A dependable monthly rhythm
Know what happened before the next month gets busy.
Monthly bookkeeping is the operating routine that turns transactions, statements, receipts, payroll entries and owner questions into reconciled records and reports. It gives the business a reliable point to make decisions from instead of waiting until tax season to discover what is missing.
The exact scope depends on transaction volume, account count, payroll, HST, software and reporting needs. The first review identifies what already works, what needs cleanup and what should happen every month.
What the service can include
The records, checks and reports behind a clean month-end.
Transaction review
Review revenue, expenses, transfers, owner activity and unusual items, then resolve questions while the details are still recent.
Account reconciliations
Reconcile bank, credit-card, loan and processor records to the accounting file and investigate unexplained differences.
HST and payroll records
Keep sales-tax and payroll balances aligned with the source records before a filing or remittance deadline.
Financial reporting
Deliver the agreed reports with plain-language notes on cash, profit, overdue accounts and material changes.
Year-end continuity
Maintain schedules and reconciliations through the year so the tax-professional handoff is cleaner.
Owner questions
Use a consistent question process so missing context is resolved and the same issue does not return next month.
The monthly close
A simple workflow with a clear finish line.
- Collect the month's records
Receive statements, exports, receipts, payroll summaries, invoices and business context through the approved workflow.
- Review and reconcile
Match accounts, categorize transactions, identify missing information and resolve exceptions.
- Check the balances
Review receivables, payables, HST, payroll, loans and other accounts included in the scope.
- Close and report
Complete the period, deliver reports and highlight the numbers or questions that deserve the owner's attention.
Ottawa banking and payments
Work with the records your business already receives.
Ottawa businesses use national banks, local credit unions, online institutions and a growing mix of payment processors. The bookkeeping workflow can accept approved statements, CSV exports, settlement reports and delegated records from institutions such as TD EasyWeb, RBC, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank, Alterna Savings, Your Credit Union and Desjardins Ontario.
This does not assume a direct software feed. The goal is a complete, reviewable record that supports reconciliation, whether the source is a statement, export, merchant batch or processor report.
Use approved delegated access, statements or exports. Do not send online-banking passwords through email or the contact form.
What you receive
Reports that answer operating questions, not just satisfy a checklist.
See revenue, direct costs and operating expenses for the period and year to date.
Understand cash, receivables, payables, loans, taxes and owner balances at month end.
Identify customers and invoices that need attention before cash flow tightens.
Add department, project, location or other useful reporting when the records support it.
A good fit
Monthly bookkeeping works best when the business wants a repeatable system.
- You want to stop doing bookkeeping at night or on weekends.
- You need current reports for cash, hiring, pricing or spending decisions.
- You want HST, payroll and year-end records organized before deadlines.
- You need a cleaner handoff to the accountant or tax professional.
If the books are several months behind or the opening balances are unreliable, catch-up and cleanup normally come first. The ongoing workflow begins from a reconciled starting point.
Monthly bookkeeping FAQ
Questions owners ask before getting started.
What is included in monthly bookkeeping?
The scope can include transaction review, reconciliations, account questions, HST and payroll record coordination, month-end checks, financial reports and year-end schedules. A review is needed to define the exact responsibilities.
Can monthly bookkeeping be completed remotely?
Yes. Most work can be completed through cloud accounting software, secure document handling, approved statement or export formats, and scheduled phone or video reviews.
What if the books are already behind?
Overdue periods are scoped as catch-up work first. Once reconciled, the business can move into a dependable monthly workflow.
How soon are monthly reports ready?
The timetable depends on when records arrive, transaction complexity and how quickly questions are answered. The agreed close schedule is part of the service scope.
Start with a books review
See what a dependable monthly close would require.
We will review the current records, identify any cleanup work and outline a practical monthly workflow.