Full data reconciliation
AdvancedReconciliation is a core accounting task: comparing records from two systems to identify mismatches. In month-end close, you might reconcile bank statements against ERP transactions, flagging differences for investigation.
You have transaction data from two sources:
- System A (Bank): Columns A-C contain the bank's transaction records
- System B (ERP): Columns E-G contain the ERP system's records
Each transaction has a Reference ID, Date, and Amount. Your job is to compare each System A transaction against System B and categorize the result in column I.
Discrepancy types to identify:
- Match: Reference found in System B, and both date and amount match
- Amount diff: Reference found, but the amount differs
- Date diff: Reference found, amount matches, but date differs
- Not found: Reference ID doesn't exist in System B
Your task:
Write a formula in I3 that looks up the System A reference (A3) in System B and returns the appropriate status. The formula should:
- First check if the reference exists in System B
- If found, check if the amount matches
- If amount matches, check if the date matches
- Return the appropriate status text
Copy the formula down through I10 for all transactions. Use absolute references for the lookup range.
Need some help?
Hint 1
Use VLOOKUP to search for A3 in the System B data (E3:G10). Wrap it with ISNA to check if the reference exists.
Hint 2
Build nested IF statements: first check ISNA for "Not found", then compare amounts, then compare dates.
Hint 3
The lookup range should be $E$3:$G$10 with absolute references. Column 3 returns the amount, column 2 returns the date.
Answer
Exercise
Full data reconciliation
AdvancedReconciliation is a core accounting task: comparing records from two systems to identify mismatches. In month-end close, you might reconcile bank statements against ERP transactions, flagging differences for investigation.
You have transaction data from two sources:
- System A (Bank): Columns A-C contain the bank's transaction records
- System B (ERP): Columns E-G contain the ERP system's records
Each transaction has a Reference ID, Date, and Amount. Your job is to compare each System A transaction against System B and categorize the result in column I.
Discrepancy types to identify:
- Match: Reference found in System B, and both date and amount match
- Amount diff: Reference found, but the amount differs
- Date diff: Reference found, amount matches, but date differs
- Not found: Reference ID doesn't exist in System B
Your task:
Write a formula in I3 that looks up the System A reference (A3) in System B and returns the appropriate status. The formula should:
- First check if the reference exists in System B
- If found, check if the amount matches
- If amount matches, check if the date matches
- Return the appropriate status text
Copy the formula down through I10 for all transactions. Use absolute references for the lookup range.
Need some help?
Hint 1
Use VLOOKUP to search for A3 in the System B data (E3:G10). Wrap it with ISNA to check if the reference exists.
Hint 2
Build nested IF statements: first check ISNA for "Not found", then compare amounts, then compare dates.
Hint 3
The lookup range should be $E$3:$G$10 with absolute references. Column 3 returns the amount, column 2 returns the date.