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Manual Journals in Draft

Marsha Galicia avatar
Written by Marsha Galicia
Updated yesterday

XBert Type: Standard
Accounting Software: Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks
Country Restriction: All regions
Risk Type: Bookkeeping Risk
Business Function: Bookkeeping

Overview

The "Manual Journals in Draft" XBert identifies any manual journal entries that have remained in Draft status for more than 14 days. This helps ensure important adjustments aren’t forgotten, especially during month-end processing or reconciliations.

What it does

XBert reviews your accounting file (currently limited to Xero) and flags any manual journal entries that:

  • Are still marked as DRAFT

  • Were created 14 or more days ago

  • Are grouped by the month in which they were created

These journals may be legitimate entries awaiting finalisation or could be abandoned records needing cleanup.

How it works

  • XBert tracks manual journal entries (type: MANJOURNAL)

  • It checks the status and creation date of each

  • If a journal remains in Draft for over two weeks, an alert is raised

  • This helps prompt timely review and action

Example/Use Case

Ben from Aero Cycles begins drafting a journal to record accruals but delays posting it while waiting on sales data. He then forgets to complete it. XBert flags the entry, ensuring Ben doesn’t overlook the adjustment.

In another case, a junior bookkeeper at Big 4 Pies drafts a journal while their manager is on leave. XBert helps surface this incomplete journal so it can be reviewed and approved promptly upon their return.

Accounting software

Currently supported in Xero only.

Which countries it supports

All regions (Xero clients only for now).

Processes

This alert falls under the ‘Bookkeeping Services’, ‘Month-End’ and ‘Other Bookkeeping’ categories. To resolve this issue:

  • Click RESOLVE in XBert to open the summary list of Draft journals.

  • Review each journal’s purpose and content.

  • If valid, complete and post the journal.

  • If no longer required, delete or archive the draft to keep records clean.

  • Where approval is pending, escalate the entry to the appropriate manager or team member.

Maintaining accurate and up-to-date journals improves reporting reliability and ensures smoother month-end close processes.

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