Essentials:
General Journal
Analysis
Contents
Page
Analytic Name
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Suspicious general journals: Entered on the weekend
GJ Analytic 01
Suspicious general journals: Round thousand amounts
GJ Analytic 02
General journal narrations with suspicious words
GJ Analytic 03
General journals created and approved by the same user
GJ Analytic 04
General ledger accounts created in the last three months
GJ Analytic 05
Frequently reversed general journals
GJ Analytic 06
General journals posted to the prior fiscal period
GJ Analytic 07
General journals to accounts inactive for more than six months
GJ Analytic 08
Potential duplicate general journals: same general ledger account and same amount
GJ Analytic 09
Potential duplicate general journals: same general ledger account and same description
GJ Analytic 10
Potential duplicate general journals: same description and same amount
GJ Analytic 11
Number of general journals to general ledger accounts
GJ Analytic 12
General journals summarized by general ledger account per month and per company
code
GJ Analytic 13
Analysis of general ledger accounts by general journal type
GJ Analytic 14
Analysis of general ledger accounts per general journal poster
GJ Analytic 15
General journal entries posted for a selected general ledger account
GJ Analytic 16
Version 6.2.0 – 2019/04
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Suspicious General Journals:
Entered On The Weekend
GL_ANALYTIC_01_GLCS102
Identifies general journals entered on the weekends
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
Page 3
Suspicious General Journals: Entered On The Weekend
Risk
Context
It is expected that accounting
transactions are processed
during normal business
hours. When general
journals are processed over
weekends it raises a concern
regarding the validity of the
journal and should be
investigated.
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Procedure
Identifies general journals entered on the weekends.
Analytic Logic
Extracts general journals that have a system entry date corresponding to a Saturday or
Sunday. The analytic identifies the entry date of the journals in the ERP system, not the
posting date.
Output Results Fields
Company Code
Company Name
Document Text
Line Number
Amount in Document Currency
Create User Name
Fiscal Period
GL Account
Debit
Date Entered
GL Account Description
Credit
Document Date
Posting Date
Transaction Code
Fiscal Year
Document Type
Document Number
Amount in Reporting Currency
Day of the Week
Report Currency
Create User ID
Document Currency
Transaction Code Description
Output Visualization Examples
Value heatmap by user and
GL account
Weekend GL postings by
user
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_01_GLCS102
PAGE 4
Page 4
Suspicious General Journals:
Round Thousand Amounts
GL_ANALYTIC_02_GLCS103
Identifies general journals with values that are round thousand amounts
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
PAGE 5
Page 5
Suspicious General Journals: Round Thousand Amounts
Risk
Context
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
According to accounting best
practice, general journals
should be kept to a minimum.
Journals with round thousand
amounts creates suspicion
regarding the accuracy and
validity of the general journal.
Procedure
Identifies general journals with values that are round thousand amounts (e.g. 245,000).
Analytic Logic
Extracts all general journals and identifies those which are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Company Name
Document Number
GL Account
Document Text
Amount in Reporting Currency
GL Account Description
Line Number
Amount in Document Currency
Create User Name
Approver User ID
Report Currency
Transaction Code Description
Fiscal Period
Debit
Credit
Posting Date
Transaction Code
Document Type
Document Date
Create User ID
Date Entered
Fiscal Year
Document Currency
Output Visualization Examples
Total amount of postings
by posting date and
posting user
Total journal amount by
users over time
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_02_GLCS103
Page 6
General Journal Narrations
With Suspicious Words
GL_ANALYTIC_03_GLCS105
Identifies general journal narrations that use potentially suspicious words as defined during
implementation
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
PAGE 7
Page 7
General Journal Narrations With Suspicious Words
Risk
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Context
Statistics regarding general
journal wording can assist
with identifying potential
fictitious journals and/or
incorrect processing.
Procedure
Identifies general journals with suspicious narrations.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all general journals and searches for suspicious standard words such as
“miscellaneous”, “general”, additional customer suspicious narrations and blank narrations.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Company Name
Line Number
Document Number
Document Currency
Create User Name
Document Date
GL Account
Amount in Reporting Currency
Amount in Document Currency
Approver User Name
Date Entered
GL Account Description
Debit
Posting Date
Approver User ID
Document Type
Credit
Create User ID
Transaction Code
Document Text
Report Currency
Fiscal Year
Transaction Code Description
Fiscal Period
Output Visualization Examples
Total value of suspicious word
exceptions by GL account
Total suspicious word values
per GL account
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_03_GLCS105
PAGE 8
Page 8
General Journals Created And
Approved By The Same User
GL_ANALYTIC_04_GLCS106
Identifies general journals created and approved by the same user
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
PAGE 9
Page 9
General Journals Created And Approved By The Same User
Risk
Context
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed as a result of poor segregation of duties.
Any accounting process
requires adequate
segregation of duties
between creation and
approval of transactions.
Instances where general
journals were created and
approved by the same user
should be investigated to
ensure accuracy and validity.
Procedure
Identifies general journals created and approved by the same user.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all general journals and identifies where the creator and approver of the general
journal are the same user.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Company Name
Document Text
Line Number
Amount in Document Currency
Approver User Name
Document Date
Fiscal Period
Date Entered
GL Account
GL Account Description
Document Type
Report Currency
Amount in Reporting Currency
Debit
Create User ID
Credit
Transaction Code
Document Currency
Create User Name
Transaction Code Description
Document Number
Approver User ID
Fiscal Year
Posting Date
Output Visualization Examples
Value of journals created
and approved by the same
user
Exceptions listed by date,
user and value
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_04_GLCS106
Page 10
General Ledger Accounts
Created In The Last Three
Months
GL_ANALYTIC_05_GLCS107
Extracts all general ledger accounts which were created in the last three months
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
PAGE 11
Page 11
General Ledger Accounts Created In The Last Three Months
Risk
Context
Unapproved and invalid general ledger accounts.
Newly created general ledger
accounts should be
investigated to confirm
authenticity. Unapproved and
invalid accounts may lead to
suspicious and/or fraudulent
activity.
Procedure
Extracts all general ledger accounts which were created in the last three months.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all accounts and identifies those created in the three months prior to the date of
analysis execution.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Company Name
Create User Name
Document Date
GL Account
GL Account Description
Create Date
Create User ID
Document Text
Output Visualization Examples
Quantity of GL accounts created
per user
Number of GL
accounts created per
user
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_05_GLCS107
PAGE 12
Page 12
Frequently Reversed General
Journals
GL_ANALYTIC_06_GLCS112
Identifies general journals that have been raised and reversed more than twice using the
same general ledger account and amount
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
PAGE 13
Page 13
Frequently Reversed General Journals
Risk
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Context
According to accounting best
practice, general journals
should be kept to a minimum.
Frequently reversed general
journals raise a concern
regarding the authenticity and
accuracy of the journal(s) and
should be investigated.
Procedure
Identifies general journals that have been raised and reversed more than twice using the same
general ledger account and amount.
Summarises on general ledger account and absolute amount for that line and where this has a
count of more than 2 (3 or more), the journals are flagged for the results.
Analytic Logic
Extracts general journals and identifies those raised and reversed more than twice to the
same general ledger account and absolute amount.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Company Name
Create User Name
Credit
Amount in Document Currency
GL Account
Debit
GL Account Description
Amount in Reporting Currency
Create User ID
Report Currency
Document Currency
Output Visualization Examples
Reversed journals listed by
quantity and user
Reversed journals by GL
account and user name
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_06_GLCS112
Page 14
General Journals Posted To The
Prior Fiscal Period
GL_ANALYTIC_07_GLCS115
Identifies general journals posted to the prior and closed fiscal period to the current open
period
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
PAGE 15
Page 15
General Journals Posted To The Prior Fiscal Period
Risk
Context
Untimely cut-off when processing general journals.
Accurate reporting of financial
result dictate the importance
of general journals being
processed to the correct
financial period. This analytic
verifies that the correct cut-off
procedures are in place and
executed.
Procedure
Identifies general journals posted to the prior fiscal period.
Once a fiscal year is closed and the financial statements signed off, there should be no
adjustments made to that financial year.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all journal entries made in the current period, and identifies those that affect a prior
fiscal period.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Company Name
GL Account
Line Number
Document Number
Document Text
Report Currency
Amount in Document Currency
Create User ID
Fiscal Year
Create User Name
Previous Period Posting
GL Account Description
Document Type
Amount in Reporting Currency
Document Date
Approver User ID
Transaction Code
Date Entered
Approver User Name
Transaction Code Description
Credit
Debit
Posting Date
Document Currency
Fiscal period
Output Visualization Examples
Exceptions listed by value, user and
description
Quantity of exceptions grouped
by approver
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_07_GLCS115
Page 16
General Journals To Accounts
Inactive For More Than Six
Months
GL_ANALYTIC_08_GLCS116
Identifies general journals to general ledger accounts inactive for more than six months
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
Page 17
General Journals To Accounts Inactive For More Than Six
Months
Risk
Context
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
General journals processed
to inactive accounts should
be investigated to ensure the
accuracy and validity of the
journals. It could also
indicate possible suspicious
and/or fictitious transactions.
Procedure
Identifies general journals to general ledger accounts inactive for more than six months.
Analytic Logic
Extracts general journals posted to an account which was inactive for a period equal or greater
than 180 days.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Document Number
Document Currency
Approver User ID
Company Name
GL Account
Line Number
Document Date
Document Type
Credit
Amount in Reporting Currency
Debit
Date Entered
Create User ID
Approver User Name
Transaction Code Description
GL Account Description
Fiscal Period
Posting Date
Transaction Code
Document Text
Report Currency
Create User Name
Amount in Document Currency
Fiscal Year
Output Visualization Examples
Quantity of exceptions grouped
by GL account and posting date
Quantity of exceptions grouped
by approver
Total amount of exceptions by amount
including entry date
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_08_GLCS116
Page 18
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Potential Duplicate General
Journals: Same General Ledger
Account & Same Amount
GL_ANALYTIC_09_GLCS101
Identifies potential duplicate general journals with the same general ledger account and
same amount
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
Page 19
Potential Duplicate General Journals:
Same General Ledger Account & Same Amount
Risk
Context
According to accounting best
practice, general journals
should be kept to a minimum.
When duplicate general
journals are identified it raises
a concern regarding the
accuracy of accounting
processes as well as the
validity of the general journal
itself.
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Procedure
Identifies potential duplicate general journals with the same general ledger account and same
amount.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all general journals and identifies potential exceptions by checking for duplicates on
general ledger account number and the reporting currency amount of the journal.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Document Number
Company Name
Document Text
Amount in Document Currency
Create User Name
GL Account
Line Number
Document Date
Approver User ID
Transaction Code Description
Fiscal Year
GL Account Description
Debit
Date Entered
Approver User Name
Report Currency
Credit
Document Type
Amount in Reporting Currency
Posting Date
Fiscal Period
Create User ID
Transaction Code
Document Currency
Output Visualization Examples
Total amount of
journal and posting
date
Heat map of total amount by
GL Account
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_09_GLCS101
Page 20
Potential Duplicate General
Journals: Same General Ledger
Account & Same Description
GL_ANALYTIC_10_GLCS113
Identifies potential duplicate general journals which are to the same general ledger account
and have the same description
ACL ESSENTIALS – GENERAL JOURNAL ANALYSIS
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
PAGE 21
Page 21
Potential Duplicate General Journals:
Same General Ledger Account And Same Description
Risk
Context
According to accounting best
practice, general journals
should be kept to a minimum.
When duplicate general
journals are identified it raises
a concern regarding the
accuracy of accounting
processes as well as the
validity of the general journal
itself.
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Procedure
Identifies potential duplicate general journals which are to the same general ledger account
and have the same description.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all journals and identifies potential exceptions by analyzing for duplicates on the
general ledger account number and the general journal description.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Document Number
Report Currency
Create User ID
Transaction Code
Company Name
Line Number
GL Account
Debit
Amount in Document Currency
Create User Name
GL Account Description
Credit
Transaction Code Description
Amount in Reporting Currency
Document Date
Approver User ID
Document Type
Date Entered
Approver User Name
Document Text
Document Currency
Posting Date
Fiscal period
Fiscal Year
Output Visualization Examples
Potential duplicates summarised by
GL account
Potential duplicates by value,
GL account and description
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_10_GLCS113
Page 22
Potential Duplicate General
Journals: Same Description And
Amount
GL_ANALYTIC_11_GLCS114
Identifies potential duplicate general journals which have the same amount and have the
same description
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
Page 23
Potential Duplicate General Journals:
Same Description And Amount
Risk
Context
According to accounting best
practice, general journals
should be kept to a minimum.
When duplicate general
journals are identified it raises
a concern regarding the
accuracy of accounting
processes as well as the
validity of the general journal
itself.
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Procedure
Identifies potential duplicate general journals which have the same amount and have the same
description.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all general journals and identifies those with the identical general journal description
and amount.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Credit
Debit
Company Name
Document Text
Amount in Reporting Currency
Document Currency
Create User ID
GL Account Description
Report Currency
GL Account
Amount in Document Currency
Create User Name
Output Visualization Examples
Potential duplicate values
by creating user and GL
account
Quantity of exceptions by GL
account & description
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_11_GLCS114
Page 24
Number Of General Journals To
General Ledger Accounts
GL_ANALYTIC_12_GLCS104
Reports the number of general journals to general ledger accounts
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
Page 3
Number Of General Journals To General
Ledger Accounts
Risk
Context
The number of general
journals processed provides
valuable information for
management purposes. This
can be used to verify
accuracy and validity, such as
the number of journals
compared with those
expected and/or processed in
the previous period.
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Procedure
Reports the number of general journals to general ledger accounts.
This report can be used to identify:
• accounts to which general journals have been posted but should not have been posted such
as bank accounts or creditors; or
• high risk accounts with very high volumes of general journals.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all general journal entries and provides an analysis of the number or volume of general
journals to general ledger accounts.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Sum Absolute Amount
Company Name
GL Account
Amount in Reporting Currency
GL Account Description
Report Currency
Count
Debit
Credit
Output Visualization Examples
Total value of exceptions
by GL account and date
Total amount per GL
account and date
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_12_GLCS104
Page 26
General Journals Summarized
By General Ledger Account
Per Month And Per Company
Code
GL_ANALYTIC_13_GLCS111
Reviews the total value of general journals to the general ledger accounts per month and
per company code
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
Page 27
General Journals Summarized By
General Ledger Account Per Month
And Per Company Code
Risk
Context
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Number and value of general
journals processed provides
valuable information for
management purposes. A
further split per general
ledger account and company
code further assist with
analysis of journals
processed and verifies
accuracy and validity.
Procedure
Reviews the total value of general journals to the general ledger accounts per month and per
company code.
This is not intended to recalculate a trial balance as it is only analyzing general journals, but it
does provide a useful perspective on what accounts are materially valued using general
journals.
Analytic Logic
Extracts journal entries and provides a monthly analysis of the general journal amounts
(positives for debits and negatives for credits) posted to all affected general ledger accounts.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Company Name
Report Amount Month 2
GL Account
GL Account Description
Report Amount Month 1
Report Amount Month 3
Output Visualization Examples
Statistics of a GL account per entity
and time period
Summary table per GL account
per company code and month
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_13_GLCS111
Page 28
Analysis Of General Ledger
Accounts By General Journal
Type
GL_ANALYTIC_14_GLCS108
Listing of general ledger accounts by which general journal types are posted through those
accounts
ACL ESSENTIALS – GENERAL JOURNAL ANALYSIS
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
PAGE 29
Page 29
Analysis Of General Ledger Accounts By
General Journal Type
Risk
Inaccurate and/or invalid general journals processed.
Procedure
Context
Regular investigation should
occur of general ledger
accounts containing general
journals to ensure accuracy
and validity of these journals.
Listing of general ledger accounts by which general journal types are posted through those
accounts.
Depending on the entity, journal types are intended for specific types of transactions such as
raising of accruals using one type and the subsequent reversal with another and this report
can aid in ensuring such practices are followed.
Analytic Logic
Extracts general journal entries and provides an analysis of the type of general journals.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Company Name
Transaction Code Description
GL Account
GL Account Description
Amount in Reporting Currency
Count
Transaction Code
Credit
Report Currency
Debit
Output Visualization Examples
GL account grouping of
journal types
GL account grouping of
journal types
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_14_GLCS108
Page 30
Analysis Of General Ledger
Accounts Per General Journal
Poster
GL_ANALYTIC_15_GLCS109
Listing of general ledger accounts by the user posting general journals to that account
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
Page 31
Analysis Of General Ledger Accounts Per
General Journal Poster
Risk
Context
Unapproved and invalid general ledger accounts.
Regular investigation should
occur of general ledger
accounts containing general
journals to confirm that these
journals were processed by
someone authorised to
process general journals;
while verifying the accuracy
and validity of the journals.
Procedure
Listing of general ledger accounts by the user posting general journals to that account.
This report can be used to validate the finance users who should correctly be posting general
journals and those users who are incorrectly posting, such as operations staff.
Analytic Logic
Extracts journal entries and provides an analysis of the users posting general journals.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Create User ID
Company Name
Create User Name
GL Account
Count
GL Account Description
Credit
Debit
Amount in Reporting Currency
Report Currency
Output Visualization Examples
Heatmap of amount by
user and GL account
Count of GL accounts
by user
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_15_GLCS109
Page 32
General Journal Entries Posted
For A Selected General Ledger
Account
GL_ANALYTIC_16_GLCS110
Listing of general journals posted to the selected general ledger account captured in the
next parameter
Essentials – General Journal Analysis
Page 33
General Journal Entries Posted For A
Selected General Ledger Account
Risk
Context
The posting of journals to
incorrect accounts
misrepresents financial
reports and it is important to
verify whether general
journals are posted to the
correct general ledger
accounts.
Inaccurate general journal posting.
Procedure
Listing of general journals posted to any specific general ledger account.
Analytic Logic
Extracts all general journals for the selected general ledger account.
Variables
General ledger account selected.
Output Results Field Names
Company Code
Document Number
Report Currency
Create User ID
Transaction Code
Company Name
GL Account
Amount in Document Currency
Create User Name
Debit
Report Amount
Document Text
Credit
Document Date
Approver User ID
Transaction Code Description
Document Type
GL Account Description
Fiscal Year
Amount in Reporting Currency
Date Entered
Approver User Name
Line Number
Posting Date
Fiscal Period
Document Currency
Output Visualization Examples
Total entry value for
specified GL account
Total values per entry for a
specified GL account
Essentials | General Journal Analysis | GL_ANALYTIC_16_GLCS110
Page 34