Root-cause a break
Given a single break row (key, GL values, subledger values, bucket, likely cause), trace it to source and produce a root-cause statement.
Trace path
- Pull the GL side — from the GL extract the user attached (Excel / CSV / system export), locate the journal entry or posting that produced this GL line: entry id, posting date, source system, batch id, preparer.
- Pull the subledger side — from the subledger extract the user attached, locate the matching transaction: trade id, trade/settle dates, counterparty, source feed, FX rate used.
- Diff the attributes — line up posting date, FX rate/date, account mapping, quantity sign, amount sign. The differing attribute is usually the cause.
Cause → statement
Write the root cause as a single sentence in the form "⟨side⟩ ⟨did what⟩ because ⟨reason⟩", e.g.:
- "GL posted on settle date (T+2) while subledger posted on trade date — timing break, will clear on 2026-05-07."
- "Subledger used WM/R 4pm rate; GL used Bloomberg close — FX break of 12 bps on the base amount."
- "Security ABC123 maps to GL account 11420 in the mapping table but the subledger fed 11410 — mapping break, raise to reference-data."
- "Subledger posted the trade twice (trade ids 88412 and 88419 are duplicates) — duplicate post, suppress 88419."
Output
For each traced break, return:
{
"key": "...",
"root_cause": "one sentence as above",
"owner": "ops | reference-data | accounting | upstream-system",
"expected_clear_date": "YYYY-MM-DD or null",
"action": "monitor | adjust | raise-ticket | suppress"
}
Only the resolver writes adjustments — this skill diagnoses, it does not post.
1---2name: break-trace3description: Root-cause a reconciliation break to its source transaction or posting — follow the audit trail from the break row back to the originating entry on each side and state what differs and why. Use after gl-recon has classified a break.4---5
6# Root-cause a break
7
8Given a single break row (key, GL values, subledger values, bucket, likely cause), trace it to source and produce a root-cause statement.
9
10## Trace path
11
121. **Pull the GL side** — from the GL extract the user attached (Excel / CSV / system export), locate the journal entry or posting that produced this GL line: entry id, posting date, source system, batch id, preparer.
132. **Pull the subledger side** — from the subledger extract the user attached, locate the matching transaction: trade id, trade/settle dates, counterparty, source feed, FX rate used.
143. **Diff the attributes** — line up posting date, FX rate/date, account mapping, quantity sign, amount sign. The differing attribute is usually the cause.
15
16## Cause → statement
17
18Write the root cause as a single sentence in the form **"⟨side⟩ ⟨did what⟩ because ⟨reason⟩"**, e.g.:
19
20- "GL posted on settle date (T+2) while subledger posted on trade date — timing break, will clear on 2026-05-07."
21- "Subledger used WM/R 4pm rate; GL used Bloomberg close — FX break of 12 bps on the base amount."
22- "Security ABC123 maps to GL account 11420 in the mapping table but the subledger fed 11410 — mapping break, raise to reference-data."
23- "Subledger posted the trade twice (trade ids 88412 and 88419 are duplicates) — duplicate post, suppress 88419."
24
25## Output
26
27For each traced break, return:
28
29```json
30{
31 "key": "...",
32 "root_cause": "one sentence as above",
33 "owner": "ops | reference-data | accounting | upstream-system",
34 "expected_clear_date": "YYYY-MM-DD or null",
35 "action": "monitor | adjust | raise-ticket | suppress"
36}
37```
38
39Only the resolver writes adjustments — this skill diagnoses, it does not post.
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