Plain-English summary#
Till reconciliation means counting the cash drawer at the end of a shift, comparing the count with what Foodops expects, and explaining any difference in writing. It happens on the Close Register form and is the last thing a cashier does before the shift closes. What it produces is the variance — the gap between Expected and Counted — plus the cashier's Comments explaining it. This gives the day's cash a clear audit trail.
When you'd use this#
At the end of every shift on a register that takes cash. Cashiers do it when ending their day; managers do it when closing someone else's left-open session, when looking into a discrepancy, or when a register has to be reset. It also matters in training — why the count is done note by note rather than as one total, and why Comments matter even when the variance is zero.
Key concepts#
- Reconciliation — comparing the count with Expected when the session closes. Produces the variance and the Comments.
- Expected balance — Opening float + cash payments − refunds − withdrawals. What Foodops expects to be in the drawer.
- Counted balance — the cash physically counted into the Close Register form, totalled by denomination. It becomes the session's Closing Balance. You send it with Submit Count.
- Variance / Difference — Counted minus Expected (negative = short, positive = over). Zero is the target; anything else needs a Comments explanation. See cash variance for how managers handle it.
- Comments — your explanation of the variance, saved to the session's permanent record. Important for reviewing variances later, even when the variance is zero.
- Denomination count — a count per note and coin rather than one total. The form lists each note and coin so the count can be traced and checked. It doesn't force you to enter a count, and any note or coin left at zero counts as none in the drawer.
- Blind count: if your role isn't allowed to see the Expected amount, the Expected figure is hidden on the Close Register form and you count without seeing it.
Common questions#
Q: If my count matches Expected exactly, do I still need to add Comments? A: Yes, by convention. A short note like "no variance — tally clean" shows the cashier checked rather than assumed. Auditors look at every session's Comments; an empty field is an open question.
Q: Will Foodops stop me from closing if my count differs from Expected? A: No — a variance never blocks the close. But your close goes to Pending Close. If the count differs and you can see the Expected amount, a Balance Difference Warning appears with Close Anyway and Cancel: Close Anyway finishes the close, and Cancel takes the session back to Open so you can recount. If your role can't see the Expected amount, a close with a difference is finished for you automatically. When the count matches, the session stays in Pending Close until someone selects Approve Close. Closing is blocked, separately, if you still have on-hold sales, open orders, sales that are still posting or failed to post, entries in the Discard bin waiting for review (if your outlet uses it), or — if your organisation requires unique transfer references — unresolved transfer-reference issues. Clear those first.
Q: Can I edit the count after I tap Close Register? A: Once a supervisor has approved the close (the session is fully Closed), the count is locked — any fix has to be a separate correction by a manager. While the session is still Pending Close, a supervisor can cancel the close, which puts it back to Open and clears the closing counts so the drawer can be recounted and closed again; or adjust it, which replaces the closing counts and recalculates the variance while staying in Pending Close.
Q: I clicked Cancel by accident — are my counts saved? A: No, Cancel discards everything you typed. Go back to Session Details → Close Register and start the count again. In-progress counts aren't saved as drafts.
Q: Does the Amount column update as I type counts? A: Yes — in the counter app, Amount (denomination × count) updates the instant you type. See Cash Handling for context.