Sunday, September 26, 2010

General Ledger & Cashbook

Enter Your Company Name

Go to the File menu and select Configure. Then click on the Global tab. Enter your company name in the Company Name field. (This is the name that will appear at the top of each printed report.) Then click on the OK button.


Post an Entry

Click on Entries in the dark grey navigation area on the left. This will take you to the Entries screen.

To begin a new entry click on the New button at the bottom. The screen will switch to New Entry mode. This is displayed in the bottom left corner of the screen.

Enter the date for the entry in the Date field at the top. Then select the first account from the drop-down list labelled Account.

You will notice that a new line appears at the top of the grid. The grid is used for viewing only. All data must be entered using the fields at the top of the screen above the grid.

Next enter the details in the Description field, the amount in the Amount field and indicate if it is a Debit or Credit.

Press the key to go to the next line (or click on the blank line at the bottom of the grid) and repeat the process. When you are finished click on the Save button to save the entry to the database. You will not be able to save an entry unless the total debits equal the total credits.

To edit an entry click on the Edit button to switch the screen to Edit Mode. Then click on the line in the grid that you wish to alter. When you are finished click on the Save button to save the changes to the database. Click Cancel to discard any changes. Click Delete to delete the entire entry from the database.

View an Account

Click on Accounts in the dark grey navigation area on the left. This will take you to the Accounts screen.

Select the account you wish to view from the drop-down list. The entries for the selected account appear in the grid.

To view the entire entry double-click on it in the grid. This will take you directly to the Entries screen and display the entire entry. You can then double-click on a line in the entry grid to get back to the Accounts screen and view the account for that line.

Create a Cashbook

Go to the Maintain menu and select Cashbooks. To add a new cashbook use the key on your keyboard.

In the Account field enter the abbreviation of the account you wish to associate with this cashbook or double-click to select it from a list.

In the Abbrev field enter the abbreviation you wish to use to identify this cashbook. Often this will be the same as the abbreviation of the account with which the cashbook is associated but it can be different.

Enter the name of the cashbook in the Name field. Again this will likely be the same as the name of the associated account but this is not necessarily so.

Optionally enter a description of the cashbook in the Description field. This is to remind you of the purpose for the cashbook.

To edit the details of a cashbook click on the field you wish to edit and then click it a second time (as distinct from a double-click.)

To delete a cashbook hold down the key and press the key.

Make an Entry in a Cashbook

Click on Cashbooks in the dark grey navigation area on the left. This will take you to the Cashbooks screen.

Select the cashbook you wish to make an entry into from the drop-down list. The entries for the selected cashbook appear in the grid.

To begin a new entry click on the New button at the bottom. The screen will switch to New Entry mode.

Enter the date for the entry in the Date field at the bottom. Then enter the details in the Description field, the amount in the Amount field and indicate if it is a Debit or Credit. Select an account from the Other A/c drop-down list only if you wish to automatically create a corresponding entry in the ledger. Indicate if this entry has appeared on the bank statement by putting a tick in the check box next to On Statement. Finally save this entry to the database by clicking on the Save button or pressing the key on your keyboard.

To edit an entry click on the Edit button to switch the screen to Edit Mode. When you are finished click on the Save button to save the changes to the database. Click Cancel to discard any changes. Click Delete to delete the entire entry from the database.

Reconcile a Cashbook with a Bank Statement

Click on Cashbooks in the dark grey navigation area on the left. This will take you to the Cashbooks screen.

Select the cashbook you wish to reconcile with from the drop-down list. The entries for the selected cashbook appear in the grid.

For those entries in the cashbook which have matching transactions on the bank statement put a tick in the check box next to On Statement. (You can toggle this on and off for an entry by double-clicking on it in the grid.)

For those transactions on the bank statement which do not have a matching entry in the cashbook create a new entry in the cashbook and put a tick in the check box next to On Statement.

The amount next to Stmt Balance at the top of the screen after the arrow (-->) is the closing statement balance. This should match the closing balance shown on the bank statement.

The amounts next to Balance are the opening and closing balances of the cashbook including unreconciled entries (Entries which do not have a tick next to On Statement.) The amounts next to A/c Balance are the opening and closing balances of the associated ledger account.

View or Print a Balance Sheet

Click on Balance in the dark grey navigation area on the left. This will take you to the Balance Sheet screen.

Enter the date of the balance sheet in the As At field at the bottom.

Click on the Print button to display a preview. To print click on the printer icon at the top.

Change the Layout of the Balance Sheet

Click on Balance in the dark grey navigation area on the left. This will take you to the Balance Sheet screen.

The balance sheet (A, L and P) accounts are shown in the tree view along with the other elements used on the balance sheet including headings, groups, subtotals, totals and a special Retained Earnings element. You can change the order of the elements by dragging and dropping them. To include an account or the Retained Earnings element in a group drag and drop it onto the group.

To create a new heading, group or subtotal click on the Heading, Group or Subtotal buttons to the right of the tree view. To rename an element click on the Edit button. To delete an element click on the Delete button.

View or Print an Income Statement

Click on Income in the dark grey navigation area on the left. This will take you to the Income Statement screen.

Enter the begin and end dates of the income statement in the Begin Period and End Period fields at the bottom. These can be turned on or off by putting or removing a tick in the check box above each field. If you do not specify a begin date then the income statement will include all entries in the ledger from the earliest entered date. If you do not specify an end date then all entries in the ledger up to the latest entered date will be included.

Click on the Print button to display a preview. To print it click on the printer icon at the top.

Change the Layout of the Income Statement

Click on Income in the dark grey navigation area on the left. This will take you to the Income Statement screen.

The income statement (I and E) accounts are shown in the tree view along with the other elements used on the income statement including headings, groups, subtotals, totals and a special Net Income element. You can change the order of the elements by dragging and dropping them. To include an account in a group drag and drop it onto the group. (The Net Income element cannot be moved from the last position. It must always remain at the bottom.)

To create a new heading, group or subtotal click on the Heading, Group or Subtotal buttons to the right of the tree view. To rename an element click on the Edit button. To delete an element click on the Delete button.

IMPORTANT NOTES

When you select an account from the Other A/c drop-down list a corresponding double-entry is automatically posted to the ledger and linked to this entry in the cashbook. If you make any changes to this entry in the cashbook the double-entry in the ledger is automatically updated to reflect the changes. If you delete the entry from the cashbook the ledger double-entry is also deleted automatically.

Note that the converse does not apply. In other words if you edit or delete the double-entry in the ledger no changes are automatically made to the cashbook entry. This is important because it allows for flexibility in editing the general ledger without affecting the cashbook and its reconciliation to a bank statement.

Note also that it is not required to specify an Other A/c when making a cashbook entry. In this case no ledger double-entry is posted. This is useful for example when setting up a new cashbook and you wish to enter the opening balance to match the balance shown on the bank statement.

Accounting Software

General Ledger & Cashbook

Ledger is a FREE accounting system for any organization that needs a general ledger or cashbook. Because it is incredibly easy to install and use, it will also appeal to students of double-entry bookkeeping.

Ledger provides unparalleled flexibility. All account balances are calculated dynamically so that the standard accounting reports can be created for any arbitrary date or period without the need for a period close or roll-over.

Ledger has received more than 150,000 downloads since it was first made available in December 2004 without A SINGLE BUG REPORT! For more information please see our FAQ page or the discussions in the Responsive Software Google Group.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Personal Accounting

Mainly for home users that use accounts payable type accounting transactions, managing budgets and simple account reconciliation at the inexpensive end of the market suppliers include:

Low End

At the low end of the business markets, inexpensive applications software allows most general business accounting functions to be performed. Suppliers frequently serve a single national market, while larger suppliers offer separate solutions in each national market. Many of the low end products are characterized by being "single-entry" products, as opposed to double-entry systems seen in many businesses. Some products have considerable functionality but are not considered GAAP or IFRS/FASB compliant. Some low-end systems do not have adequate security nor audit trails.

Mid Market

The mid-market covers a wide range of business software that may be capable of serving the needs of multiple national accountancy standards and allow accounting in multiple currencies. In addition to general accounting functions, the software may include integrated or add-on management information systems, and may be oriented towards one or more markets, for example with integrated or add-on project accounting modules.

Hybrid Solutions

As technology improves, software vendors have been able to offer increasingly advanced software at lower prices. This software is suitable for companies at multiple stages of growth. Many of the features of Mid Market and High End software (including advanced customization and extremely scalable databases) are required even by small businesses as they open multiple locations or grow in size. Additionally, with more and more companies expanding overseas or allowing workers to home office, many smaller clients have a need to connect multiple locations. Their options are to employ software-as-a-service or another application that offers them similar accessibility from multiple locations over the internet.

Accounting software

Accounting soft

ware is application software that records and processes accounting transactions within functional modules such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and trial balance. It functions as an accounting information system. It may be developed in-house by the company or organization using it, may be purchased from a third party, or may be a combination of a third-party application software package with local modifications. It varies greatly in its complexity and cost. The market has been undergoing considerable consolidation since the mid 1990s, with many suppliers ceasing to trade or being bought by larger groups.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Foreign exchange controls

Foreign exchange controls are various forms of controls imposed by a government on the purchase/sale of foreign currencies by residents or on the purchase/sale of local currency by nonresidents.
Common foreign exchange controls include:
Banning the use of foreign currency within the country
Banning locals from possessing foreign currency
Restricting currency exchange to government-approved exchangers
Fixed exchange rates
Restrictions on the amount of currency that may be imported or exported
Countries with foreign exchange controls are also known as "Article 14 countries," after the provision in the International Monetary Fund agreement allowing exchange controls for transitional economies. Such controls used to be common in most countries, particularly poorer ones, until the 1990s when free trade and globalization started a trend towards economic liberalization. Today, countries which still impose exchange controls are the exception rather than the rule.

Retail foreign exchange brokers

Retail traders (individuals) constitute a growing segment of this market, both in size and importance. Currently, they participate indirectly through brokers or banks. Retail brokers, while largely controlled and regulated in the USA by the CFTC and NFA have in the past been subjected to periodic foreign exchange scams.[8][9] To deal with the issue, the NFA and CFTC began (as of 2009) imposing stricter requirements, particularly in relation to the amount of Net Capitalization required of its members. As a result many of the smaller, and perhaps questionable brokers are now gone.
There are two main types of retail FX brokers offering the opportunity for speculative currency trading: brokers and dealers or market makers. Brokers serve as an agent of the customer in the broader FX market, by seeking the best price in the market for a retail order and dealing on behalf of the retail customer. They charge a commission or mark-up in addition to the price obtained in the market. Dealers or market makers, by contrast, typically act as principal in the transaction versus the retail customer, and quote a price they are willing to deal at—the customer has the choice whether or not to trade at that price.
In assessing the suitability of a FX trading services, the customer should consider the ramifications of whether the service provider is acting as principal or agent. When the service provider acts as agent, the customer is generally assured of a known cost above the best inter-dealer FX rate. When the service provider acts as principal, no commission is paid, but the price offered may not be the best available in the market—since the service provider is taking the other side of the transaction, a conflict of interest may occur.

Market participants

Unlike a stock market, the foreign exchange market is divided into levels of access. At the top is the inter-bank market, which is made up of the largest commercial banks and securities dealers. Within the inter-bank market, spreads, which are the difference between the bid and ask prices, are razor sharp and usually unavailable, and not known to players outside the inner circle. The difference between the bid and ask prices widens (from 0-1 pip to 1-2 pips for some currencies such as the EUR). This is due to volume. If a trader can guarantee large numbers of transactions for large amounts, they can demand a smaller difference between the bid and ask price, which is referred to as a better spread. The levels of access that make up the foreign exchange market are determined by the size of the "line" (the amount of money with which they are trading). The top-tier inter-bank market accounts for 53% of all transactions. After that there are usually smaller banks, followed by large multi-national corporations (which need to hedge risk and pay employees in different countries), large hedge funds, and even some of the retail FX-metal market makers. According to Galati and Melvin, “Pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, and other institutional investors have played an increasingly important role in financial markets in general, and in FX markets in particular, since the early 2000s.” (2004) In addition, he notes, “Hedge funds have grown markedly over the 2001–2004 period in terms of both number and overall size” Central banks also participate in the foreign exchange market to align currencies to their economic needs.

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