Chapter
7-1
CHAPTER 7
ACCOUNTING
INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
Accounting Principles, Eighth Edition
Chapter
7-2
Study Objectives
Study Objectives
1.
Identify the basic concepts of an accounting information
system.
2.
Describe the nature and purpose of a subsidiary ledger.
3.
Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
4.
Indicate how companies post a multicolumn journal.
Chapter
7-3
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting Information Systems
Basic
BasicConcepts
Concepts
of
ofAccounting
Accounting
Information
Information
Systems
Systems
Computerized
accounting
systems
Manual
accounting
systems
Chapter
7-4
Subsidiary
Subsidiary
Ledgers
Ledgers
Example
Advantages
Special
Special
Journals
Journals
Sales journal
Cash receipts
journal
Purchases
journal
Cash payments
journal
Effects of special
journals on
general journal
Basic Concepts of AIS
Basic Concepts of AIS
The accounting information system (AIS) collects and processes
transaction data and communicates financial information to
decision makers.
Includes:
All steps in the accounting cycle.
Documents that provide evidence of transactions.
Manual or computerized accounting system.
Chapter
7-5
LO 1 Identify the basic concepts of an accounting information system.
Basic Concepts of AIS
Basic Concepts of AIS
Cost Effectiveness Benefits must
outweigh the costs.
Illustration 71
Principles of an
efficient and effective
AIS.
Useful
Output
Flexibility The system should be
sufficiently flexible to meet the resulting
changes in the demands made upon it.
Chapter
7-6
LO 1 Identify the basic concepts of an accounting information system.
Basic Concepts of AIS
Basic Concepts of AIS
Computerized Accounting Systems
Software programs (functions include sales, purchases,
receivables, payables, cash receipts and disbursements, and
payroll).
Generate financial statements.
Advantages:
Typically enter data only once.
Many human errors are eliminated.
More timely information.
Chapter
7-7
LO 1 Identify the basic concepts of an accounting information system.
Basic Concepts of AIS
Basic Concepts of AIS
Computerized Accounting Systems
Choosing a software package
EntryLevel Software
Common features and benefits:
Easy data access and report preparation
Audit trail
Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
Chapter
7-8
LO 1 Identify the basic concepts of an accounting information system.
Basic Concepts of AIS
Basic Concepts of AIS
Manual Accounting Systems
Perform each step in the accounting cycle by hand.
Satisfactory in a company with a low volume of transactions.
Must understand manual accounting systems to understand
computerized accounting systems.
Chapter
7-9
LO 1 Identify the basic concepts of an accounting information system.
Subsidiary Ledgers
Subsidiary Ledgers
Used to keep track of individual balances.
Two common subsidiary ledgers are:
1. Accounts receivable (customers’)
2. Accounts payable (creditors’)
Each general ledger control account balance must equal the composite
balance of the individual accounts in the related subsidiary ledger.
Chapter
7-10
LO 2 Describe the nature and purpose of a subsidiary ledger.
Subsidiary Ledgers
Subsidiary Ledgers
Relationship of general ledger and subsidiary ledgers
Illustration 73
Chapter
7-11
LO 2 Describe the nature and purpose of a subsidiary ledger.
Subsidiary Ledgers
Subsidiary Ledgers
Advantages of Subsidiary Ledgers
1. Show in a single account transactions affecting one customer
or one creditor.
2. Free the general ledger of excessive details.
3. Help locate errors in individual accounts.
4. Make possible a division of labor.
Chapter
7-12
LO 2 Describe the nature and purpose of a subsidiary ledger.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Used to record similar types of transactions.
Illustration 75
If a transaction cannot be recorded in a special journal, the company
records it in the general journal.
Chapter
7-13
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Review Question
Each of the following is a subsidiary ledger except the:
a. accounts receivable ledger.
b. accounts payable ledger.
c. customer’s ledger.
d. general ledger.
Chapter
7-14
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Sales Journal
Illustration 76
Under a perpetual inventory system, one entry at selling price in Sales Journal results in a debit
to Accounts Receivable and a credit to Sales.
Another entry at cost results in a debit to Cost of Goods Sold and a credit to Merchandise
Inventory.
Chapter
7-15
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Illustration 77
POSTING THE SALES JOURNAL
Companies make daily postings from the
sales journal to the individual accounts
receivable in the subsidiary ledger.
Chapter
7-16
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Illustration 77
POSTING THE SALES JOURNAL
Posting to the general ledger is done
monthly.
Chapter
7-17
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Advantages of Sales Journal
Oneline entry for each sales transaction saves time.
Only totals, rather than individual entries, are posted to the
general ledger.
A division of labor results.
Chapter
7-18
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Cash Receipts Journal
Illustration 79
In the cash receipts journal, companies record all receipts of cash.
The posting of the cash receipts journal is similar to the posting of the sale journal. See
complete Illustration 79 in the text.
Chapter
7-19
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Review Question
Cash sales of merchandise are recorded in the:
a. cash payments journal.
b. cash receipts journal.
c. general journal.
d. sales journal.
Chapter
7-20
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Review Question
Which of the following is not one of the credit columns in the
cash receipts journal:
a. Other accounts.
b. Accounts payable.
c. Accounts receivable.
d. Sales.
Chapter
7-21
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Illustration 713
Purchases Journal
Daily postings are made from the purchases
journal to the accounts payable subsidiary
ledger.
Chapter
7-22
LO 4 Indicate how companies post a multicolumn journal.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Illustration 713
Purchases Journal
At the end of the accounting period, the
company posts totals to the general ledger.
Chapter
7-23
LO 4 Indicate how companies post a multicolumn journal.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Review Question
All of the following are advantages of using subsidiary ledgers
except they:
a. show transactions affecting one customer or one creditor in
a single account.
b. free the general ledger of excessive details.
c. eliminate errors in individual accounts.
d. make possible a division of labor.
Chapter
7-24
LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
Special Journals
Special Journals
Cash Payments Journal
Illustration 716
In a cash payments (cash disbursements) journal, companies record all disbursements
of cash.
The procedures for posting the cash payments journal are similar to those for other journals.
Chapter
7-25
LO 4 Indicate how companies post a multicolumn journal.