cleared in the checkbook, outstanding-item totals (and thus balances) will be wrong.
- II: Omitted bank-listed transactions not entered in the checkbook make the checkbook balance incorrect.
- III: Wrong totals for outstanding credits/debits directly misstate the reconciled balance.
- IV: Addition/subtraction or transposition errors in the checkbook or worksheet will produce a mismatch.
- V: An incorrect prior reconciliation (or uncleared items left unmarked) propagates an incorrect starting/checkbook balance.