Controlling Turkish company accounting: the owner document pack
The owner of a Turkish company can keep control over the accounting without professional training if there is an agreed document pack: bank statements, invoices, proof of performance, provider reports and a register of access rights. RelocationTR recommends putting in writing when source documents are handed over, how statements are reconciled and what reports the owner receives; this is an editorial recommendation, not a statutory calendar. Below you will find a table of document, period, source, what to reconcile and whom to ask, a routine for reconciling a bank statement against an invoice and actual performance, rules for handling access, and the limits of this page: it does not describe bookkeeping entries, mandatory tax returns or filing deadlines.
Who this guide helps
- Owners of Turkish companies who do not keep the books themselves and want to check an external or internal accountant's work using understandable documents.
- Directors who want to agree a single routine for document handover and reports with their provider.
Scope and boundaries
- This page does not describe bookkeeping entries or accounting methodology.
- This page contains no calendar of mandatory tax returns and deadlines: the frequency of checks here is an agreement between you and your provider, not a statutory rule.
- This is not an audit and not a substitute for professional advice; if you are changing providers, use the separate handover process.
What the owner pack contains
RelocationTR recommends that the owner receive a regular set of documents that can be understood without accounting training, and that the timing and format of handover be agreed with the provider in writing in advance.
- Bank statements for the agreed period.
- Outgoing and incoming invoices with proof of actual performance.
- Contracts and addenda.
- A provider report to the owner on the agreed schedule.
- A register of access rights and authorisations.
Control table: document, period, source, reconciliation, question
| Document | Period | Source | What to reconcile | Whom to ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank statements | Each period you have agreed in writing | The bank; where possible, obtain statements directly from the bank | Balances, unfamiliar counterparties, payments without a supporting document | The provider; for bank operations, the bank |
| Outgoing invoices | The same agreed period | The invoice register kept by the company or the provider | Whether amounts and counterparties match receipts on the account and whether performance is evidenced (acceptance act, shipment, correspondence) | The provider and the employee responsible for the sale |
| Incoming invoices and expenses | The same agreed period | Suppliers, correspondence, the company archive | Whether there is a document for every payment and whether receipt of the goods or service is evidenced | The provider and whoever ordered the goods or service |
| Contracts and addenda | Whenever they change | The owner's archive | Whether contract terms match invoices and payments | Whoever signed the contract, and the provider |
| Provider reports to the owner | On the agreed schedule | The provider | Whether the report agrees with the statements and which questions remain open | The provider |
| Register of access rights and authorisations | When a provider or employee changes, and on your own schedule | A register you maintain | Who has access; whether previous access has been revoked; whether personal passwords or private e-signature keys have been handed over | The provider and the responsible employee |
| Information and documents about the company and sources of funds | On request and when circumstances change | The owner's archive | In continuing relationships, obliged entities monitor whether transactions match the client's profile and sources of funds and keep information and documents up to date: check that your information is current | The provider; for a specific request, whoever sent it |
How to reconcile a statement against an invoice and actual performance
- Obtain the statement for the agreed period, where possible directly from the bank.
- For each receipt and payment, find the invoice or other supporting document.
- Check whether actual performance is evidenced: acceptance act, shipment, correspondence, contract.
- Mark payments without a document, documents without a payment, and mismatches in amounts or counterparties.
- Send the provider a written list of questions and keep the answers.
- Record the outcome in a short reconciliation note with the date and period.
Roles and responsibilities
- Owner: receives the pack, asks questions in writing and decides what to do about discrepancies.
- Provider: prepares the report, answers questions and says what is missing.
- Company staff: supply proof of performance and contracts.
- Bank: issues statements under its own procedures; ask the provider how the contract describes its responsibility.
Access and electronic signatures
It is recommended not to hand over personal passwords or private e-signature keys. Instead, use lawful authorisations and revoke previous access when a provider or employee changes. The specific procedure for granting authority depends on the system and is not described on this page.
Legal framework and limits of this page
Law No. 3568 (Article 2) describes the professional activity of bookkeeping, reporting and financial consulting. This page does not state that every instance of internal bookkeeping must be carried out by a licensed professional.
The titles SMMM and YMM may not be used without a legal right to them (Law No. 3568, Article 3). If a provider uses one of these titles, ask it to state the basis in writing. This page does not state that RelocationTR or its founder holds either title.
The MASAK regulation on measures to prevent money laundering (Article 19(1)) provides that, in continuing relationships, obliged entities monitor whether transactions match the client's profile and sources of funds and keep information and documents up to date. No amounts, deadlines or guaranteed outcomes follow from this.
Common mistakes
- Timing of document handover and frequency of reconciliation are not agreed in writing.
- Checking is limited to the provider's report, with no comparison to the bank statement.
- An invoice exists, but there is no evidence that the work was actually performed.
- Personal passwords or a private e-signature key are handed over instead of arranging lawful authorisations.
- Previous access is not revoked after a provider or employee changes.
Discuss your documents and task
If you want to check how far your current document pack lets you control the books, send us a list of what you receive from your provider and we will help identify which documents and reconciliations are missing.
Discuss the taskFrequently asked questions
How often should an owner reconcile bank statements?
This page does not give a statutory calendar. RelocationTR recommends agreeing in writing with your provider how often documents are handed over, statements are reconciled and reports are delivered to the owner, and keeping that agreement.
Does an owner need to understand bookkeeping entries to control the accounting?
Not for the check described here: reconciliation is done at the level of statement, invoice and proof of performance. Questions about entries and accounting methodology should go to your provider.
Can I give my accountant my personal password or e-signature key?
RelocationTR recommends against it: do not hand over personal passwords or private e-signature keys, use lawful authorisations and revoke previous access. This is a recommendation, not a description of a specific procedure.
How can I tell whether a provider may call itself SMMM or YMM?
The titles SMMM and YMM may not be used without a legal right to them (Law No. 3568, Article 3). Ask the provider to state in writing the basis for using the title. This page does not describe where such information can be checked.
Why keep information and documents about the company up to date?
The MASAK regulation (Article 19(1)) provides that, in continuing relationships, obliged entities monitor whether transactions match the client's profile and sources of funds and keep information and documents up to date. Specific requests and deadlines depend on the case and are not stated here.
Primary sources
Prepared by RelocationTR. The dates below refer to checks of the cited source provisions.
- Law No. 3568, Article 2Provision checked: 2026-10-01
- Law No. 3568, Article 3Provision checked: 2026-10-01
- MASAK, Article 19(1)Provision checked: 2026-10-01