Actigy BPO · Finance and insurance
Payroll-to-general-ledger reconciliation worksheet
Actigy BPO helps payroll and accounting teams reconcile each pay run to the bank and general ledger. This worksheet separates net pay from wage expense, records documented timing differences and assigns each exception to a reviewer. Your team approves payroll, journals and payment release.
Free to use · No email required · Calculations stay in your browser
Make the assumptions visible
Check net pay and wage expense separately
Start with the fictional example or enter your own planning assumptions. Use the Excel download for a multi-row record.
Check the initial worked example
In this example, expected net disbursement after the documented timing adjustment is 78,800, compared with 78,500 observed. The bank amount is 300 lower. Adjusted expected wage expense is 98,500 and agrees with the GL. Keep the cash exception open even though the wage-expense figures match.
A repeatable method
How to use the worksheet
For payroll managers, controllers and accounting firms reviewing a pay run or closing a client ledger.
Download the editable workbookChoose one employer or client entity, pay run, accounting period and currency. Use aggregate totals only. Never enter employee names, tax IDs or bank details.
Compare expected net disbursement with the matching bank evidence. Record any off-cycle, returned or outstanding payments separately with their source and owner.
Compare the wage expense in the chosen register scope with the corresponding GL wage accounts for the same entity and period. Keep employer taxes, deductions, accrued wages and opening balances separate unless explicitly in scope.
Investigate the two differences independently. Record the correction owner, supporting reference and approval status before posting an adjustment.
Illustrative · Not a client result
A second worked example
A payroll register shows 80,000 in net pay. An approved payment of 1,200 will leave the bank next period. Expected disbursement for the current period is 78,800. Bank evidence shows 78,500, leaving 300 to investigate. A separately balanced wage-expense journal would not explain the missing 300.
Keep the decision with its owner
What this tool can establish
This worksheet is a comparison of source totals for a defined scope. A zero difference does not approve an employee payment, journal or filing. Mixed currencies, retroactive changes, liability balances and jurisdiction-specific payroll requirements need separate review.
Check the method
Sources and reuse
The examples and calculations are original Actigy BPO material. These sources explain the underlying workflow.
- ADP: payroll reconciliation before and after a pay run
- PowerSchool BusinessPlus: payroll history and general ledger reconciliation
Suggested citation: Actigy BPO, Payroll-to-general-ledger reconciliation worksheet. Link to this page so readers can check the method and download the current version.
Published · Updated
Move from planning to delivery
Get help with this workflow
If payroll preparation or month-end reconciliation is delaying your close, share aggregate pay-run volume, entities, systems and your next cutoff. Leave employee or banking records out of the inquiry.