Accounts Receivable Checklist
Monthly accounts receivable cycle for a financial services firm — from new client billing setup through invoice generation, payment application, collections, and aging analysis. Run by the operations team with CFO and compliance sign-off.
Client Billing Setup
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Verify client identity and CIP documentation
Confirm KYC / CIP file is complete before establishing a billing relationship — government ID copy, OFAC screen, and beneficial-owner verification for entity accounts. A billing setup with a stale CIP is a common audit finding.
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Capture the executed advisory agreement
Pull the signed IAA from NetDocuments / DocuSign and confirm the fee schedule, billing frequency (monthly vs. quarterly), and billing method (in advance vs. arrears) match what will be loaded into the billing system.
Collects list Collects file -
Configure the client in the billing system
Set up the household and account billing groups in Orion / Black Diamond / Advyzon. Confirm tiered breakpoints, householding aggregation rules, and excluded assets (held-away, alternatives) match the IAA fee schedule.
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Confirm fee debit authorization at the custodian
Verify the client signed Schwab / Fidelity / Altruist fee authorization is on file. Without it, fees cannot be debited and must be invoiced direct-bill — different workflow, different aging treatment.
Collects list
Fee Calculation and Invoicing
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Pull period-end AUM from the custodian feed
Reconcile custodian positions against the portfolio accounting system before running fees. Stale prices, late-posting trades, or in-flight ACATS transfers will distort the billable balance.
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Run the quarterly fee calculation
Confirm the calculation method matches the IAA — average daily balance vs. period-end vs. period-start produces materially different invoices. Three-way check the result against the prior quarter's basis-point yield to catch outliers.
Collects number Collects file -
Review the fee proof report
CFO or operations manager reviews exceptions: new accounts (pro-rated), terminated accounts (final fee), tier breakpoint crossings, and any client with a fee variance >15% from prior period. Sign-off required before custodian submission.
Collects list Collects paragraph -
Submit fee debits to the custodian
Upload the fee file to Schwab Advisor Center / Fidelity Wealthscape / Altruist. Confirm the file accepted without rejects; rejects are typically closed accounts, insufficient cash, or households without a fee-debit account designated.
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Deliver fee invoices and disclosures to clients
Per Form ADV Part 2A and the custody rule, clients receive an itemized fee statement showing the AUM basis, rate applied, and amount deducted. Custodian statement is not a substitute — the firm-issued invoice is the audit-trail document.
Cash Application and Reconciliation
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Confirm custodian fee receipts settled
Match the custodian's fee remittance (typically T+3 to T+5 from debit) against the submitted fee file. Investigate any account where the debit was reversed for insufficient cash.
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Post direct-bill ACH and check receipts
Apply ACH and lockbox receipts to the corresponding invoice in the billing system. Partial payments require a memo so collections doesn't chase the balance prematurely.
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Reconcile fee revenue to the operating account
Three-way tie: billing-system invoiced total, custodian remittance file, and bank deposit per the operating account statement. Variance over $500 escalates to the CFO same day.
Collects list -
Document any fee-billing errors in the error log
Overcharges require client refund within the firm's stated SLA (typically 5 business days) plus a written explanation. Underbilled accounts are not retroactively rebilled without CCO approval — common Reg exam topic.
Aging and Collections
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Generate the AR aging report
Run aging buckets at 30 / 60 / 90 / 90+ days. Most fee-debit accounts age zero; the aging report's value is in flagging direct-bill and terminated-relationship balances.
Collects list -
Send the 30-day past-due reminder
First reminder is courteous and assumes a clerical issue. Send via the archived email channel (Smarsh / Global Relay) — never personal email or text. Include invoice copy and remittance instructions.
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Place a verbal call on 60-day past-due accounts
Lead advisor (not operations) makes the call — the relationship matters more than the receivable. Document the conversation in the CRM with the agreed payment date. If the client requests a wire-instruction change, follow the call-back-to-known-number verification policy.
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Recommend write-off or termination on 90+ day balances
CCO and CFO jointly decide write-off vs. relationship termination. Per the IAA, the firm typically retains the right to terminate on 30 days' notice for non-payment. Document the rationale in the client compliance file.
Collects list Collects paragraph
Reporting and Sign-Off
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Prepare the monthly AR dashboard for management
Include billed revenue, realized basis-point yield, aging summary, write-offs, and any fee adjustments. Compare to prior period and trailing-twelve-month trend.
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Review fee yield against the firm benchmark
Realized basis-point yield should track the weighted-average fee schedule. Persistent under-yield often points to billing-group misconfiguration or excluded assets that should be captured.
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Capture CFO sign-off on the close
Final review and digital signature on the period close package. Archive the signed package and supporting reports per the books-and-records retention schedule (Rule 204-2: minimum 5 years, first 2 in an easily accessible place).
Collects signature Collects file
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