Define source grain, keys, matching logic, duplicates, missing records and ambiguous cases
Data reconciliation and controls
Turn conflicting numbers into a controlled exception process
We match records, reconcile transactions and totals, define tolerances and trace differences back to their causes. The aim is to make clear what should match, which differences follow an agreed rule, who needs to decide and what evidence closes each case.
Discuss your reconciliation challengeSee what you receive
Traceable controls · Practical exception management
Compare records, totals, periods, tolerances and expected balances while retaining the raw inputs
Classify differences, assign owners, preserve evidence and record the next action
The problem
A difference is only useful when the team can explain it
Conflicting totals are often treated as a final reporting problem, but the cause may sit in identifiers, timing, scope, status, currency, duplication or a transformation earlier in the flow.
Start by recording what each source means, then separate genuine business differences from data-quality and process issues so the remaining exceptions stay visible and actionable
What does each source record?
Set the source, period, grain, measure, units, status, scope and cutoff rules
Where do the totals diverge?
Match keys, align mappings, compare rows and totals, and keep expected relationships visible
Who owns the difference?
Classify the cause, retain evidence, set priority and status, and record the next action
Typical inputs and outputs
Controls that make the next difference easier to handle
Start with source definitions, identifiers, periods and comparison rules. The workflow can support recurring operational checks, partner reporting, finance controls or analytical datasets
Source definitions, keys, product and location mappings, tolerances, duplicate rules and treatment of ambiguous records
Comparison of records, transactions, totals, periods, units, statuses and expected relationships
Classified differences with source and period, owner, priority, status, evidence and next action
Definitions, assumptions, rule versions, audit trail, root-cause patterns and operating guidance
Tools and system boundaries
Use the right level of control for the decision
Controls can be implemented through structured spreadsheets, reporting models, database queries or existing workflow tools. The right design depends on frequency, risk, volume, ownership and the consequences of an unresolved difference. Marksyte works with teams worldwide. The specific sources, markets, tools and review cadence are agreed during scoping.
Illustrative case
When three sources disagree, the exception process becomes the product
Synthetic composite case showing how supplier, ERP and retailer sell-out data can be organized into a controlled operating view. No client or commercial result is implied
Start with one recurring mismatch
Bring one recurring mismatch, its sources and the decision it should support
Discuss the reconciliation