Bank reconciliation is one of the most repetitive tasks in accounting. Here is how to automate it with AI.
Step 1 — Export your data. Download your bank statement as CSV and export your ledger entries from your accounting software in the same format.
Step 2 — Build a matching prompt. Open Claude or ChatGPT and paste both datasets. Ask the AI to match transactions by amount and date, flag unmatched items, and output a reconciliation summary.
Step 3 — Review exceptions only. The AI handles the matched items automatically. You only review the flagged mismatches, which typically represent 5-10% of transactions.
Step 4 — Save your prompt as a template. Once you have a prompt that works, save it. Run the same prompt each month with fresh data.
Firms using this workflow report cutting reconciliation time from 3-4 hours to under 45 minutes per client per month.