2025-09-18 · Field Notes
Bank confirmations without the chase
Practical steps Japanese mid-market companies can take so confirmation replies arrive before clearance week.
Cash and loan confirmations still stall more audits than exotic valuation models. The delay is usually administrative: the wrong branch address, an outdated corporate seal card, or a contact who left the bank six months earlier.
Two weeks before fieldwork, list every account — operating, payroll, foreign currency, and unused overdraft lines. Include the exact branch code your relationship manager uses, not only the head-office brand name.
Authorise us in writing to receive replies directly. When confirmations route through the client first, independence questions appear and we must redesign the procedure.
If a bank is slow, we plan alternative testing early: subsequent statement review and roll-forward of known balances. Tell us about stubborn counterparts during planning, not on the Friday before your board meeting.