How to reconcile when your client won't share logins (PDF statement workflow)

When clients won't share banking credentials, PDF statements become your primary data source. Here's how to reconcile effectively without direct account access.

Why clients don't share access

• Security concerns about credential sharing
• Multi-user accounts with permission restrictions
• Corporate policies blocking third-party access
• Compliance requirements for audit trails

PDF statement workflow

1. Request monthly PDF statements (not transaction lists) to ensure balances are included.
2. Convert PDFs to Excel using StatementScribe to extract transactions with consistent columns.
3. Validate opening and closing balances match your ledger before reconciliation.
4. Flag any missing transactions or date gaps for client follow-up.

Best practices

• Keep the original PDFs as audit evidence alongside your Excel reconciliation.
• Request statements within 2-3 days of month-end to catch issues early.
• Use consistent file naming: ClientName_AccountType_YYYY-MM.pdf