Bookkeeping Audits & Data Cleanup

Bookkeeping mistakes happen. Transactions get missed, categories are wrong, bank reconciliations don't match, and before you know it, your books are a mess. The problem is HMRC expects businesses to keep accurate records and correct errors promptly—inaccurate bookkeeping can trigger HMRC enquiries and penalties. Bookkeeping audits identify errors before they cause problems, and data cleanup fixes mistakes so your records are accurate and compliant.

The problem is most businesses only realize their bookkeeping has errors when it's too late—when HMRC asks for records, when tax returns don't match bank statements, or when accounts don't reconcile. Bookkeeping audits catch problems early, and data cleanup fixes them properly so your records are accurate and compliant.

We handle bookkeeping audits and data cleanup for businesses with errors, missing records, or compliance issues: bookkeeping audit, error identification, data cleanup, reconciliation, and correction of mistakes. Whether you're a business in Medway with bookkeeping errors, a company in Maidstone with missing transactions, or a business in Canterbury with unreconciled accounts, we'll audit your books, identify problems, and fix them properly. No HMRC enquiries, no compliance issues—just accurate bookkeeping that's ready for tax returns and Companies House filing.

What this helps you do (fast)

• Catch errors early — Bookkeeping audits identify missing transactions, incorrect categorizations, reconciliation issues, and other errors before they cause compliance problems or incorrect tax returns.
• Reduce HMRC enquiry risk — Accurate bookkeeping reduces the risk of HMRC enquiries. When your records are correct and complete, there's less chance of HMRC asking questions or finding mistakes.
• Get accurate financial records — Data cleanup corrects errors, reconciles accounts, and ensures your books are accurate. You'll have reliable financial data for decision-making and tax returns.
• Ensure compliance — Corrected bookkeeping meets HMRC requirements for accurate record-keeping. Your records will be ready for tax returns, Companies House filing, and HMRC inspections.
• Save money on corrections — Fixing errors early costs less than correcting mistakes after HMRC enquiries or when preparing tax returns. Catch problems before they get serious.
• Peace of mind — Know your bookkeeping is accurate and compliant. No worrying about missing transactions, incorrect records, or HMRC enquiries.

How it works

Step-by-step process for bookkeeping audit and data cleanup:

1. Discovery call — We chat about your situation: what problems you're experiencing (errors, missing transactions, reconciliation issues), how long the problems have been going on, what your current bookkeeping system is (Xero, QuickBooks, spreadsheets), whether you've had any HMRC enquiries, and what you're hoping to achieve.
2. Bookkeeping audit — We conduct a thorough audit of your bookkeeping:
   • Transaction review — Check all transactions for completeness, accuracy, and proper categorization
   • Bank reconciliation review — Verify bank reconciliations are correct and identify unreconciled items
   • Account balance checks — Verify account balances are correct and identify discrepancies
   • Missing transaction identification — Find transactions that should be recorded but aren't
   • Categorization review — Check expense and income categorizations are correct
   • Duplicate transaction check — Identify and flag duplicate entries
   • Compliance check — Verify records meet HMRC requirements for completeness and accuracy
   This audit gives us a complete picture of what's wrong and what needs fixing.
3. Error report — We provide a detailed report of all errors and issues found:
   • Summary of problems — Overview of errors, missing transactions, and compliance issues
   • Detailed error list — Specific errors with descriptions, dates, amounts, and recommended corrections
   • Risk assessment — Assessment of HMRC enquiry risk and compliance issues
   • Prioritized action plan — What needs fixing first, second, third, etc.
   You'll know exactly what's wrong and what needs fixing.
4. Data cleanup — We fix all identified errors:
   • Missing transaction entry — Record missing transactions with correct dates, amounts, and categories
   • Categorization corrections — Fix incorrect expense and income categorizations
   • Reconciliation fixes — Correct bank reconciliations and resolve unreconciled items
   • Duplicate removal — Remove duplicate transactions
   • Account balance corrections — Fix incorrect account balances
   • Compliance fixes — Ensure records meet HMRC requirements
   We fix everything systematically, so your books are accurate and compliant.
5. Verification and testing — We verify all corrections are correct:
   • Re-reconciliation — Reconcile all accounts again to verify balances are correct
   • Transaction verification — Verify all transactions are recorded correctly
   • Account balance verification — Verify all account balances are accurate
   • Compliance verification — Verify records meet HMRC requirements
   We double-check everything to make sure it's right.
6. Final report and handover — We provide a final report:
   • Summary of corrections — What was fixed and how
   • Updated account balances — Corrected account balances
   • Compliance status — Confirmation that records meet HMRC requirements
   • Recommendations — Suggestions for preventing future errors (better processes, software improvements, regular reviews)
   Your books are clean, accurate, and ready for tax returns and filing.

We work with whatever bookkeeping system you're using—Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, spreadsheets, or other systems. The key is identifying all errors and fixing them properly so your books are accurate and compliant.

Costs & timelines

Pricing factors:

• Volume of transactions — More transactions mean more work to audit and clean up
• Complexity of errors — Simple errors (wrong categories) cost less to fix than complex errors (missing transactions, unreconciled items)
• Time period — Longer periods of bookkeeping mean more work to audit and clean up
• Number of accounts — More bank accounts, credit cards, or other accounts mean more reconciliation work

Commonly reported ranges by local providers:

• Bookkeeping audit (no cleanup): £300–£600 depending on transaction volume and complexity
• Data cleanup (after audit): £400–£1,200 depending on number of errors and complexity
• Combined audit and cleanup: £600–£1,500 depending on transaction volume, number of errors, and complexity

Why bookkeeping audits and cleanup cost what they do:

• Thorough review required (can't rush through checking every transaction)
• Error correction is time-consuming (each error needs fixing and verifying)
• Reconciliation work is detailed (matching transactions with bank statements)
• Verification and testing ensures corrections are correct

Timeline: Audit usually takes 3–5 working days depending on transaction volume. Data cleanup usually takes 5–10 working days depending on number of errors. Combined audit and cleanup might take 1–2 weeks depending on complexity.

Urgent work: If you need urgent audit or cleanup (e.g., HMRC enquiry deadline), we can prioritize, but this may increase costs due to rush work.

No hidden fees. Audit and cleanup prices include complete review, error identification, corrections, verification, and final report. If additional work is needed (e.g., preparing amended tax returns), that's separate.

Kent (UK) focus

We work with businesses across Kent: businesses in Medway with bookkeeping errors, companies in Maidstone with missing transactions, and businesses in Canterbury with unreconciled accounts.

Kent businesses face the same HMRC requirements as everyone else—keep accurate records, correct errors promptly, be ready for HMRC enquiries. The difference is when your bookkeeping is audited and cleaned up, meeting these requirements is straightforward. Your records are accurate, complete, and compliant, reducing the risk of HMRC enquiries and penalties.

Common Kent business scenarios:

• Businesses with bookkeeping errors — Incorrect categorizations, missing transactions, unreconciled accounts needing cleanup
• New clients switching accountants — Bookkeeping audit to verify accuracy before taking over
• HMRC enquiry preparation — Audit and cleanup to ensure records are accurate before HMRC inspection
• Pre-sale due diligence — Bookkeeping audit and cleanup for businesses preparing to sell
• Tax return preparation — Audit and cleanup to ensure accurate records for tax return filing

Kent business market context:

• Many Kent businesses have bookkeeping errors from DIY bookkeeping or previous accountants
• Bookkeeping audits help Kent businesses identify and fix problems before they cause compliance issues
• Accurate bookkeeping reduces HMRC enquiry risk and helps businesses stay compliant

Remote-first, Kent-focused. We don't need to meet in person (though we can if you prefer), and we understand what Kent businesses are dealing with. Bookkeeping errors, missing transactions, compliance issues—we'll audit your books, identify problems, and fix them properly so your records are accurate and compliant.

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