Patent ID: 7363261

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of verifying financial data, comprising: automatically notifying at least one user via computer and without independent user input, to reconcile financial data in response to receiving at least a portion of the financial data, the respective at least one user being selected via computer and without independent user input, from a hierarchical list of users responsible for verifying the financial data, the hierarchical list defining relationships among the users; providing the financial data via computer and without independent user input, for display by the respective at least one user to thereby facilitate the respective at least one user reconciling, and certifying reconciliation of, the financial data; receiving an indication via computer of the respective at least one user certifying reconciliation of the financial data once the at least one user certifies the reconciliation; automatically notifying at least one user via computer and without independent user input, to approve the reconciliation in response to receiving the indication, the respective at least one user being selected via computer and without independent user input from the hierarchical list; providing information via computer regarding the reconciliation for display by the respective at least one user to thereby facilitate the respective at least one user approving the reconciliation; and recording any certification or approval of the reconciliation via computer, wherein recording any certification or approval includes recording comments by at least one user certifying or approving the reconciliation or any user accessing the recorded certification or approval.