Our Spring '25 release is here! Unlock the power of AI agents to automate finance operations with complete control.

Learn moreArrow

Our Spring '25 release is here! Unlock the power of AI agents to automate finance operations with complete control.

Learn moreArrow
27 Feb 2023
4 min read

Video: What’s the best way to reconcile card payments?

Two employees trying to reconcile employee credit card expenses manually instead of using a corporate expense management solution.

Table of Contents

Get fresh finance and AI insights, monthly!

Real-time reconciliation explained

The importance of card reconciliation

Proper card reconciliation is essential for businesses too. The finance team must compare credit or debit card transactions with the corresponding receipts and invoices to confirm the spend is accurate, prevent fraud, and pinpoint any missing information.

Finance teams reconcile credit cards regularly (often daily). Whatever the cadence, businesses can agree that the process is manual and time-consuming without the right technology.

The biggest reconciliation challenges

Businesses may face several hurdles when reconciling their financial records. Here are some of the biggest challenges:

  1. Volume of transactions: If a business has a high volume of transactions, it can be time-consuming to reconcile credit cards manually. This can lead to errors or inconsistencies in the records if not properly managed.
  2. Discrepancies or errors: Identifying discrepancies or mistakes can be challenging, especially if there are multiple sources of data or if the records aren't kept up-to-date.
  3. Human error: Mistakes can happen during reconciliation, especially if your team completes it manually. This manual process can lead to inaccurate records or errors that are difficult to detect.
  4. Timing: Identifying and correcting errors or discrepancies will be difficult if you don't complete the reconciliation process on time. The delays can lead to late financial reporting or inaccurate financial statements.
  5. Lack of resources: If a business doesn't have the necessary resources, such as staff or technology, it can be challenging to keep up with the volume of transactions and ensure accuracy.
  6. Complex transactions: Some transactions can be complicated, involving multiple parties or currencies, which can make reconciliation more challenging and time-consuming.

Businesses often introduce technology to help streamline the reconciliation process and reduce errors. These introductions may include tech like using automated reconciliation software, spend management solutions, and accounting software or ERPs.

Get the ultimate guide to selecting ERP x expense management integrations

Getting fast, accurate reconciliations with Payhawk

At Payhawk, we can help you achieve error-free, real-time reconciliations.

The biggest benefits include:

  • VAT reclaims (with fewer missing receipts)
  • No more time-consuming manual entry and data matching
  • Zero errors thanks to data capture
  • And no time wasted on chasing receipts

Ready to see how Payhawk can revolutionise reconciliations at your business? Book a demo today.

Trish Toovey - Content Director at Payhawk - The financial system of tomorrow
Trish Toovey
Senior Content Manager
LinkedIn

Trish Toovey works across the UK and US markets to craft content at Payhawk. Covering anything from ad copy to video scripting, Trish leans on a super varied background in copy and content creation for the finance, fashion, and travel industries.

See all articles by Trish →
Get fresh finance and AI insights, monthly!

Related Articles

photo-showing-a-cfo-feeling-the-benefit-of-dynamics-365-and-payhawk
Reconciliation9 Apr 20255 minutes

Unlock the full power of Dynamics 365 with spend integration

Graphic showing a sage intacct integration
Finance integrations24 Feb 20253 minutes

Unlock faster accounting with Sage Intacct & Payhawk in 2025

Person paying with a business credit card
Corporate cards6 Feb 20253 minutes

The seven best business credit cards for 2025