Opening balances connect the old system with the new starting point. If loaded without a cut-off, detail or control totals, every later difference becomes difficult to isolate.
Define the cut-off
- Choose a date with approved source reports.
- Record the time zone and whether cut-off-day movements are included.
- Freeze the extract or use a numbered version after extraction.
- Plan movements occurring between extraction and go-live.
- Assign an owner to each balance and a final approver.
Build the reconciliation pack
| Balance | Required detail | Acceptance test |
|---|---|---|
| Customers | Invoices, amounts and due dates | Detail total equals the control account |
| Suppliers | Open invoices, notes and payments | Detail total equals the control account |
| Banks | Statement and cut-off reconciliation | Explained balance agrees to books |
| Inventory | Item, unit, location, quantity and value | Quantity and value match the approved report |
| General ledger | Balanced trial balance | Total debit equals total credit |
Review before and after loading
- Inspect reverse-nature and unexpected balances.
- Review zero-balance parties with open documents.
- Reconcile currencies, rates and applicable policy.
- Compare row counts, totals, detail and document samples.
- Record every variance, cause, treatment and approver.
- Rerun the trial balance and reports after loading.
Go-live decision
Do not accept go-live merely because the import succeeded. Differences must be zero or documented and accepted, and representative sale, collection, purchase, payment and count scenarios must work with loaded balances.
Do not alter a result balance to force agreement without correcting the source or documenting an approved transition entry. Retain before-and-after versions and evidence explaining each difference.
