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Trace an account's balance

Open an account with a balance, run three movements over it, and watch the running balance after each — and which side it settles on.

Result

Opening balance
41500.00
Balance after movement 1
23500.00
Balance after movement 2
46500.00
Balance after movement 3
45350.00
Closing balance
45350.00
On its normal side (debit)
1.00
Trial balance debits
45350.00
Trial balance credits
0.00

The balance is on its normal side

Download the workbook

The method

  1. Every movement is posted as a real two-line entry: one line on the account you chose and one on a counterpart — because a movement without an other side is not something a ledger accepts.
  2. The trial balance is then derived from those same lines, and your account's balance read off it: total debits less total credits, or the reverse, according to its normal side.
  3. A balance settling against the normal side is not necessarily an error, but it is always a question: an overdraft, an overcollection, or an entry on the wrong account.

Built forAn accountant reviewing an entry or balance before close

When you need it

You have connected figures that need testing before they enter the close file. Open an account with a balance, run three movements over it, and watch the running balance after each — and which side it settles on.

The decision it supports

Use the result to decide whether the work can be accepted or a difference or classification needs tracing. The tool shows its method beside the result so you can review it.

What you receive

Trace an account's balance result

A shareable interactive result with findings, calculation method and an Excel workpaper carrying the same figures.

An example you can inspect

A ready-to-run example

The tool opens with: The account = receivables, Opening balance (on the normal side) = 41500.00, Movement 1 — side = credit, Movement 1 — amount = 18000.00. Change any value to see its effect immediately.

Continue the workflow