Shift Close & Reconciliation

Why Shift Close Matters

A proper shift close gives your manager an accurate picture of the day's trading, ensures cash is counted and secured, and protects you by creating a documented record of what was in the till when your shift ended.

Never leave at the end of your shift without completing the close process — even if you're in a hurry.

End-of-Shift Checklist

Before you open the shift close screen, run through these checks:

• [ ] All current transactions are complete (no held sales left open)
• [ ] Receipt paper is topped up for the next shift
• [ ] The till drawer is tidy — remove any receipts or notes left by customers
• [ ] Any voids or refunds from your shift have been explained to your manager

Step 1: Open Shift Close

Click Close Shift in the top menu of the POS terminal. The shift close screen shows:

• Your name and register
• Shift start time
• Number of transactions processed
• Breakdown of sales by payment method
• Expected cash in the drawer (opening float + cash sales)

Step 2: Count Your Closing Float

Count the cash in your drawer denomination by denomination — the same method as the opening count. Work methodically:

1. Separate notes and coins by denomination
2. Count each denomination and enter the value on screen
3. The system totals them and shows your counted cash total

Step 3: Review Expected vs Actual

The screen now shows:

• Expected cash — what the system thinks should be in the drawer (opening float + all cash sales during your shift)
• Actual cash — what you counted
• Variance — the difference

A positive variance (you have more cash than expected) might mean a cash payment was entered incorrectly or change was given short. A negative variance (you have less than expected) might mean a cash payment was missed, too much change was given, or (rarely) cash is missing.

A variance of ±£0.50 is typically acceptable rounding. Variances larger than £1.00 require an explanation.

Step 4: Explain Any Variance

If the variance is more than your store's acceptable threshold:

1. Review your transaction history for the shift (shown on screen) — look for any cash transactions with unusual amounts
2. If you can identify the cause (e.g. "I gave £5 too much change on transaction #4821"), note it in the Variance Reason field
3. If you cannot identify the cause, enter "Unable to identify — please investigate" — your manager will follow up

Do not try to hide a variance by adding or removing cash from the drawer. Every discrepancy is better resolved with honesty.

Step 5: Confirm Shift Close

Click Close Shift. The system:

• Records the closing time, your final cash count, and the variance
• Locks your shift — you can no longer add transactions
• Generates the Shift Summary Report
• Notifies your manager of the close with variance details (if any)

Step 6: Print the Shift Summary

Click Print Summary to get a physical copy of your shift report. This includes:

• Total transactions and revenue
• Payment method breakdown
• Opening and closing float
• Variance (and your explanation if provided)
• Time started and ended

Hand the shift summary to your manager along with the cash from the drawer (keeping only the next shift's float if instructed).

What Happens Next

Your manager reviews the shift reconciliation report. If there's a significant variance, they may ask you about it — your documented explanation is already there to reference.

Congratulations — Cashier Fast Track Complete!

You've completed all four lessons. You now know how to open your shift correctly, process sales with confidence, handle every payment type, and close your shift accurately. Well done.

Return to the Academy if you ever need a refresher on any step.