7-lesson course · about 2 hours

Stop rejected and duplicate files from corrupting your totals

For CFOs, controllers, FP&A teams, accountants and finance operations professionals

Everything for Finance teams

Run an intake routine that logs every arriving file, quarantines rejects and blocks duplicate periods, so only accepted data reaches a total and you find problems before the report goes out.

Try lesson 1 freeSee what you’ll learn

What you’ll be able to do

By the end, you can…

Log every file that arrivesRecord each extract with its source, reporting period, currency, units, row count, receipt time and a single status, so nothing enters your process unrecorded.
Accept or reject before loadingCheck required columns, period, currency, units, row count and control total against a written expectations list, and decide before the file goes near a total.
Keep rejects in quarantineMove failed files into a separate folder and record a specific reason that names the failed check and what you found.
Block a reloaded periodFlag a second file for the same source and period, including a reload under a different file name, and block it before it is counted twice.
Prove totals use only accepted filesTag rows by file, build totals from Accepted files only, and compare the log with the totals before the report goes out.
Answer a reviewer clearlyShow which files were accepted, rejected or blocked for a period, and why, with the intake log as your evidence.

How it works

A tutor that meets you where you are

  1. Lessons that adapt to your levelSeven lessons across two modules. Later lessons are written for your level as you reach them, using examples from recurring extracts and month-end reporting.
  2. An AI tutor you can ask anythingType or speak your questions, such as how to set a row count range for a sub-ledger extract or what to do with a resubmitted file, and get answers in context.
  3. Quizzes and flashcards for each lessonShort quizzes and flashcards tied to each lesson help you check the steps and terms before you apply them to your own files.
  4. Progress tracking and a certificateTrack where you are across the course and receive a certificate of completion when you finish.

Curriculum

The curriculum

The course follows a file from arrival to report. Module 1 sets up the intake log and validation checks; Module 2 keeps rejects and duplicates out of totals and proves it before the report goes out.

Module 1Log and Check Every Arriving File3 lessons

  1. 1Set Up an Intake Log That Records Every File
    • Describe how a reloaded extract or a failed file can end up in a reported total when no intake record exists
    • Build an intake log with the required fields for each arriving file
    • Record a new file in the log with its source, reporting period, currency, units, row count and receipt time
    • Assign one status from a fixed list to each logged file
  2. 2Use an AI Assistant Safely at Intake
    • Choose intake tasks where an AI assistant can help, such as comparing column headers or drafting a rejection note
    • Spot customer identifiers, credentials and nonpublic reporting information that must not go into an unapproved tool
    • Write a prompt that gives an assistant only the file structure and non-sensitive details it needs, such as column headers and row counts
    • Explain why the accept, reject or block decision and the log entry stay with a person
  3. 3Validate a File Before It Goes Near a Total
    • Write an expectations list for each source covering required columns, period, currency, units, expected row count range and control total
    • Run the validation checks on an arriving file and record pass or fail for each
    • Decide from the check results whether a file is Rejected or passes on to the duplicate-period check
    • Spot a file that passes most checks but fails a control total, and treat it as rejected

Module 2Keep Rejects and Duplicates Out of Totals4 lessons

  1. 4Quarantine Rejected Files and Record Why
    • Move a rejected file into a quarantine folder kept apart from accepted data
    • Write a specific rejection reason that names the failed check and what was found
    • Record a resubmitted file as a new log entry rather than overwriting the rejected one
  2. 5Block a Reloaded or Repeated Period
    • Write a duplicate check in the log that flags a second file for the same source and period
    • Spot a reloaded extract that arrives under a different file name by comparing row count and control total
    • Block a duplicate-period file and record why it was blocked
    • Handle an intended replacement file so that only one file per source and period stays Accepted
  3. 6Link Totals to Accepted Files Only
    • Tag loaded rows with the file name they came from
    • Build a total that includes only rows whose file has status Accepted in the intake log
    • Spot rows in a total that come from a Rejected, Blocked or Superseded file, or from a file missing from the log
  4. 7Prove Totals Use Only Accepted Files Before the Report Goes Out
    • Run a pre-report check that compares the intake log with the totals for a period
    • Spot a total that is missing an expected source, includes an extra file or does not match the accepted control totals
    • Record who ran the review, when and with what result
    • Explain to a reviewer which files were accepted, rejected or blocked for a period and why

Who it’s for

Made for you if…

Made for: CFOs, controllers, FP&A teams, accountants and finance operations professionals

Finance operations staff who load recurring extracts

You receive files from ledgers, sub-ledgers or other systems each period and need a routine that stops a reloaded or failed file from reaching a total.

Accountants responsible for monthly reporting totals

You need to show a reviewer exactly which files fed a total for a period and why others were rejected or blocked.

Team members who work in spreadsheets and shared folders, not code

Everything is built with logs, filters, lookups and simple totals. No scripts or database work is required.

Questions

Good to know

Do I need to write code?

No. The course uses spreadsheets and shared folders. Writing data pipelines, scripts or database builds is outside its scope.

What should I know before starting?

You should be comfortable with spreadsheet filters, lookups and simple totals, know which extracts feed your monthly reporting and who produces them, know the period, currency and units each extract should carry, and have access to your team's shared folder or intake log.

How long does it take?

About two hours across seven self-paced lessons.

Does the course recommend a specific AI tool?

No. It covers which intake tasks an assistant can help with, how to keep customer identifiers, credentials and nonpublic reporting information out of unapproved tools, and why the accept, reject or block decision stays with a person. Choosing or configuring a tool or vendor is not covered.

Does it cover reconciliation differences or correcting entries?

No. This course stops bad files before they reach a total. Reconciliation differences, adjustments, variance commentary and scenario models are out of scope.

What happens when a source sends a corrected file?

You record the resubmission as a new log entry rather than overwriting the rejected one, and handle intended replacements so only one file per source and period stays Accepted.

Run a file intake routine that keeps bad data out of your totals

$47

One payment · lifetime access

  • 7 self-paced lessons in 2 modules, about 2 hours
  • Lessons that adapt to your level as you progress
  • An AI tutor you can ask questions by typing or speaking
  • Quizzes and flashcards tied to each lesson
  • Progress tracking
  • Certificate of completion

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Refunds: Full refund if you ask before you open your first lesson. Once you’ve started, purchases aren’t refundable, except where the law gives you that right.

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