The technology of banking has significantly automated bookkeeping. However anyone who handles financial records is aware that the automation process doesn’t always work. If the feeds from banks aren’t working correctly, the historic transactions may not be available, and clients could still send statements in PDF format. Someone has to convert a PDF document that was designed to be read into the data that accounting software actually uses.

The use of a statement converter can cut down on the amount of repetitive work required. Instead of entering manually dates description, withdrawals, and deposits row by row Docubrew converts statements into a structured spreadsheet ready for use.

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If a PDF is the missing part

Imagine a bookkeeper who is preparing the year-end reconciliation for the first customer. The accounting platform displays recent transactions, but some of the older years are missing. Luckily, the client has downloaded the original PDF report.

It used to take hours of gruelling copying into the spread sheet. A PDF bank statements to Excel workflow is a convenient alternative. Docubrew accepts digital PDFs and printed paper statements that are scanned and extracts transaction data for use in spreadsheets.

Manual transcription that is less laborious can reduce the possibility of making mistakes in typing, which is an enormous benefit for professionals that need to transfer bank accounts regularly into Excel.

Keep the Pages That Actually Are Important

Bank statements are not solely of transactions. A 12-page report could include a brief description of the account information, disclosures and notifications and a few pages of information about the actual activities of banking.

Docubrew lets users preview the document and pick the relevant pages before conversion. It is much easier to convert bank statement accounts to Excel because the unrelated contents of the account statement are not included in the working data.

Once the file has been processed after processing, it can be opened in Excel or integrated into accounting platforms such as QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks and more.

CSV provides a flexible accounting workflow

CSV is still a useful format since it’s extensively supported by spreadsheets and databases. Accounting applications also work with CSV. Docubrew can convert bank statements to CSV using its transaction table.

The same workflow can help firms convert bank statement to CSV when reconstructing historical books, handling a new-client cleanup project, investigating missing transactions, or preparing data for reconciliation.

Accounting firms who need to handle clients or multiple statements can find batch processing particularly useful.

Financial documents require careful privacy controls

Processing financial records isn’t just about efficiency. Bank statements can contain sensitive client information, so accountants and bookkeepers might also be concerned about where the processing is taking place.

Docubrew gives two methods. Its Windows desktop software processes files locally on the user’s computer thus the files aren’t stored for conversion. For those who prefer using a browser-based workflow may opt for the cloud version that is encrypted in which uploaded files are instantly deleted within 24 hours.

That choice distinguishes the platform from the bank statement Excel software, which relies exclusively on remote processing.

Turning Document Archives Back Into Working Data

The PDF statement can be a useful record, but it’s inconvenient for those who need to reconcile, sort, filter, or import transactions from other sources. Scanned files create an additional problem, since the information about transactions is usually only accessible in images.

Docubrew is an effective tool that uses OCR and statement parsing to turn document scans into usable financial information. This gives accountants, bookkeepers and business owners the opportunity to transform archival financial records into usable transactional data.

The result is a straightforward improvement to an otherwise monotonous routine: preserve the bank statement as a primary financial record while turning its transaction table into data you are able to use.