Chapter

7-1
 CHAPTER 7

ACCOUNTING
INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
Accounting Principles, Eighth Edition
Chapter
7-2
 Study
Study Objectives
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 multi-column
journal.

Chapter
7-3
 Accounting
Accounting Information
Information Systems
Systems

Basic
Basic Concepts
Concepts
of Accounting Subsidiary Special
Special
Information
Information Ledgers
Ledgers Journals
Journals
Systems

Computerized Example Sales journal

accounting Advantages Cash receipts
systems journal
Manual Purchases
accounting journal
systems
Cash payments
journal
Effects of special
journals on
Chapter general journal
7-4
 Basic
Basic Concepts
Concepts of
of AIS
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
Basic Concepts
Concepts of
of AIS
AIS
Cost Effectiveness - Benefits
must outweigh the costs.

Illustration 7-1
Principles of an Useful
efficient and Output
effective AIS.

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
Basic Concepts
Concepts of
of AIS
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
Basic Concepts
Concepts of
of AIS
AIS

Computerized Accounting Systems

Choosing a software package
Entry-Level 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
Basic Concepts
Concepts of
of AIS
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
Subsidiary Ledgers
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
Subsidiary Ledgers
Ledgers
Relationship of general ledger and subsidiary ledgers
Illustration 7-3

Chapter
7-11 LO 2 Describe the nature and purpose of a subsidiary ledger.
 Subsidiary
Subsidiary Ledgers
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
Special Journals
Journals

Used to record similar types of transactions.

Illustration 7-5

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
Special Journals
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
Special Journals
Journals
Sales Journal Illustration 7-6

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
Special Journals
Journals Illustration 7-7

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
Special Journals
Journals Illustration 7-7

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
Special Journals
Journals

Advantages of Sales Journal

One-line 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
Special Journals
Journals
Cash Receipts Journal Illustration 7-9

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 7-9 in the text.

Chapter
7-19 LO 3 Explain how companies use special journals in journalizing.
 Special
Special Journals
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
Special Journals
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
Special Journals
Journals Illustration 7-13

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 multi-column journal.
 Special
Special Journals
Journals Illustration 7-13

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 multi-column journal.
 Special
Special Journals
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
Special Journals
Journals
Cash Payments Journal Illustration 7-16

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 multi-column journal.
 Special
Special Journals
Journals

Review Question
Credit purchases of equipment or supplies other
than merchandise are recorded in the:
a. cash payments journal.
b. cash receipts journal.
c. general journal.
d. purchases journal.

Chapter
7-26 LO 4 Indicate how companies post a multi-column journal.
 Special
Special Journals
Journals

Review Question
Cash payments of merchandise are recorded in
the:
a. cash payments journal.
b. cash receipts journal.
c. general journal.
d. purchases journal.

Chapter
7-27 LO 4 Indicate how companies post a multi-column journal.
 Special
Special Journals
Journals

Effects of Special Journals on the General Journal

Special journals substantially reduce the

number of entries that companies make in the
general journal.

Only transactions that cannot be entered in a

special journal are recorded in the general
journal.

Also, correcting, adjusting, and closing entries

are made in the general journal.
Chapter
7-28 LO 4 Indicate how companies post a multi-column journal.
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Chapter
7-29