balance the books
Reconcile financial records
To balance the books is to reconcile financial accounts so that debits equal credits—ensuring all money is accounted for.
The phrase extends to any settling of accounts, literal or figurative: After years of being cheated, he finally balanced the books with his former partner.
In business contexts, it often means making revenues match expenses to avoid losses.
- settle upPay outstanding debts
- accountingMaintaining financial records
- creditRecognition or payment deferral
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- ledgerFinancial record book
bookkeeping · financials · invoicing · reconciliation · audit · tally · general ledger · audit trail · expense tracking · budgeting · inventory control · journal · number crunching · bean counter · payroll management · make whole · cash flow analysis · in the red
balance the bookscook the books
Fraudulently alter financial records
creative accounting · embezzle · financial fraud · defraud · window dressing
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