To enter or modify client setup information for the General Ledger, click the General Ledger tab of the File > New Client dialog or the File > Client Properties dialog. Properties available from this dialog include: processing and period options, years of balances and transactions to save, references, journal entry options and choice of entity type.
After initial setup, changing the starting check number and/or the balancing entry reference is not recommended.
Fields & buttons
Specify the account mask to define the account structure for this client's Chart of Accounts. The mask may include up to 60 alphanumeric characters (including an optional decimal and any optional separators).
The mask defined in the File > Client Properties dialog is also displayed for reference in the Setup > Chart of Accounts window and in the Chart of Accounts Add-on-the-Fly dialog.
Note that only certain characters may be used in the mask definition, and special rules apply. There are also specific exceptions if setting up a CBS client or if you will be exporting client data to GoSystem Tax RS.
Click here for special information and mask examples
Required field. Enter the current GL period ending date in MMDDYY format. This date must be within the client's current fiscal year (as defined in the Current fiscal year end field) and it must match one of the period end dates entered in the Period End Dates grid.
Note: This field can only be modified when entering information for a new client.
Enter the current fiscal year end date in MMDDYY format. This date affects only the general ledger information, not calendar year end payroll information. The field defaults to the last day of the current calendar year.
Note: If you need to change the fiscal year end date, click the Change fiscal year end date button.
Shows the ending date for the latest GL period ever processed for the current client.
Note: If you have temporarily changed to a prior processing period (by choosing Select Period to Process from the File menu), this field allows you to quickly see the period to which you should return for continued processing.
This field automatically defaults to the number of periods that corresponds to the current selection in the Periods field. If you need to change the number of periods in the current year, click the Change fiscal year end date button.
Example: For a Quarterly client, this field defaults to 4.
The application uses this field to determine how many periods to include when calculating year-to-date information for financial statements. You will not need to enter anything in this field except when processing a short-year client.
Example: For a client whose business begins in March and that has a June 30 fiscal year end, you would enter a 4 (if you are processing the client in monthly periods).
Opens another dialog where you may enter or modify the fiscal year end date for the currently selected GL client.
Note: The new fiscal year end date that you enter must be within or after the current GL period.
Choose the appropriate option for the selected client. The application will calculate default period end dates based on the fiscal year end date and the period type you select.
- Monthly (default)
The default GL period dates will increment by one-month intervals (12 periods).
- Quarterly
The GL period dates will increment by three-month intervals (4 periods).
- Semi-annual
The GL period dates will increment by six-month intervals (2 periods).
- Annual
The GL period date is the fiscal year end date (1 period).
- Weekly
The default GL period dates will increment by 7-day or 1-week intervals (based on fiscal year end dates; 52 periods)
- 13 periods
The default GL period dates will increment by 4-week intervals (based on fiscal year end date; 13 periods).
Note: If you need to change the period type for an existing client, the application will walk you through a short series of confirmation dialogs. The application then updates the GL, journal, and Chart of Accounts balance information, which may take a few moments to complete.
Opens the Edit period end dates dialog, which allows you to modify the period end dates for the selected client. Period dates that you are unable to change will be grayed.
- For a new client, you will be able to modify all of the period end dates.
- For an existing client, you will only be able to modify the end dates for periods not yet accessed.
Enter the number of years of balances you want to save - from 1 (current year) to 10 years - or choose the appropriate number from the drop-down list. When adding a new client, this field defaults to 5 years.
If you reduce this number and balances exist beyond the number of years specified, those balances will be deleted.
If you choose 1 (current year) for this field, when you close the year, balances for the year being closed will be automatically deleted.
Enter the number of years of transactions you want to save - from 1 (current year) to 10 years - or choose the appropriate number from the drop-down list. When adding a new client, this field defaults to 2 years.
If you reduce this number and transactions exist beyond the number of years specified, those transactions will be deleted.
If you choose 1 (current year) for this field, when you close the year, transactions for the year being closed will be automatically deleted.
The Deposits reference that you set up here enables you to record deposits with their own specific reference. This is similar to the way that you enter checks - except, unlike checks, all deposits use the same reference. Thus, you can enter several deposit records with one balancing entry.
Specify the appropriate reference to use for deposits by entering up to 9 alphanumeric characters. When adding a new client, this field defaults to 2.
Notes
- You can use any alphanumeric reference that is not greater than the starting check number and that is different from the Balancing entry reference.
- This field is case sensitive. For example, if D12 is the deposit reference, then entering d12 in the transaction's Reference field would cause the transaction not to be considered a deposit.
- If you record multiple distributions to the checking account on one TAB entry, it will appear as a lump sum during Bank Reconciliation unless the option Display multiple distributions to the checkbook GL account in a single transaction separately is selected on the Bank Reconciliation Options dialog.
Enter the starting check number for this client, which must be 100 or greater. When adding a new client, this field defaults to 100.
This number and anything greater will be considered a check in data entry and in the bank reconciliation.
Note: Only numbers may be entered in this field.
Specify the appropriate reference to use for the balancing entry by entering up to 9 alphanumeric characters. When adding a new client, this field defaults to 1.
This reference is used for the balancing entry for any checks that are entered.
Notes
- You can use any alphanumeric reference that is not greater than the starting check number.
- This field is case sensitive. For example, if B1 is the balancing entry reference, then entering b1 in the transaction's Reference field would cause the transaction not to be considered a balancing entry.
Mark this checkbox if you want to use separate journals in transaction data entry and to enable the Journals option in the Setup menu.
For users of Fixed Assets CS (version 99.1.0 or greater)
Choose the appropriate journal for the depreciation journal entries by making your selection from the drop-down list.
Note: To enable this field, you must first specify the folder where your Fixed Assets CS client data is stored. Specify the Depreciation data path in the File Locations tab of the Setup > User Preferences dialog.
For a client processed with Write-Up CS, Trial Balance CS, and Engagement CS
The multi-staff functionality in Engagement CS enables more than one staff member to work in the Master Client Data at the same time. In addition, this feature provides an alternate method for checking in and checking out selected workpapers to the Local Client Data.
Note that to take advantage of the multi-staff functionality, you must be working within the same office and connected to the same network as other staff who are assigned to the current engagement.
See also
Multi-staff functionality in Engagement CS (Overview)
Working with the trial balance in a multi-staff environment
Click the entity type for this client, which determines what Tax Codes will be available for selection from the Chart of Accounts window. Tax Codes provide the link between CSA and UltraTax CS or between CSA and GoSystem Tax RS.
Use Puerto Rico Tax Codes only (checkbox). If the active client is an 1120 or 1065 client for which you will be preparing a Puerto Rico tax return, mark this checkbox to enable the display of Tax Codes that link specifically to a Puerto Rico return rather than to the standard tax codes.
Related topics
Client setup overview
Chart of Accounts mask: special information and examples
CSA Guide to Working with Location/Department Clients (PDF)