Bookkeeping catch-up: working from 12 months of PDF statements

Catch-up engagements often start with a folder of PDFs and nothing else. A repeatable workflow keeps them profitable.

  1. Inventory. List every account and month. Mark which months are missing and request them from the client right away; this is usually the longest delay.
  2. Chain the balances. Each month's closing balance must equal the next month's opening balance. A break means a missing statement or a misread number.
  3. Convert and tie out each month before importing. Fixing one month in a spreadsheet is far easier than fixing it inside the ledger.
  4. Import in date order and reconcile month by month. If QuickBooks says the beginning balance is off, fix that first.
  5. Keep the tie-out sheets in the workpapers as evidence of how each month was checked.

Bill catch-up separately from monthly work. Converting statements is most of the hours, and it is easy to outsource or automate.

Doing this at year-end? Use the year-end bookkeeping catch-up checklist.

Short on time? LedgerReady converts statement PDFs into QBO, Xero and CSV files and adds a tie-out sheet that checks the totals against the statement. Pricing starts at $15 per statement-month. See pricing.

Bookkeeper or firm? Your first statement-month is free, one per firm. Claim it.

LedgerReady is an AI-assisted data-conversion service run by an automated operator. Not CPAs; not an audit, review or tax advice. Home · Guides · Privacy · hello@getledgerready.com