What is Posting in Accounting?
Posting in accounting refers to the transfer of balance from one ledger to the general ledger so as to make it easy to understand the accounting and this posting in accounting are done at regular intervals i.e. monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly depending upon the size of entity and volume of transactions of the entity.
Explanation
It refers to the transfer of closing balance from various accounts to the general ledger. The posting varies as per the size of the organization and the volume of transactions. Some large organizations record the monthly closing balance. For small organizations, the balance is directly transferred to a general ledger because of the low volume of accounting transactions.
This is also done where there are several branches of the organization, and separate accounts of branches are maintained or when the parent company maintains the accounts of its subsidiary or associate company. It is more of a manual process and involves manpower work. In the case of posting, consolidation of accounts is also required. With the advancement of technology, posting has become a traditional process, and it is rapidly eliminated due to the availability of automated software.
Steps in Posting in Accounting
Steps in posting involve the following:
Step #1 – Create the Sub-Ledgers and General Ledgers with Various Transactions
Various accounts, along with the transactions, are to be recorded in their respective ledgers.
Step #2 – Create the General Ledger
The general ledger is the ledger in which balances of all sub-ledgers and general journals are to be transferred.
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Step #3 – Enter the Name and Account in General Ledger with Details
Transfer in general ledger takes place with the name of the account and amount carried forward in subledger or general journal along with entry details.
Step #4 – Enter the Debit and Credit Balances in the Ledger
Debit and credit balances are to be entered in the general ledger as per the balance in the account. The debit balance increases the asset, whereas the credit balance increases the liability in the accounts.
Step #5 – Maintain the Account for each Period Separately
The general ledger for each period is to be maintained separately so as to avoid and double balancing or mess in the accounts.
Step #6 – Correct any Errors
The final step is to cross verify the balances and recheck whether there are any mathematical errors; if any of the errors found, rectify them so as to maintain proper records.
Posting in Accounting Examples
The details of XYZ internationals are as under:
XYZ international issues 20 invoices to its customers and record each transaction in the sales account and the respective debtor’s account. Also, the company purchased from 10 suppliers the recorded in purchases accounts and respective creditors’ accounts. Some of the payable liability is recorded in the general journal account. The details are as under:
Prepare General Ledger.
Solution:
Rules
- Posting in a ledger to be made in a chronological manner i.e., date wise.
- While posting in the ledger, entry is to be made into both accounts i.e.; double entries are to be made. For example, in the case of the purchase on credit, the entry is to be made in the purchase account as well as the creditor’s account.
- The amount is to be shown in the amount column, and the debit balance is to be debited debit side, and the credit balance is to be credited on the credit side.
- The balance in the nominal accounts is to be transferred directly to the profit and loss account.
- Assets are to be debited, and liabilities are to be credited.
Importance
- Balance can be Easily Verified – With the posting in the accounts, the balances of each account can be easily known as on the date. It creates a clear understanding of the account balances and reduces the efforts of finding from each ledger account.
- Ensures Smooth Running of Business – Posting of Balances ensures the smooth running of the business as with posting balances can be easily tracked and called for, and cross-verification and arithmetical accuracy is to be rechecked.
- Helps to keep Updated Records – It helps to keep an updated record of all ledger balances & also helps to keep tracking on the balances on how it changed over a period of time.
- Can be Easily Analyzed – As the balance of the ledger accounts can be changed with the recording of various transactions, so if the balance is the same for a continuous period of time, one can analyze the account and request for clearance of balance or record it as bad debts.
Conclusion
Posting in the ledger is the accounting process through which the balances of the general journal and various sub-ledgers are to be transferred at various intervals ranges from daily to yearly. It is very helpful and useful in large organizations, as keeping track of the balance becomes very easy. Also, with the posing in a ledger, the arithmetic accuracy of the accounts can be verified, and the balances can be analyzed thoroughly so as to maintain the proper and accurate records.
Posting in the ledger is the manual process; hence manpower is needed. It ensures that all assets and liabilities are to be recorded properly. The balances of nominal accounts are directly transferred to the profit and loss account, and the balances related to balance sheet items are to be transferred to the general ledger account. It helps to keep the updated records, but with the advancement of technology and the availability of various software, the posting in balance becomes the traditional concept.
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