> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.givechariot.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.givechariot.com/gift-processing/accounting-and-finance-teams.md).

# Accounting & Finance Teams

### What Changes?

Before Chariot, ACH payments and checks from third-party payers typically landed directly in your organization’s primary operating account.

With Chariot, [Payment Sources](/getting-started/payment-sources.md#connected-sources) now deposit funds into your **Chariot Deposit Account** — a dedicated FDIC-insured bank account in your organization’s legal name.

<figure><img src="/files/3mibJdvtBH4CouTgKYPd" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Because all deposits from connected payment sources now flow into your Chariot Deposit Account first, outbound transfers from Chariot to your primary operating account are not tied to specific deposits or payment sources.

Instead, outbound transfers represent internal treasury movements between accounts owned by your organization. Learn more about [moving funds](https://help.givechariot.com/account-management/money-movement#making-an-outbound-transfer).

#### Mental Model

Your Chariot Deposit Account is an FDIC-insured bank account — **not another payer portal.** Once funds land in Chariot, they are legally your organization’s funds.

<figure><img src="/files/EQs2pDmtIj6WxlXazZ9i" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Accounting and reconciliation should happen against deposits inside Chariot, while transfers to your operating account can occur independently based on your team's needs. See [Using Chariot](/getting-started/using-chariot.md#reconciling-funds).

***

### Your Daily Workflow

Chariot recommends treating your Chariot Deposit Account as a financial asset on your chart of accounts.

Under this approach, reconciliation happens directly against deposits as they settle in Chariot, reducing manual matching work and making reconciliation significantly easier to manage at scale.

1. **Add Chariot To Your Chart Of Accounts:** In your accounting software (Sage Intacct, QuickBooks, Oracle, etc.), add your Chariot Deposit Account alongside your organization’s other bank accounts.
2. **Post Journal Entries As Deposits Settle:** Include the `Deposit ID` on each journal so it can be matched back during reconciliation. Many organizations generate these journals automatically through their CRM integration; others post them manually. If you post manually, you can add a custom property to your Deposits page to track which deposits have already been posted.
3. **Outbound Funds Transfer:** Transfer funds to your external financial account at any time using Move Funds from the Overview page. Once settled, transfers can be recorded as an internal transfer between two bank accounts.

{% hint style="danger" %}
Outbound transfers from your Chariot Deposit Account may combine multiple deposits into a single lump sum and are not tied to any individual deposit or payment source.
{% endhint %}

4. **Reconcile Against Chariot:** At month-end or your preferred cadence, download your Chariot bank statement from the Ledger page (available as PDF, BAI2, or CSV) and match it against your ERP entries using `Deposit ID`.

***

### Key Things to Know

<details>

<summary><strong>An</strong> <strong>FDIC Insured Bank Account</strong></summary>

The Chariot Deposit Account is a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. Deposits are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Flexible Outbound Transfers</strong></summary>

Funds can then be transferred to your operating account at whatever cadence works best for your team.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Lump Sum Outbound Transfers</strong></summary>

When funds are transferred from your Chariot Deposit Account to your linked External Financial Account, they appear as a single lump-sum ACH transfer.

Your external financial account statement will not show individual payer, donation, or deposit breakdowns — that reconciliation detail lives inside Chariot.

Transfers from Chariot will appear on your external financial account statement as "ACH DEPOSIT {{NONPROFIT NAME}} - CHARIOT".

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Deposits Reflect Net Payments</strong></summary>

Deposit amounts reflect funds received net of any payer fees. Gross amount, fee amount, and net amount are all available at the donation level through exports and reporting workflows.

</details>

{% hint style="info" %}
**Using a different accounting workflow?** Some organizations prefer a [Passthrough Accounting](/gift-processing/passthrough-accounting.md) approach depending on their internal accounting policies and treasury operations.
{% endhint %}


---

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