Creations · South Africa
Catch-up Bookkeeping & Historical Cleanup
Months or years behind on your books? We clean up the mess, reconcile everything, and get you back to zero — ready for compliant filing.
What the work covers
Use this scope to identify what you need. Your proposal will confirm the services, records, reporting frequency and fees for your business.
- Full categorization of historical bank transactions
- Bank reconciliation for all outstanding periods
- Reconstruction of Debtors and Creditors ledgers
- Fixed Asset Register compilation
- Trial Balance ready for AFS compilation
What to prepare
Tell us which records are available and where there are gaps. We can then distinguish ongoing work from any initial catch-up.
- Bank statements for all outstanding periods
- Any existing accounting records
- Invoices and receipts (whatever is available)
- Loan agreements
Timing and responsibility
Timing depends on the records, approvals and work required. Tell us about any deadline at the start. The engagement should identify the person handling your work, the review responsibilities and any external specialist needed.
The Cleanup Process
We treat catch-up bookkeeping like an archaeological dig. We start with the most reliable data (bank statements) and work outwards, reconstructing your financial history month by month.
Each month gets a full bank reconciliation, expense categorization, and balance sheet review before we move to the next.
- Month-by-month processing
- Bank statement reconstruction
- Expense categorization
- Sequential reconciliation
The Penalty Relief Opportunity
If a business has been non-compliant, SARS may have issued estimated assessments and penalties. Once the underlying records and outstanding returns are addressed, the available relief or dispute route can be assessed against the facts and statutory requirements. No reduction can be promised in advance.
- VDP application
- Penalty dispute process
- Estimated assessment reversal
- Evidence-based relief or dispute assessment
Ongoing Bookkeeping Setup
Cleanup is pointless if you fall behind again. As part of our service, we set up a system to keep your books current going forward.
This includes cloud accounting setup, automated bank feeds, and a monthly bookkeeping schedule to prevent the backlog from ever returning.
- Cloud accounting setup
- Automated bank feeds
- Monthly schedule
- Prevention system
How the work progresses
- 01
Assess
We review the current state of your books: what exists, what's missing, and how far behind you are.
- 02
Gather
We request bank statements, invoices, and any existing records from your previous accountant.
- 03
Process
We systematically process each month, categorizing transactions and reconciling accounts.
- 04
Deliver
We deliver clean, reconciled books ready for tax returns and financial statements.
Questions before you start
How far behind can I be?
We've cleaned up books that were 5+ years behind. There's no limit. The sooner we start, the less it costs.
I don't have all my invoices. Is that a problem?
We work with what you have. Bank statements are the backbone. We reconstruct as much as possible from the banking data.
Will this help with my overdue tax returns?
Yes. Clean books are the foundation. Once the books are done, we can file all outstanding returns quickly.
Can I switch to you from my old accountant?
Absolutely. We handle the handover process and request all records from your previous accountant on your behalf.
Official guidance
Let’s define the next step.
Tell us what you need, what is outstanding and when it matters.