SHORT ANSWER · CHECKING AI OUTPUT
How do you check bank statement data that AI extracted?
Check AI-extracted bank statement data with four tests: tie each statement out to its printed closing, chain each closing to the next month’s opening, compare counts of rows and checks with the statement, and spot-check rows against the PDF. ZeraBooks runs the first two on every statement and flags any that fail.
FOUR TESTS
What are the four tests?
Run them in order; each one catches something the others miss. Want a tool that runs them for you? See the best AI tools for forensic accountants.
- 1
Tie out each statement
Opening plus money in minus money out should equal the printed closing. A wrong digit or a skipped row breaks it.
- 2
Link each month to the next
One month’s closing balance has to be the next month’s opening balance. A break means a missing statement or a misread balance.
- 3
Compare counts
Rows per page and checks per statement should match what’s printed. If the statement lists a check count, use it.
- 4
Spot-check rows
Compare a few rows from every page with the PDF, including the last page, where totals are often mistaken for transactions.
ZeraBooks builds the workflow around your matters and your template for free. No development charge, whether it’s a forensic department or one person.
WORKED NUMBERS
What do the tests look like on a real matter?
Matter 25-117 is a made-up matter with 18 statements and 212 checks.
| Test | What we found | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Tie-out, checking March | 14,902.35 + 8,120.00 − 4,781.80 = 18,240.55 | Ties |
| Chain, March to May | 18,240.55 close, 21,905.10 open | April missing, 3,664.55 hole |
| Duplicate, Amex February | Uploaded twice, 41 rows each | 41 rows counted once |
| Checks | 212 check images | Each paired to the line it paid |
READ NEXT
Does the same apply to ChatGPT?
Yes, and more so, because nothing ties the rows for you. See can ChatGPT read bank statements. For where these checks sit in the wider work, see how is AI used in forensic accounting.
Is a tie-out enough on its own?
No. Two errors can cancel out, and a missing month still ties on its own. That’s why the chain and the spot-checks matter.
What if a statement doesn’t tie?
Find the row that’s wrong or missing before using any of it. In ZeraBooks that statement is marked Needs a look.
How many rows should I spot-check?
A few from every page. Errors cluster on crowded pages and at page breaks.
FREE CUSTOM BUILD
Four tests on every statement.
Or let ZeraBooks run them.
Send one past matter and see every statement tied out and chained month to month in 2 to 3 days.