Microsoft Dynamics GP Year-End Update 2021: Analytical Accounting

It's that time of year again! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to review the Analytical Accounting (AA) data before you run the Year-End close process for General ledger.  This will be an important step if your financial reports pull any data from AA tables.

Please review the information below to ensure a successful year-end process for AA:

Does the 2021 Year-End Update include changes that will affect year-end processing for Analytical Accounting?

There are no changes included in the 2021 Year-End Update that affect year-end processing for Analytical Accounting!

Is there a separate Year-End close process to run for Analytical Accounting?

The year-end close process for Analytical Accounting is automatically integrated with the year-end close process for General Ledger.  So no, there are no 'separate' steps that you need to run in Analytical Accounting to close it. **However, you should always verify AA data is accurate prior to closing the year.

What should I be aware of for AA with Year-end procedures?

If your Financial reports need to pull data from AA tables, (such as Management Reporter Data Mart),  be sure to give yourself plenty of time to go through all the information in KB Article 2910626 before you close the General Ledger year.

What is the impact if the AA data does not match GL data?

If the AA data does not match General Ledger data, and financial reports are pulled from AA tables: This could skew your Financial reports (when AA tables are not consistent with General Ledger) and you won't balance to the General Ledger Trial Balance reports.   Missing or duplicated data in the AA tables can skew the beginning balance entries created in the AA tables.  The first step is to determine if your Financial reports use the AA tables or not.   If you do use AA tables or Management Reporter, it is highly recommended to run through KB 2910626 to help look for mismatched data between AA and General Ledger that should be corrected before closing the General Ledger year.  

Why wouldn't data match between AA and General Ledger tables?

There are  many reasons why AA data may not match the General Ledger data. If AA is active, ALL transactions from other modules update the AA tables(whether or not the General Ledger accounts are linked to AA and whether or not you put AA codes on the transactions).  All transactions need to be accurate in the AA tables if you are doing your financial reporting from AA tables.  

Discrepancies can occur when:

• There are posting interruptions
• Data is imported
• AA is not installed on all machines
• General Ledger was closed on a machine in the past where AA was not installed
• Users disable AA when AA error messages crop up
• Multi-currency is not registered

As such, we recommend that you continually use the scripts in KB 2910626 to monitor if there are any ongoing issues in your environment (most definitely prior to closing your General Ledger year). This will ensure the data between AA and General Ledger stays in sync if you are doing any financial reporting from AA tables.

When should the Year End Close for Analytical Accounting be done?

Since there is no separate process to close AA, we recommend that you run through the following KB articles before closing the General Ledger year:

• KB 960356 - The Year End Close procedures for Analytical Accounting in Microsoft Dynamics GP.
• If you are using Management Reporter (MR) for your reporting, you should also run through KB 2910626 -Financial Reports from Management Reporter do not match the General Ledger Trial Balance Reports in Microsoft Dynamics GP.     

Note:  If you have any of the scripts saved locally in the past from these KB articles, be sure to re-download the scripts again so you have the most up to date versions of these scripts.  

What does the General Ledger year end close process do and/or affect in Analytical Accounting?

The General Ledger Year-End close process will affect the following in the AA tables:

• Moves AA data from open tables (AAG30000-AAG30003) to the history tables (AAG40000-AAG40003)
• Creates Balance Brought Forward (BBF) entries in the AAG30000 series tables
• Consolidates balances and ties AA codes to the BBF entries for the AA dimensions that were marked to be included in the year-end close

What steps should I take to have AA included in the General Ledger Year-end close and BBF entries created in AA?

In order to have AA codes tied to your beginning balances created by the General Ledger year-end close, you must first verify that the following options are selected:

1. In the Analytical Accounting Options window (Microsoft Dynamics GP >> Tools >> Setup >> Company >> Analytical Accounting >> Options), mark the checkbox for ‘Include dimensions in the year end close’ and click OK.
2. In the Transaction Dimension Maintenance window (Cards >> Financial >> Analytical Accounting >> Transaction Dimension), select the AA dimension code you want a balance carried forward for, and mark the checkbox for ‘Consolidate balances during Year End close’ and click Save.  Do this for each Transaction Dimension you wish to have linked to the beginning balance entries create by the General Ledger year-end close process.

Key points to remember:

• Follow the steps in KB 960356 titled “The Year-End close procedures for Analytical Accounting in Microsoft Dynamics GP”.  This KB includes steps and SQL scripts to make sure the AA data matches General Ledger data.  It also has steps to verify that the AA dimensions that you wish to be consolidated during the year-end close process are properly marked to create BBF entries, and steps on how to move data to history.  You should determine if your reporting tool uses AA tables or not.  Data Mart with Management Reporter now reads from AA tables, so it is more important than ever to make sure your AA data matches General Ledger data.
• With the release of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015, the user can determine the data that is available to the Microsoft Dynamics Management Reporter Data Mart to help improve the performance and give the user control over the data selected.  Note that the Data Mart CU10 and up does have the option to report with or without AA data. 
• Make sure the General Ledger year-end close is performed at a workstation that has AA installed and activated, and that users know not to disable AA if they receive any messages.  Restore to the backup immediately, and make a screen print of the AA error message if assistance is needed with the General Ledger year-end close process.    

Where can I ask questions or get more assistance for Analytical Accounting Year End Close?

• Microsoft Dynamics GP Blog
• Microsoft Dynamics Community  
• Microsoft Dynamics Support
• Microsoft Dynamics Analytical Accounting Documentation

Assistance with year-end close issues directly related to Analytical Accounting should be logged under the categories below to ensure you reach the correct Support team:  (Please include a detailed description of the issue and a screen print of any error messages received.)

   --Support Topic Selection:   Financial – Analytical Accounting

   ---Sub-topic Selection:         Other

Resources:

• The year-end close procedures for Analytical Accounting in Microsoft Dynamics GP can be found in KB 960356.
• The scripts to use to verify that your AA data matches General Ledger data before you close the General Ledger year can be found in KB 2910626.

Year-End Close Resources:

Be sure to refer to the 2021 Year-End Blog Schedule to review current and upcoming blog posts and other helpful resource links related to Year-End Closing for Dynamics GP.

I hope this is helpful and that you have a successful Year-End!!  If you have any feedback or suggestions, please let us know. 

Have a wonderful Year-End!!!

Andrea Melroe | Sr. Technical Advisor | Microsoft Dynamics GP