Group/Country Account definition know-how

Question

Hi,
1) How do we create Group Account number and Country Chart of Accounts (Alternative A/c) number?
2) Is it centrally using FS00?
3) Is it at Chart of Accounts level using FSP0?
4) Is it at Company Code level using FSS0?
5) If they are defined at COA levels how do we pull the data into the reports? Which reports we can generate using these COA level accounts?
6) What will be the retained earnings account for the Group COA?
7) What will be the retained earnings account for Country COA?
8) Is retained earnings account created centrally? If this is created centrally, which company code this is relevant to?
Any post would be muchly appreciated.
Thanks,
Harika.
Moderator: Please, avoid asking basic questions

Answer 1

Hi
I hope I remember this correctly.
In the account master data there are three fields, but some of them may be hidden for the user in customizing.
1.) local account number
This is the account number which is either entered by the user during posting or set in customizing for automatic account determination. It will also be stored in the accounting document and can be analyzed by you, your financial statement auditor or you tax auditor. Usually this is you local country specific chart of accounts.
2.) group account number
You can enter a group account number for each local account. Later you can display a balance sheet and an income statement for the group chart of account using the report RFBILA00. I think in addition, the group account can be used in automatic intercompany transactions.
3.) alternative account number
You can use the alternative account number field for the group account number instead of the group account number field. However, this field only allows you to display a balance sheet and an income statement with RFBILA00 showing the group chart of accounts, but you cannot do more.
If you use transaction SE16 to display the table SKA1 (general ledger accounts) and press F1 after clicking on the three fields you will get the SAP help for the meaning of those fields which should tell you most of what you need
General Ledger has two segments i.e.,
1. Chart of Accounts Data (T.Code= FSPO)and
2. Company Code Data (T.Code =FSSO)
GL account master records are divided into two areas to that company code with the same chart of account can use the same GL account. The chart of account area contains the data valid for all company codes, such as Account Number.
The Company code specific area contains data that may vary from one company code to another, such as the currency in which the account may be posted.
Lets, suppose there are not segment both the segments are combined, at that time it will become difficult to copy the Company Code data because the fields may vary in company code. for example Currency, though you have same Chart of Account Data.
Because, GL Accounts has two segments, it will be easy to copy Chart of Accounts data from A company code which matches your requirement and Company Code data of B Company code and you can create a separate chart of account in C company code.
To copy Chart of account data and Company code data seperately, see Alternative method of creating GL Master in IMG screen.
Retained Earnings:
Each Profit & Loss a/c is assigned to a Retained Earnings Accounts via key. We have to entered this key in the P & L statement a/c type field found in the chart of a/c are of each P & L a/c. Normally, Companies use one Retained Earnings a/c. For this reason, X can be denoted as the key.Transaction Code = OB53