English for Specific Purposes (Accounting): "Identifying and Investigating Discrepancies" (Version 2)

In 2 parts
Vocabulary 1

A. Discrepancies - Differences or inconsistencies in data. / Écarts. Example: There are discrepancies between what he said and what he did. Il y a des écarts entre ce qu'il a dit et ce qu'il a fait.

B. Transactions - Business activities involving money exchange. / Transactions. Example: The online transactions were completed without any issues. Les transactions en ligne ont été effectuées sans aucun problème.

C. Duplicated entries - Repeated or identical records. / Entrées en double. Example: We need to remove the duplicated entries from the database. Nous devons supprimer les entrées en double de la base de données.

D. Timing - When something happens or occurs. / Synchronisation. Example: The timing of the meeting was perfect for everyone. La synchronisation de la réunion était parfaite pour tout le monde.

E. Line by line - Examining each item individually. / Ligne par ligne. Example: She reviewed the contract line by line to make sure everything was correct. Elle a examiné le contrat ligne par ligne pour s'assurer que tout était correct.

Guide Questions
1. What are the common causes of discrepancies? Talk about the speaker’s example.
2. How do accountants identify discrepancies?

Brun Online Magazine · Identifying and Investigating Discrepancies 01

TRANSCRIPT 1

One of the main tasks of an accountant is to manage discrepancies. The common causes of discrepancies include human errors, missing transactions, duplicated entries, and timing differences. For example, a bank might process a payment a day later than recorded. To identify a discrepancy, compare the two sets of records line by line. Look for differences in amounts, dates, and descriptions. Use software tools to help find differences quickly. (69 words)

Vocabulary 2: Source documents - Original records of transactions. / Documents sources. Example: Always keep your source documents to verify information later. Gardez toujours vos documents sources pour vérifier les informations plus tard.

Guide Questions
1. How do accountants investigate discrepancies? What are the 3 steps?
2. Talk about the speaker’s example.

Brun Online Magazine · Identifying and Investigating Discrepancies 02

TRANSCRIPT 2

To investigate discrepancies, the first step is to review the records to find the discrepancy. Second, check the source documents, such as invoices and receipts. Finally, contact the involved parties if needed to understand the cause. For instance, I found a discrepancy where a $500 payment was recorded twice. I checked the invoices and confirmed the payment was made once. I corrected the records by removing the duplicate entry. (69 words)