See also: Frequently Asked Questions for this module.
The Nominal Ledger (NL) is a consolidation of all the data from other modules as well as the NL itself, and is used to report on Autoline as a whole, or on individual modules. For example, in the Purchase Control module, a part could be ordered, and the individual postings involved in this order would flow through to the Nominal Ledger invoice buffer and, eventually, the NL transaction file. The crux of the NL is the account codes contained within and described below.
Autoline also holds a record for each account containing three main totals, to build up a picture of what has been posted in summary or in detail for every account. These are divided into 3 main categories:
Brought forward balance: The balance calculated as at the start of the NL period. (In other words, when an end of period is run, this balance is the starting point for the new period.)
Total of Current postings: All the postings that have been processed in the current accounting period (for example: journals input using dates within the date range in the current period)
Total of Future postings: This will show a posting input using a forward date. For example, if current period is 6, from 1st June to 30 June, and the posting was input as 5th July, this would be classed as a future posting.
The totals are displayed in the base currency of the NL and in the currency (foreign currency) of the account.
From these figures, a Carried forward balance can be obtained (by adding the Brought forward balance to the current postings), which is shown on most displays.
Each Nominal Ledger account number consists of two components, the first being a cost centre code, and the second, an expense code.
Cost Centres: A cost centre represents any division or department of the company, whether regional, organisational, or functional. Among the common business terms used to describe this code are Profit centre and Department. Instances might be: Liverpool Office; Sales and Promotion; Transport Pool.
The only criterion for creating a cost centre is that you require information on that particular aspect of your costs and profits in the Nominal Ledger.
Expense Codes: Expense codes are intended to give you full breakdowns of your expenses, and represent a Chart of Accounts. Thus, both the cost centre for the Liverpool Office and the cost centre for Transport Pool above might have an expense Motor Fuel Costs. This could be the same expense code in both cases. The name Expense code is given to all Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet components of the Chart of Accounts.
