Summary: Did you know that based on common implementation patterns, most reconciliation delays can be traced back to a small set of predictable issues? If finance teams analyze and understand these risks early, they can avoid frustration, rework, and slowdowns during their first close.
Implementing a new financial system is an exciting milestone, but for many organizations, the true test comes at go live, when the first bank reconciliation is due. The first reconciliation indicates whether cutover activities went smoothly and if teams are ready for the month-end close in Sage Intacct.
In this article, we discuss the importance of the first reconciliation, a practical readiness checklist, and strategies for a successful implementation.
How is the First Reconciliation Different?
The first reconciliation after go live depends on historical information and cutover decisions made before Sage Intacct processes any transactions, and this process is foundational to assuring that all subsequent financial reporting in Sage Intacct is accurate and trustworthy.
During this stage, finance teams are validating not just activity for the month, but also:
- How opening balances were established
- Whether outstanding items were carried forward correctly
- Whether integrations and bank feeds are fully stable
Even teams familiar with Sage Intacct often discover that the first reconciliation uncovers overlooked data, integration misalignments, or incomplete setup steps. If these gaps are not identified at this stage, they can cause confusion and delays in subsequent periods; that’s why it is essential to treat the first reconciliation as a critical quality checkpoint.
What are the Most Common Causes of Go Live Reconciliation Delays?
Reconciliation delays after Sage Intacct go live usually stem from predictable sources: incomplete integrations or migration issues. These can cause opening balance discrepancies and require manual fixes that affect reporting accuracy. We present three focus areas to prevent delays:
1. Incomplete or Misaligned Open Items at Cutover
Outstanding checks, deposits, and transfers that existed before go live must be accurately reflected as “open items” in Sage Intacct. If these items are missing, duplicated, or entered inconsistently, the reconciliation will not balance, even if all current period activity is correct. Common challenges include:
- Missing historical checks or deposits
- Cutoff dates that don’t align with the final legacy bank statement
- Inconsistent formatting or documentation that makes review difficult
Getting the process right does not happen overnight; it requires clarity and consistency so your finance teams can work efficiently. Establishing clear procedures and maintaining consistency enables your finance teams to quickly identify and resolve discrepancies, improving the accuracy of current and future reconciliations.
2. Bank Feed Connectivity Issues
Bank feeds are a powerful automation tool in Sage Intacct, but they introduce dependencies on third parties such as banks and aggregation services. During go live, these dependencies can result in unexpected authorization failures, slow or incomplete data transfers, and delays in receiving up-to-date transactions. These issues often require additional coordination with bank representatives or technical support, temporarily slowing the reconciliation process.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note that these issues are usually temporary. Having a documented escalation process enables teams to quickly assign accountability, streamline troubleshooting, and resolve bank feed problems with minimal disruption to the close.
3. Over-automating Matching Rules Too Early
Sage Intacct’s matching rules streamline reconciliation if used thoughtfully. However, finance teams often make mistakes by enabling broad matching rules before fully understanding transaction patterns. Here are situations to watch out for:
- Deposits have similar amounts but different sources.
- Identifiers (descriptions, references, document numbers) are inconsistent.
- Multiple systems contribute to the same bank account.
In early reconciliations, it is recommended to use targeted automation with intentional manual review instead of trying to automate everything. Gradually increasing automation as teams become more familiar with transaction patterns reduces the likelihood of misclassifications and boosts overall confidence in the reconciliation process.
How Important is a Practical Readiness Checklist before the First Reconciliation?
A practical readiness checklist is considered the first line of defense before the first reconciliation. Preparing the checklist helps ensure accurate data and reduces additional work as the first month-end close approaches. The practical readiness checklist differs in every organization, but in this context, implementation teams typically recommend validating the following before beginning the first reconciliation in Sage Intacct:
- Open items are complete and documented: Outstanding checks, deposits, and transfers reflect the final legacy bank activity up to the agreed cutoff date.
- Opening balances are supported: Cash balances tie back to approved trial balances or historical data loads.
- Matching strategy is intentional: Rules are initially limited to high-confidence, recurring transactions (such as bank fees or known transfers).
- A bank feed fallback plan exists: Teams know how to proceed if bank feeds are delayed or temporarily unavailable.
A Smarter Approach to Matching and Automation
Successful implementations treat reconciliation automation as an iterative process rather than an immediate one. This approach allows finance teams to learn from early reconciliations, refine rules based on real transaction patterns, and gradually expand automation with greater confidence. Here’s what a typical progress looks like:
- Start narrow with rules for highly consistent transactions.
- Observe results during early reconciliations.
- Expand automation gradually as transaction patterns stabilize.
By starting with narrowly defined automation rules and gradually expanding as transaction patterns stabilize, this approach allows teams to closely monitor the system’s performance and adapt quickly to any unexpected issues. This not only builds confidence in your Sage Intacct’s operations but also assures that your internal controls remain robust during the first months after go live.
Planning for the Inevitable: When Bank Feeds Don’t Cooperate
Bank feeds can fail or stall, even with careful planning, especially during initial setup. What separates smooth go lives from chaotic ones is not the absence of issues, but how quickly teams respond when they arise. Experienced implementation teams typically recommend assigning clear ownership of escalation steps, implementing centralized tracking of support tickets, and reducing temporary manual processes that keep month-end closes moving forward.
Proactively anticipating that bank feed issues and other technical hiccups may occur can help your teams develop contingency plans and allocate responsibilities in advance. With the right expectations set, these interruptions become manageable rather than disruptive for succeeding implementations and reconciliations.
Turning a Risk Point into a Confidence Check
The first bank reconciliation after Sage Intacct go live can actually be a smooth experience. Finance teams that proactively identify potential obstacles and address them beforehand turn the first close into a seamless process that confirms their preparation. Early preparedness in reconciliation planning pays off with quicker month-end closes, fewer issues after go live, and greater confidence in the accuracy of financial reports.
Final Thoughts: How First Reconciliation Can Enhance Sage Intacct Implementations
The most successful Sage Intacct implementations recognize that the first reconciliation is fundamental to a smooth go live. Careful, thoughtful preparation enables teams to verify accuracy, resolve lingering issues, and build trust in the reliability of their new financial system. The first reconciliation sets the tone for ongoing confidence in financial operations.
Set your team up for success by laying the groundwork: thoroughly review your practical readiness checklist, assign specific owners to each task, and schedule feedback sessions. Aprio’s advisors are here to equip your team with the right resources and tools to consistently and proactively review and address challenges as they arise. We are here to help you maximize your chances of success in your Sage Intacct implementation.
