When an imprest control account refuses to tie

Controllers sometimes open a review convinced cash has vanished. Often the tin is right and the ledger is late. Before you treat a difference as a shortage, walk this order.

1. Confirm the authorised float amount

Policies change; the tin may still hold last year’s limit. Match the physical target to the latest board or finance memo, not tribal knowledge.

2. Add open vouchers to counted cash

Imprest logic is counted cash + valid un-reimbursed vouchers ≈ authorised float. Leaving vouchers out of the bridge creates a phantom shortage.

3. Trace the last two replenishments

Find the bank payment or cheque and the claim form that authorised it. Late posting of a replenishment is a frequent Kowloon-group issue when outlets submit packs on Fridays and accounts posts on Tuesdays.

4. Isolate foreign-currency change and store credits

Coins from Macau trips, unused octopus top-ups recorded as cash, or supplier credit notes stuffed in the tin all distort a HKD-only float. Park them in a separate envelope with a note.

5. Only then treat residual difference as cash risk

What remains after the bridge may be shortage, overage, or unresolved IOUs. Document it; do not quietly top up from personal funds before the reviewer arrives.

Need a guided rebuild? Our imprest reconciliation assist sits with your bookkeeper for a half day and leaves a checklist for the next month-end.