Align the reporting period
Check the date, time zone and shift allocation rule. A sale after midnight may belong to the next calendar day but to the previous shift in an operational report. Compare the exact start and end of the period, not just its label. This matters especially for bars and restaurants that close late.
Check what the total includes
Compare how taxes, discounts, tips, refunds and service charges are treated. Ensure both reports cover the same venues and sales channels. A closed check, a payment and a cash receipt are different events; their totals may differ even when both systems work correctly.
Find the latest data transfer
Confirm the time of the last successful update. Do not compare a completed POS report with data still arriving. Record the discrepancy period, expected and received totals, and the last known correct day. This helps the team narrow the investigation to a specific transfer.
Check small sections
Start with one venue and one day. Compare checks, refunds and total sales. If records are duplicated, check repeated uploads; if data is missing, check period completion and the source. Do not delete data at random. After correcting the cause, repeat the calculation and document a rule to prevent recurrence.