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2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

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Posted on by 2,432

Hi All, 

I have 2 COAs that belong to 2 separate legal entities.  Can I use 1 Account Structure for both legal entities?  The account ranges in the Account Structure do cover all the accounts in both legal entities.  Thanks so much!

  • Verified answer
    Ludwig Reinhard Profile Picture
    Ludwig Reinhard Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    Hi Kim,

    Please test that and let us know if it worked.

    If things are fine, let's complete this case by verifying the answers.

    Alternatively, please continue posting issues.

    Many thanks and best regards,

    Ludwig

  • lmai Profile Picture
    lmai 2,432 on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    Ok.  Thanks, Ludwig.

  • Suggested answer
    Ludwig Reinhard Profile Picture
    Ludwig Reinhard Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    Hi Kim,

    The easiest thing might be having a single CoA and a single account structure.

    If there are some accounts that are not supposed to be used in legal entity 2 then you can suspend them for usage in entity 2 by making a legal entity override in the CoA.

    Have you tried doing that?

    Best regards,

    Ludwig

  • lmai Profile Picture
    lmai 2,432 on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    Thanks, Ludwig, for your response.  

    No, I was thinking to use one Accounting Structure for both legal entities, but I wasn't sure if there is any disadvantage(s).  There are some accounts in legal entity 1 but not in legal entity 2 and vice versa.  Both legal entities have the same digits.

  • Suggested answer
    Ludwig Reinhard Profile Picture
    Ludwig Reinhard Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    Good morning Kim,

    Apart from the maintenance consideration that Ramit mentioned, can you explain why you would need two separate Chart of Accounts?

    Why don't you simply use one?

    Are there any specific business reasons behind for having two?

    Best regards,

    Ludwig

  • Ramit Paul Profile Picture
    Ramit Paul 22,313 Most Valuable Professional on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    Hi Kim,

    If you are using two different COA, this means you have different name, range of Main account?

    If not, I am okay to have your approach without any hesitation.

    But, if you are using different set of name, range of main accounts, this means, you need to setup your account structure with both the COA having in your mind.

    And if this is the case, in future if you want to change something for COA company A, that time you need to make sure, you are not messing up anything related to COA company B.

  • lmai Profile Picture
    lmai 2,432 on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    Hi Ramit,

    We may correct, change/update the Account Structure in the future.  We don't know that.  

    Could you please give me a few examples of what you mean by "bit heavy task to work"?  I wouldn't want to set up a system that is inflexible for future changes.  

    If I use the same Account Structure but save it in a different name.  Attached the Account Structure A to Company A and Account Structure B to company B, although the 2 Account Structures are ultimately the same structure.  

  • Suggested answer
    Ramit Paul Profile Picture
    Ramit Paul 22,313 Most Valuable Professional on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    I meant for Maintenance is- in future you will need to correct, change,  update Structure, then it will be bit heavy task to work.

    But from tech point of view and design point of view, you can go ahead.

  • lmai Profile Picture
    lmai 2,432 on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    Thanks, Ramit, for your response.  

    1.  What do you mean by maintenance? do you mean to add or suspend accounts?  

    2.  If the control/restricted use of the financial dimension is the same for both companies, I don't think there is a need to create two separate Account Structures. Thoughts?

  • Suggested answer
    Ramit Paul Profile Picture
    Ramit Paul 22,313 Most Valuable Professional on at
    RE: 2 COA, 1 Account Structure. Is there a disadvantage?

    There is only one disadvantage from the maintainence point of view.

    When you want change or amend something, you need to be very careful.

    Also,

    if is in scope, you can use two structure for, but if not possible, you need to make a good test plan to start using the same for users.

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