Write Checks Screen Details

In Jewel, all payments are entered via the Write Checks screen, whether you print a physical check with Jewel, hand-write a paper check, use a debit/credit card, or send an electronic payment. Checking the Electronic Payment box removes the Check Number field, so use that for anything that is not a paper check. Otherwise, fill out the check very much as you would a paper check. Note that the total check amount must equal the Running Total of the Accounts listed in the bottom portion of the check.

Checking the Print this Check box at the right means that the current check will be included the next time you click Print Checks. Whether this option is automatically checked or not can be toggled on and off in Maintenance / Properties / General tab.

Best practice is to enter all of your checks for the month before starting the month-end closing process. Doing this means that your Remittance check will be the last check written for the month, and that all checks will show on your Bank Reconciliation report. However, it is possible to enter checks at any time during the month, up until you Print Monthly Reports.

• If any of the church or bank information shown is incorrect, correct it in Maintenance / Properties / Church Info tab
• The date is automatically set to today's date, according to the date on your computer's system. You can also set Jewel so that it brings up the date of the last check written in Maintenance / Properties / General tab.
• The dollar amount (as well as memo and account breakdown) of the most recent check written to this vendor will be automatically entered. If necessary, change this information to what you need THIS current check written for.
• Checks can be printed directly from Jewel, using blank or preprinted check stock. Or a separate paper checkbook can be utilized, with each check’s number and information being transferred into Jewel as if it is a check register. Whichever method you use, entering every check and withdrawal into Jewel is imperative.
• The small "Electronic Payment" box just under the treasurer signature line enables you to record a purchase or payment that was debited electronically. It removes the check number but leaves all the other fields intact so that necessary information can be entered.
• All purchases and payments should be entered as checks, never as General Journal Entries.
• Checks can be voided in Jewel.

On the Jewel home screen, click on "Write Checks."

• The "Check #" which should match the paper check if one was written
• The "Date" the check was written
• "Pay to the Order of," where you enter the vendor or payee
• "Amount" of the check
• "Memo," a line to tell what was purchased
• And the "Account" - to assign this check to its correct local fund. For example, a check to Lowes might be posted to "Facility Maintenance." A check to the Adventist Book Center might be posted to "Sabbath School Supplies."

The “Account” and “Amount” fields must both be filled out before Jewel will let you proceed. Also, the Running Total in the bottom portion of the check must match the total Amount of the check.

In addition to the box at the top left, that tells you which bank account this check is being posted to, there are a number of features along the right side of the “Write Checks” screen.

• If you are finished entering checks, click on the green “OK √” in the top right corner of the page.
• If you want to leave the screen but don’t want to save the current check, click on “Cancel.”
• “Edit Check” will enable you to edit anything on the check that is currently on screen.
• Once you finish a check, if you need to enter another one, click on "New Check."
• The “Next” and “Previous” buttons scroll backwards or forwards through the already entered checks.
• The “Check Report” button takes you to a list of all the checks that have been written during the month.
• “Print checks” and “Print this Check” are used if you are printing checks from Jewel or want to print a check on plain paper for your records.
• The “Electronic Payment” box, which is just under the treasurer signature line, is used when you are recording a payment that didn’t use a paper check. Example: when your electric bill is auto paid or the annual property insurance bill is withdrawn directly from your checking account. (Note that Jewel does not communicate with your bank. Entering a transaction here is simply a record of what is happening at the bank. Jewel will not initiate an electronic payment.)

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