Topic 56: Posting to Finance Accounting

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Definition: G/L account


A structure that records value movements in a company code and represents the G/L account items in a chart of accounts.


A G/L account has transaction figures that record changes to the account during a posting period. These figures are totals that are used for G/L reporting.



Definition: chart of accounts

A classification scheme consisting of a group of general ledger (G/L) accounts.


A chart of accounts provides a framework for the recording of values to ensure an orderly rendering of accounting data. The G/L accounts it contains are used by one or more company codes.


For each G/L account, the chart of accounts contains the account number, the account name, and technical information.


A chart of accounts must be assigned to each company code. This chart of accounts is the operative chart of accounts and is used in both financial accounting and cost accounting. Other charts of accounts include:

• Country-specific charts of accounts -

These are structured in accordance with legal requirements of the country in question

• Group chart of accounts -

This is structured in accordance with requirements pertaining to Consolidation.

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G/L account group

The account group is a classifying feature within the G/L account master records. The account group is a required entry.


The account group determines the fields for the entry screens if you create or change a master record in the company code. The account group also determines in which number interval the account number must be.

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Indicator: Account is a balance sheet account?

Indicates that the G/L account is managed as a balance sheet account. You must enter all balance sheet accounts in this field.
Dependencies

If you determine that you erroneously defined a G/L account as a balance sheet account instead of a profit and loss account for the previous fiscal year, the G/L account master will have to be changed. You then have to rerun the SAPF011 program so that the balance carried forward for the G/L accounts is correct.

G/L account short text

The G/L account short text is used for online displays and evaluations which do not have sufficient space for the long text.



G/L account long text

Given sufficient space, the G/L account long text (as opposed to the short text) is used for online displays and evaluations.

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Field status group

Determines the screen layout for document entry.
Fields can have the following statuses:

• Optional entry - you can enter data in the field

• Mandatory entry - you must enter data in the field

• Suppressed - the field does not appear on the screen

Use

Enter the field status group in the master record of a G/L account. When you enter a document, the definitions stored for the group are effective.
Dependencies

The field status when you create a document also depends on the posting key.
The field status groups available are those grouped together in a field status variant and assigned to your company code.