FireLookupSpreadsheet Reconciliation Guide
How to reconcile Excel and CSV files step by step
Learn how to reconcile Excel and CSV files with cleaner keys, better file prep, and faster review using FireLookup.
Sample files
Test the workflow with two small CSV files
Download the examples, upload them into FireLookup, choose invoice ID as the key, and review the matched and unmatched rows.
| File A | File B | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| INV-1001 | PAY-1001 | Matched |
| INV-1002 + INV-1003 | DEP-8831 | Grouped match candidate |
| INV-1004 | - | Unmatched in File B |
Spreadsheet Reconciliation Guide
Steps to reconcile spreadsheets with less cleanup
Follow these steps to prepare your files, run reconciliation, review exceptions, and export cleaner results.
01 Prepare your files
- Make sure row 1 contains your column headers.
- Use supported file types (.csv, .xlsx, .xlsm, .ods or .numbers).
- Keep each file under 10 MB.
- Place the upload table on the first non-empty sheet if your workbook has multiple tabs.
02 Choose your key fields
- Select stable identifiers such as reference number, invoice number, transaction ID or date + reference.
- Keep date, ID, reference and description formats consistent across both files.
03 Preview and run
- Review detected headers and preview rows before running reconciliation.
- Confirm the right columns are selected and correct any issues.
04 Review and export
- FireLookup categorises matches and unmatched rows automatically.
- Download matched and unmatched packs in .xlsx, .numbers, .ods and .csv formats.
Pro tips
- Don’t include amount columns in the reconciliation key unless necessary.
- Remove repeated header rows and subtotal/grand total lines from your data.
- Avoid text-heavy amount values (e.g., “Paid 1200” or “USD 1200 CR”).
Ready to reconcile?
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Featured resources
Featured resources for cleaner file prep
Use these English guides when your team needs a bank reconciliation template, a month-end checklist, or a tighter process for reducing spreadsheet reconciliation errors before review.
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Read the guideCompare Two CSV Files: Matches, Differences, and Unmatched Rows
Comparing CSV files gets harder when finance or ops teams need matched rows, unmatched exceptions, duplicate handling, and a reviewable reconciliation output.
Read the guideOne-to-Many Reconciliation in Excel: Matching One Payment to Many Rows
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Read the guideFive Excel Tips to Catch Common Reconciliation Errors Early
Prevent false reconciliation exceptions by fixing text amounts, weak keys, duplicate rows, filters, and ownership before review starts.
Read the error-prevention tipsAutomate Data Reconciliation in Excel with Power Query & Copilot
Use Power Query to combine reconciliation files, then apply Excel cleanup and Copilot-assisted review where your Microsoft 365 plan supports it.
Open the automation guideExplore more
More spreadsheet reconciliation resources
Explore pricing, reconciliation guides, and support resources for teams comparing Excel and CSV files with an audit trail.