Streamlining Credit Card Reconciliation for Small Businesses
Navigating the World of Automation as a Non-finance Professional
I’m currently working at a small business with around 40-50 employees. The company has been relying on quite outdated processes — we’ve only recently transitioned from paper timesheets — which used to be feasible with just 10 employees. However, as we’ve grown, these methods have become inefficient. As someone who’s been tasked with handling duties beyond my typical role, I’m admittedly a bit frustrated.
Our current credit card reconciliation process involves downloading the statement from Amex monthly, entering the data manually into an Excel sheet, chasing down invoices, and then uploading everything to SharePoint. From there, our finance team takes over to input the data into QuickBooks.
This process is cumbersome and time-consuming, and I can’t imagine large companies handling things this way. Surely, there’s software designed to automate this? I’m eager to explore solutions but need guidance on where to start.
One response
Automating credit card reconciliation can significantly streamline your workflow, reduce errors, and free up your time for more strategic tasks. Given that you’re working in a small business environment transitioning from outdated processes, consider the following steps and software options to automate credit card reconciliation:
Steps to Automate Credit Card Reconciliation
Determine which features are most important for your business, such as integration with existing systems (e.g., QuickBooks), cloud-based access, and user-friendliness for non-financial professionals.
Research Software Solutions:
Look for credit card reconciliation software that aligns with your identified needs. Key features to look for include automatic import of credit card transactions, receipt and invoice matching, and integration with Accounting Software.
Explore Integration with Existing Systems:
Since your finance team uses QuickBooks, ensure that your chosen solution seamlessly integrates with it to avoid duplicating efforts.
Implement the Software:
Once you select a software, plan the implementation to ensure minimal disruption. Consider running parallel processes (manual and automated) initially to spot any discrepancies.
Educate Your Team:
Training team members on the new system will help ensure a smoother transition and adoption across the company.
Continuous Evaluation:
Recommended Software Solutions
Benefits: No-cost platform, easy-to-use interface.
Expensify:
Benefits: Robust automation features, integrates with QuickBooks, user-friendly for non-finance staff.
Brex:
Benefits: Seamless connection with Accounting Software, cash management capabilities.
Ramp: