Compare and merge workbooks

Two teams submitted their monthly forecasts in separate workbooks and procurement needs a single consolidated file for Tuesday. Open both workbooks, compare the sheets named Summary and Spend Detail, merge unique vendor rows, reconcile conflicting unit prices by keeping the version from the Supply Forecast sheet unless Finance objects, and produce one reconciled workbook. Add a reconciliation notes sheet that records each decision and who approved it.

Before I hand the merged workbook to procurement, make the comparison easy to audit: put a reconciliation column next to each merged vendor line that flags where amounts differ, surface the three largest variances at the top of the Summary sheet, and mark any vendor rows pulled from the secondary file in yellow with a comment explaining why.

I compared the two forecast files and several vendors show different unit prices but both sources claim to be final. The procurement lead, Marcus, will blame me if I pick the wrong number. I can’t ask both teams for time. What’s the fastest defensible rule to reconcile these differences so I can finish the merge and what evidence should I record to justify the choice?

Every consolidation I do ends with squabbles over which workbook had the right numbers and manual notes buried in different sheets. I waste time chasing authors and rebuilding reconciliations. What process changes or habits will reduce these reconciliation fights, and what minimal governance will keep future merges straightforward without adding a heavy approval step?