Financial Accounting 1 - Topic 4: Ledgers

Financial Accounting 1 - Topic 4: Journal, Ledger, and Trial Balance

• Ledger: A book of accounts that holds detailed records of transactions. It's crucial for tracking financial activity.

Types of Ledger

• Personal Ledger: Contains accounts for individuals or businesses, e.g., debtors, creditors. Accounts are headed by the name of the person or business.

• Impersonal Ledger: Records transactions not linked to a specific person or business.

Types of Ledger (Specific Ledgers)

• Sales Ledger: Lists all accounts receivable (money owed to the business).
• Purchase Ledger: Contains all accounts payable (money owed by the business).
• General Ledger: Includes all accounts other than those in sales and purchase ledgers, such as cash and bank accounts.
• Cash Book: Specifically tracks cash receipts and payments.

Journal Entries Posting to Ledgers

• Cash Receipts Journal: Records cash received, Credits cash account, Debits accounts indicated in particulars.
• Cash Payment Journal: Records cash payments, Debits cash account, Credits accounts indicated in particulars.
• Petty Cash Journal/Cash Book: Records small cash transactions. Credits petty cash and debits respective accounts.
• General Journal: Handles all other transactions, Debits and credits accounts as appropriate.
• Purchases Journal: Records purchases on credit, Debits Purchases account, Credits creditors accounts.
• Sales Journal: Records sales on credit, Debits debtors accounts, Credits Sales account.
• Return Inward Journal: Records returns of goods by customers, Debits return inward account, Credits debtors account.
• Return Outward Journal: Records returns of goods by the business, Debits credit account, Credits return outward account

Ledger - 3 Column

• Example: Paying electricity RM100 by cash.
  • Dr. Utilities (electricity) RM100
  • Cr. Cash RM100

Trial Balance

• Purpose: Verifies the equality of debit and credit balances for accounts. Locates potential errors. Aids in preparing financial statements.
• Process:
  • Lists all ledger accounts with their balances at the end of an accounting period.
  • Accounts with zero balances are excluded.
  • Transfers debit and credit balances to their respective columns.
  • Totals the debit and credit columns. These totals should be equal.
• Example: A table outlining accounts, their debit and corresponding credit balances. Debits equal credits.

Limitations of Trial Balance

• Errors:
  • Omission of entries
  • Errors in addition within ledgers
  • Incorrect posting of entries to accounts
  • Mistakes in totalling the trial balance can happen
• Trial balance does not show all possible errors.

How to prepare a Trial Balance

• Heading: Include the company name and "Trial Balance as at..."
• Balance Transfer: Transfer debit and credit balances accurately into their corresponding columns.
• Totals: Calculate the debit and credit column totals. They should balance.

Financial Statements

• Purpose: Present financial information to show the company's financial position and performance.

This quiz focuses on the key concepts of journals, ledgers, and trial balances in financial accounting. Explore types of ledgers including personal, impersonal, sales, purchase, and general ledgers. Test your understanding of how journal entries are posted to these ledgers.