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Business Checklist

  1. Business
  2. Business Solutions
  3. Business Checklist

Bank Statements

  • Personally receive your unopened bank statements each month.

  • Reconciliations of your statements should balance your records.

  • Reconciliations should be performed monthly, within 30 days of receiving your bank statements.

  • Report any discrepancies to the credit union immediately.

  • Segregate financial responsibilities - do not have the same person balance the bank statement and issue checks.

Some items to watch for are:

  • Cheques to suppliers or people you don't know.

  • Cheques made out to cash.

  • Signatures that look forged.

  • Missing or out of sequence cheques.

  • Cheques in which the payee does not match the name in your register.

  • Cheques made to a third party but endorsed by someone in your company.

Cheque Supplies

  • Periodically review your cheque register to ensure that cheques are in numerical order and that there are no cheques missing.

  • Keep blank cheques locked away in a secure location, account for missing numbers, and periodically inventory your remaining supply. Have a "voided cheque procedure" requiring validation of all voided items.

  • Never sign a blank cheque.

Employee Actions

Some questions to consider:

  • Are they living a lifestyle not commensurate with their wage income?

  • Are they the first to arrive at work and the last to leave? Are they taking vacations?

  • Are they adequately supervised?

  • Are they highly territorial over their accounting function, especially if the employee is solely responsible for accounting?

  • Have you performed background checks on employees, including temporary ones?

  • Keep duties separate. No single employee should be responsible for financial transactions from beginning to end.

Online Transactions

  • If you are placing online orders, ensure that you are doing so on secure internet sites (with URL that begins with “https:/” and a lock symbol that will show in your browser), or place your order by telephone or mail.

  • Ensure that you keep your login access codes confidential, especially to your internet banking sites. Do not share these with anyone.

  • When your computer is not in use, shut it down or disconnect it from the internet.

  • Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails from companies requesting you to validate or verify personal information. Change your passwords often.

Other Checklist Items

Understand your books

  • Team up with knowledgeable professionals who can help you understand your financial picture, especially if the numbers don't look right.

  • Monitor daily deposits and use dual control procedures for cash. Personally prepare or review the cash deposits.

Paperwork

  • Shred/destroy any paperwork that you no longer require including bank records, credit card statements, credit card/loan solicitation letters, receipts, etc.

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