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Configure Automatic Postings

In this step, you enter the system settings for Inventory Management and Invoice Verification transactions for automatic postings to G/L accounts.

You can then check your settings using a simulation function.

Under Further information there is a list of transactions in Materials Management and their definitions.

What are automatic postings?

Postings are made to G/L accounts automatically in the case of Invoice Verification and Inventory Management transactions relevant to Financial and Cost Accounting.

Example:
Posting lines are created in the following accounts in the case of a goods issue for a cost center:

How does the system find the relevant accounts?

When entering the goods movement, the user does not have to enter a G/L account, since the R/3 System automatically finds the accounts to which postings are to be made using the following data:

If the user enters a company code or a plant when entering a transaction, the R/3 System determines the chart of accounts which is valid for the company code.
You must define the automatic account determination individually for each chart of accounts.
If the automatic account determination within a chart of accounts is to run differently for certain company codes or plants (valuation areas), assign different valuation grouping codes to these valuation areas.
You must define the automatic account determination individually for every valuation grouping code within a chart of accounts. It applies to all valuation areas which are assigned to this valuation grouping code.
If the user enters a company code or a plant when entering a transaction, the system determines the valuation area and the valuation grouping code.
Posting transactions are predefined for those inventory management and invoice verification transactions relevant to accounting. Posting records, which are generalized in the value string, are assigned to each relevant movement type in inventory management and each transaction in invoice verification. These contain keys for the relevant posting transaction (for example, inventory posting and consumption posting) instead of actual G/L account numbers.
You do not have to define these transaction keys, they are determined automatically from the transaction (invoice verification) or the movement type (inventory management). All you have to do is assign the relevant G/L account to each posting transaction.
Since the posting transaction "Offsetting entry for inventory posting" is used for different transactions (for example, goods issue, scrapping, physical inventory), which are assigned to different accounts (for example, consumption account, scrapping, expense/income from inventory differences), it is necessary to divide the posting transaction according to a further key: account grouping code.
An account grouping is assigned to each movement type in inventory management which uses the posting transaction "Offsetting entry for inventory posting".
Under the posting transaction "Offsetting entry for inventory posting", you must assign G/L accounts for every account grouping, that is, assign G/L accounts.
If you wish to post price differences to different price difference accounts in the case of goods receipts for purchase orders, goods receipts for orders, or other movements, you can define different account grouping codes for the transaction key.
Using the account grouping, you can also have different accounts for consignment liabilities and pipeline liabilities.
The valuation class allows you to define automatic account determination that is dependent on the material. for example: you post a goods receipt of a raw material to a different stock account than if the goods receipt were for trading goods, even though the user enters the same transaction for both materials.
You can achieve this by assigning different valuation classes to the materials and by assigning different G/L accounts to the posting transaction for every valuation class.
If you do not want to differentiate according to valuation classes you do not have to maintain a valuation class for a transaction.

Requirements

Before you maintain automatic postings, you must obtain the following information:

1. Valuation level (plant or company code)
Establish whether the materials are valuated at plant or at company code level
When valuation is at plant level, the valuation area corresponds to a plant.
When valuation is at company code level, the valuation area corresponds to a company code.
Define valuation level
2. Chart of accounts and valuation grouping code per valuation area
Find out whether the valuation grouping code is active.
Activate split valuation
If it is not active, determine the chart of accounts assigned to each valuation area (via the company code).
If it is active, determine the chart of accounts and the valuation grouping code assigned to each valuation area.
Group valuation areas
You must define a separate account determination process for chart of accounts and each valuation grouping code.
3. Valuation class per material type
If you wish to differentiate the account determination process for specific transactions according to valuation classes, find out which valuation classes are possible for each material type.
Define valuation classes
4. Account grouping for offsetting entries to stock accounts
Under
Define account grouping for movement types , determine for which movement types an account grouping is defined for the transaction/event keys GGB (offsetting entry to stock posting), KON (consignment liabilities) and PRD (price differences).

Default settings

G/L account assignments for the charts of accounts INT and the valuation grouping code 0001 are SAP standard.

Activities

1. Create account keys for each chart of accounts and each valuation grouping code for the individual posting transactions. To do so, proceed as follows:
a) Call up the activity
Configure Automatic Postings .
The R/3 system first checks whether the valuation areas are correctly maintained. If, for example, a plant is not assigned to a company code, a dialog box and an error message appear.
From this box, choose Continue (next entry) to continue the check.
Choose Cancel to end the check.
The configuration menu Automatic postings appears.
b) Choose Goto -> Account assignment.
A list of posting transactions in Materials Management appears. For further details of the individual transactions, see Further information.
The Account determination indicator shows whether automatic account determination is defined for a transaction.
c) Choose a posting transaction.
A box appears for the first posting transaction. Here you can enter a chart of accounts.
You can enter the following data for each transaction:
With Goto -> Rules you can enter the factors on which the account number assignments depend:
- debit/credit indicator
- general grouping (= account grouping)
- valuation grouping
- valuation class
Normally you do not have to change the posting keys. If you wish to use new posting keys, you have to define them in the Customizing system of Financial Accounting.
You must assign G/L accounts for each transaction/event key (except KBS). You can assign these accounts manually or copy them from another chart of accounts via Edit -> Copy .
If you want to differentiate posting transactions (e.g. inventory postings) according to valuation classes, you must make an account assignment for each valuation class.
Using the posting transaction "Offsetting entry for inventory posting", you have to make an account assignment for each account grouping
If the transaction PRD (price differences) is also dependent on the account grouping, you must create three account assignments:
- an account assignment without account grouping
- an account assignment with account grouping PRF
- an account assignment with account grouping PRA
If the transaction KON (consignment and pipeline liabilities) is also dependent on the account grouping, you must create two account assignments:
- an account assignment without account grouping (consignment)
- an account assignment with account grouping (pipeline)
d) Save your settings.
2. Then check your settings with the simulation function.
With the simulation function, you can simulate the following:
When you enter a material or valuation class, the R/3 system determines the G/L accounts which are assigned to the corresponding posting transactions. Depending on the configuration, the SAP system checks whether the G/L account exists
In the simulation you can compare the field selection of the movement type with that of the individual accounts and make any corrections.
If you want to print the simulation, choose Simulation -> Report.
To carry out the simulation, proceed as follows:
a) Choose Settings to check the simulation defaults for
- the application area (Invoice Verification or Inventory Management)
- the input mode (material or valuation class)
- account assignment
Instructions
b) Choose Goto -> Simulation.
The screen for entering simulation data appears.
c) Depending on the valuation level, enter a plant or a company code on the screen.
d) When you simulate Inventory Management transactions, goods movements are simulated. The R/3 system suggests the first movement type for simulation. If several movements are possible with this movement type, you can select a line.
When you simulate Invoice Verification transactions, a list appears on the screen of the possible transaction types. Select a line.
e) Then choose Goto -> Account assignments.
A list appears of the posting lines which can be created by the selected transaction. For each posting line, the G/L account for the debit posting as well as the G/L account for the credit posting are displayed.
f) From this screen, choose Goto -> Movement+ to get a list of the posting lines for the next movement type or transaction type.
If you work with valuation classes, choose Goto -> Valuation class+ to receive the simulation for the next valuation class. This function is not possible when simulating with material numbers.
Choose Goto -> Check screen layout to compare the movement type with the G/L accounts determined by the system and make any necessary corrections.

Note

The simulation function does NOT obviate the need for a trial posting!

Further Notes

The following list shows the individual transactions with examples of how they are used:

AG1 - No documentation currently available.

AG2 - No documentation currently available.

AG3 - No documentation currently available.

This transaction is used in Inventory Management in the case of withdrawals from consignment stock or when consignment stock is transferred to own stock if the material is subject to standard price control and the consignment price differs from the standard price.
This transaction is used for transfer postings from one material to another if the complete value of the issuing material cannot be posted to the value of the receiving material. This applies both to materials with standard price control and to materials with moving average price control. Price differences can arise for materials with moving average price if stock levels are negative and the stock value becomes unrealistic as a result of the posting. Transaction AUM can be used irrespective of whether the transfer posting involves a transfer between plants. The expenditure/income is added to the receiving material.
If you use the "subsequent settlement" function with regard to conditions (e.g. for period-end volume-based rebates), provisions for accrued income are set up when goods receipts are recorded against purchase orders if this is defined for the condition type.
The rebate income generated in the course of "subsequent settlement" (end-of-period rebate settlement) is posted via this transaction.
If a goods receipt occurs after settlement accounting has been effected for a rebate arrangement, no further provisions for accrued rebate income can be managed by the "subsequent settlement" facility. No postings should be made to the account normally used for such provisions. As an alternative, you can use this transaction to post provisions for accrued rebate income to a separate account in cases such as the one described.
This account is posted when closing entries are made for a cumulation run. This account is a supplementary account to the stock account; that is, the stock account is added to it to determine the stock value that was calculated via the cumulation. In the process, the various valuation areas (for example, commercial, tax), that are used in the balance sheet are taxed separately.
Changes in stocks are posted in Inventory Management at the time goods receipts are recorded or subsequent adjustments made with regard to subcontract orders.
If the account assigned here is defined as a cost element, you must specify a preliminary account assignment for the account in the table of automatic account assignment specification (Customizing for Controlling) in order to be able to post goods receipts against subcontract orders. In the standard system, cost center SC-1 is defined for this purpose.
This transaction is used for all postings to stock accounts. Such postings are effected, for example:
Because this transaction is dependent on the valuation class, it is possible to manage materials with different valuation classes in separate stock accounts.
@1A@Caution
Take care to ensure that:
Otherwise differences would arise between the total stock value of the material master records and the balance on the stock account.
This transaction/event key is only relevant to Brazil. It is used if a revaluation report is used for company codes in Brazil.
The revaluation report uses the actual prices determined by the material ledger/actual costing to:
This transaction/event key is needed to post the price differences. The account specified here is posted with the price differences for "other" consumptions.

No documentation currently available.

This transaction is used in Invoice Verification if you define a tolerance for minor differences and the balance of an invoice does not exceed the tolerance.
These transactions are used only if
Purchase Account Management is active in the company code.
Note
Due to special legal requirements, this function was developed specially for certain countries (Belgium, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Finland).
Before you use this function, check whether you need to use it in your country.
These transactions are used to post delivery costs (incidental procurement costs) in the case of goods receipts against purchase orders and incoming invoices. Which transaction is used for which delivery costs depends on the condition types defined in the purchase order.
You can also enter your own transactions for delivery costs in condition types.
The transaction is used for goods and invoice receipts in connection with subcontract orders.
If the account assigned here is defined as a cost element, you must specify a preliminary account assignment for the account in the table of automatic account assignment specification (Customizing for Controlling) in order to be able to post goods receipts against subcontract orders. In the standard system, cost center SC-1 is defined for this purpose.
This transaction is used for delivery costs (incidental costs of procurement) in connection with subcontract orders.
If the account assigned here is defined as a cost element, you must specify a preliminary account assignment for the account in the table of automatic account assignment specification (Customizing for Controlling) in order to be able to post goods receipts against subcontract orders. In the standard system, cost center SC-1 is defined for this purpose.
Offsetting entries for stock postings are used in Inventory Management. They are dependent on the account grouping to which each movement type is assigned. The following account groupings are defined in the standard system:
You can also define your own account groupings. If you intend to post goods issues for cost centers (mvt type 201) and goods issues for orders (mvt type 261) to separate consumption accounts, you can assign the account grouping ZZZ to movement type 201 and account grouping YYY to movement type 261.
@1A@Caution
If you use goods receipts without a purchase order in your system (movement type 501), you have to check to which accounts the account groupings are assigned ZOB
If you expect invoices for the goods receipts, and these invoices can only be posted in Accounting, you can enter a clearing account (similar to a GR/IR clearing account though without open item management), which is cleared in Accounting when you post the vendor invoice.
Note that the goods movement is valuated with the valuation price of the material if no external amount has been entered.
As no account assignment has been entered in the standard system, the assigned account is not defined as a cost element. If you assign a cost element, you have to enter an account assignment via the field selection or maintain an automatic account assignment for the cost element.
You cannot assign this transaction/event key to an account. It means that the account assignment is adopted from the purchase order and is used for the purpose of determining the posting keys for the goods receipt.
Exchange rate differences in the case of open items arise when an invoice relating to a purchase order is posted with a different exchange rate to that of the goods receipt and the material cannot be debited or credited due to standard price control or stock undercoverage/shortage.
An exchange rate rounding difference can arise in the case of an invoice made out in a foreign currency. If a difference arises when the posting lines are translated into local currency (as a result of rounding), the system automatically generates a posting line for this rounding difference.

KDV - No documentation currently available.

Consignment liabilities arise in the case of withdrawals from consignment stock or from a pipeline or when consignment stock is transferred to own stock.
Depending on the settings for the posting rules for the transaction/event key KON, it is possible to work with or without account modification. If you work with account modification, the following modifications are available in the standard system:
The contra entry for price difference postings (transaction PRK) arising through settlement via material account determination is carried out with transaction KTR.

LKW - No documentation currently available.

Price differences arise for materials valuated at standard price in the case of all movements and invoices with a value that differs from the standard price. Examples: goods receipts against purchase orders (if the PO price differs from the standard pricedardpreis), goods issues in respect of which an external amount is entered, invoices (if the invoice price differs from the PO price and the standard price).
Price differences can also arise in the case of materials with moving average price if there is not enough stock to cover the invoiced quantity. In the case of goods movements in the negative range, the moving average price is not changed. Instead, any price differences arising are posted to a price difference account.
Depending on the settings for the posting rules for transaction/event key PRD, it is possible to work with or without account modification. If you use account modification, the following modifications are available in the standard system:

PRK - No documentation currently available.

PRP - No documentation currently available.

PRQ - No documentation currently available.

PRV - No documentation currently available.

PRY - No documentation currently available.

RAP - No documentation currently available.

RKA - No documentation currently available.

Provisions are created for accrued delivery costs if a condition type for provisions is entered in the purchase order. They must be cleared manually at the time of invoice verification.
This transaction/event key is only relevant to Brazil (nota fiscal).
This transaction/event key is used both in Inventory Management and in Invoice Verification if the standard price of a material has been changed and a movement or an invoice is posted to the previous period (at the previous price).
This account is the offsetting account for the BSD account. It is posted during the closing entries for the cumulation run of the material ledger and has to be defined for the same valuation areas.
Unplanned delivery costs are delivery costs (incidental procurement costs) that were not planned in a purchase order (e.g. freight, customs duty). In the SAP posting transaction in Logistics Invoice Verification, instead of distributing these unplanned delivery costs among all invoice items as hitherto, you have the option of posting them to a special account. A separate tax code can be used for this account.
Transaction/event key for tax account determination within the "subsequent settlement" facility for debit-side settlement types. The key is needed in the settlement schema for tax conditions.
This transaction/event key is used if already-posted goods issues have to be revaluated following the determination of a new market price within the framework of inflation handling.
This transaction/event key is used if already-effected transfer postings have to be revaluated following the determination of a new market price within the framework of inflation handling. This transaction is used for the receiving plant, whereas transaction WGI (goods receipt, revaluation (inflation)) is used for the plant at which the goods are issued.
Postings to the GR/IR clearing account occur in the case of goods and invoice receipts against purchase orders. For more on the GR/IR clearing account, refer to the SAP Library (documentation MM Material Valuation).
Caution
You must set the Balances in local currency only indicator for the GR/IR clearing account to enable the open items to be cleared. For more on this topic, see the field documentation.

WRY - No documentation currently available.