80322: General Ledger in Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 (1 Day)
About this Course
This one-day course explores the Microsoft Dynamics SL General Ledger and the accounting cycle and the processes required to enter financial data into the system. This course also shows students how to perform additional functions such as account/subaccount validation, budgeting, allocation, month-end closing, and consolidation.
Audience Profile
This course is intended for anyone who plans to implement, use, maintain, consult, or support Microsoft Dynamics SL. The course is targeted toward data entry clerks, administrators, office managers, and consultants who need to understand the technical aspects of General Ledger and gain foundational knowledge of the application functionality.
At Course Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:
- Create journal transactions to update General Ledger accounts.
- Execute the posting process and view the results of the transactions in the General Ledger accounts.
- Identify the appropriate use for the types of batches available for journal transactions.
- Define Ledgers to track budgets, statistical accounts, and foreign currency accounting records for use in financial reporting.
- Use appropriate General Ledger processes to perform accounting cycle functions such as creating journal transactions, posting to general ledger accounts, closing the accounting period, budgeting, and allocating account balances.
- Identify transactions created in related modules and their effect on the General Ledger account balances.
- Troubleshoot and correct operator input errors including incorrect period to post, entries to incorrect accounts, and correcting batches from sub modules that impact the General Ledger.
- Define set up options for the module that allow you to customize your system to better fit your organization's unique needs.
Course Outline
Module 1: Overview
This overview module introduces the General Ledgersoftware moduleof the Microsoft Dynamics SL, and the windows and processes that are used to complete the accounting cycle in the General Ledger. It is important to note that thismodule is optional and can be skipped at the instructor's discretion if the instructor feels that each student's background provides sufficient experience in these topic areas.
Lessons
- Course Description
- Module Overview
- General Ledger Process Flow
- Other Features
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explain the goals of this course.
- Explain how the General Ledger module fits into the suite of available modules for the Microsoft Dynamics SL system.
- Follow the flow of transactions through the General Ledger.
Module 2: Active Overview
This module examines the core processes used in General Ledger. It introduces each step in the accounting cycle, briefly discusses its purpose, and primary features, and focuses on its function in the accounting cycle. It is not intended to provide a detailed primer on each of these topics. This module is optional and can be skipped at the instructor's discretion if the instructor feels that each student's background provides sufficient experience in these topic areas.
Lessons
- Transaction Flowchart
- Journal Transaction Entry
- Post Transactions
- Viewing Results
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Identify the basic processes required to create a Journal Transaction.
- Explain the Release function.
- Explainthe purpose of posting transactions to accounts.
- View the results of transactions.
Module 3: Maintaining Accounts and Subaccounts
This module examines the setup of accounts and subaccounts. It describes the information required for accounts, discusses the FlexKey feature for subaccounts, and defines accounts and subaccounts in the system. The FlexKey feature has different levels of validation and these are discussed in detail.
Lessons
- Procedures for Maintaining Accounts and Subaccounts
- Chart of Accounts Maintenance Window
- Account Class Maintenance Window
- Subaccount Maintenance
- FlexKey Table Maintenance
Lab : Maintaining Accounts and Subaccounts
- Create New Account
- Create New SubAccount
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Add new account numbers to the Chart of Accounts.
- Add new subaccount segments and subaccounts.
- Activate the Account/Subaccount Validation feature.
- Define and use Account Classes.
Module 4: Journal Transaction Features
This module discusses the concept of batch entry and the fields of the Journal Transaction screen. It examines the types of batches that can be entered in the Journal Transaction screen and the processes required to update account balances. Students will be shown how to execute reports to verify information entered.
Lessons
- Procedures for Entering Journal Transactions
- Journal Transactions screen
- Deleting a Journal Transaction Batch
- Batch Status and Batch Handling Values
- Journal Transaction Reports
Lab : Journal Transaction Features
- Journal Transaction Entry - Depreciation entry
- Journal Transaction Entry - Third party payroll
- Journal Transaction Entry - Prepaid expense
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Create Journal Transaction batches.
- Differentiate the types of Journal Transaction batches.
- Determine when to use each of the Batch Handling options.
Module 5: Releasing Batches
This module examines the options for releasing batches. It reviews the two methods available for releasing batches; using the data entry window, or the Batch Release Process.It then discusses automatic batch control reports, the option to print them automatically, and how to re-print them.
Lessons
- Batch Release Screen
- Reprinting Batch Control Reports
Lab : Releasing Batches
- Release Batches
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Decide when to use the Release GL Batches window versus releasing batches from the data entry window.
- Understand the criteria for a batch to display in the Release GL Batches window.
- Release batches using the Release GL Batches window.
- Reprint individual batch control reports or ranges of batch control reports.
Module 6: Posting Transactions
This module examines the Post Transactions process and its role in the accounting cycle. Processes used thus far and updating account balances is also discussed. It also reviews audit trail reports and the role the posting process has in updating these reports.
Lessons
- Procedures for Posting
- GL Transactions Unposted Report
- Post Transactions Window
- Audit Trail Reports
Lab : Posting Transactions
- Post Transactions
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Post batches of transactions using the Post Transactions window.
- Decide which batches should be posted.
- Use the available options to post only selected batches.
Module 7: Account Inquiry
This module examines the series ofscreens available for viewing account balances and drilling down to the transaction details. The Inquiryscreens allow the viewing of account balances and comparing them to budgets without having to print financial statements or reports. It also reviews balances and drilling down to the details of the transactions.
Lessons
- Account Summary Inquiry Windows
- Account History Window
Lab : Account Inquiry
- View General Ledger Account Details
- View Details from a Sub module
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- View the balances of General Ledger accounts.
- Drill down to the detail that constitutes an account balance.
Module 8: Manual and Recurring Batches
This module discusses the use of manual and recurring batch types to make repetitive journal entries efficient. It also explores the difference between the two types of batches and the particular situations in which each should be used.
Lessons
- Recurring Batches
- Generate Recurring Transactions
- Manual Batches
Lab : Manual and Recurring Batches
- Recurring Batch
- Manual Batch
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Determine when to use the Manual and Recurring batch types.
- Decide which batch type to use for transactions.
- Create and maintain manual and recurring batches.
Module 9: Ledger Maintenance
This module explains how to use ledgers to track multiple budgets and statistics for accounts, enter transactions for the statistical ledgers, demonstrates how to use them in calculations in financial reports, and describes printing standard reports for particular ledgers.
Lessons
- Procedures for Creating and Maintaining Ledgers
- Ledger Maintenance Window
- Ledgers Report
Lab : Ledger Maintenance
- Ledger Maintenance
- Ledger Transactions
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Create and maintain ledgers.
- Understand how to use ledgers in data entry.
- Use Ledgers in reporting.
Module 10: Budgets
This module explains how to create simple budgets for reporting purposes and use the extended budgeting feature to create custom distribution types for seasonal work or based on prior year actual or budget amounts.
Lessons
- Procedures for Maintaining Basic Budgets
- Budget Maintenance Window
- Procedures for Maintaining Extended Budgets
- Budget Distribution Types
- Budget Version Maintenance
- Extended Budget Maintenance
- Budget Distribution
Lab : Budgets
- Budget Maintenance
- Extended Budget
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Create new budgets for General Ledger Accounts.
- Use the Ledger ID to create multiple budgets.
- Use Extended Budgeting to create budgets with user-defined distribution percentages.
Module 11: Allocation Journal Transactions
This moduleintroduces the various ways that account balances can be allocated. Students complete examples and exercises using percentage allocation methods as well as allocations based on other balances, budgets, or statistics stored in ledgers.
Lessons
- Procedures for Account Allocations
- Allocation Methods
- Allocation Group Maintenance
- Generate Allocation Transactions
Lab : Allocation Journal Transactions
- Allocation Group
- Allocation Based on Actuals with Contra Accounts
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Understand how to use Allocation methods.
- Define Allocation Groups.
- Process Allocation transactions.
Module 12: Month End Procedures and Closing
This moduledescribes how to create a closing checklist to ensure all transactions and activities have been completed for the accounting period, produce appropriate audit trail reports, correct an out of balance condition, and close only the General Ledger or all software modules for the period. It also examines the detail retention and deletion options.
Lessons
- Balance the General Ledger
- Correct an Out of Balance Condition
- Close for the Month or Year
- Delete General Ledger Detail
- Perform General Ledger Integrity Check
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explain Month-End processes and procedures.
- Balance the General Ledger.
- Use the Adjustment Batch Type.
- Decide when to close General Ledger for the period.
- Execute the Closing process for all modules.
- Delete detail for all modules.
- Understand the GL Integrity Check and when to use it.
Module 13: General Ledger Consolidation
This module discusses the consolidation process. Students explore taking information from different databases with similar and differing periods, calendar years, chart of account structures, and creating a consolidated set of data for reporting purposes.
Lessons
- Procedures for Performing Consolidations
- Assign Consolidation Accounts
- Generate Consolidation File
- Read Consolidation File
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Decide when and if the Consolidation process is necessary.
- Define Consolidation accounts.
- Define Source and Destination databases.
- Generate and Read the Consolidation File.
Before attending this course, students must have:
- Microsoft Dynamics SL navigationskills arehelpful but not required for this course.
- Conceptual knowledge of accounting, specifically the idea of debits and credits as they relate to balanced accounts.