--- title: 11 Features of General Ledger Accounting in SAP S/4HANA description: Dive into 11 key features of the Universal Journal and general ledger accounting in SAP S/4HANA, including in-memory processing, extensibility, and consolidation. image: https://blog.sap-press.com/hubfs/11%20Features%20of%20General%20Ledger%20Accounting%20in%20SAP%20S4HANA.png --- [![rheinwerk-sappress-logo-header-1](https://blog.sap-press.com/hubfs/rheinwerk-sappress-logo-header-1.svg)](https://blog.sap-press.com/) [Blog](https://blog.sap-press.com) - Books - Get an overview of our books and courses on every relevant SAP topic. - [Programming](https://sap-press.com/programming/) - [Administration](https://sap-press.com/administration/) - [BI](https://sap-press.com/business-intelligence/) - [Finance](https://sap-press.com/finance-controlling/) - [Logistics](https://sap-press.com/logistics/) - [HR](https://sap-press.com/human-resources/) - [CRM & Sales](https://sap-press.com/marketing-sales/) - [HANA](https://sap-press.com/hana/) - [Introductions](https://sap-press.com/introductions/) - [E-Bites](https://sap-press.com/e-bites/) - [Certification Guides](https://www.sap-press.com/certification-guides/) - [Rheinwerk Courses](https://www.sap-press.com/online-courses/) - Book Subscription - Get unlimited access to all SAP PRESS books! - [SAP PRESS Subscription](https://sap-press.com/subscriptions/) [FICO](https://blog.sap-press.com/tag/fico) # 11 Features of General Ledger Accounting in SAP S/4HANA ![SAP PRESS](https://blog.sap-press.com/hubfs/Twitter_profile_pic.svg) by [SAP PRESS](https://blog.sap-press.com/author/sap-press) SAP S/4HANA general ledger accounting offers several new features. Let’s look at 11 of them.   With the [Universal Journal](https://blog.sap-press.com/sap-s/4hana-finance-innovations-part-3-the-universal-journal) (table ACDOCA), SAP has delivered a complete financial and management accounting solution as a standard solution. Business transactions, captured in hundreds of dimensions and fields, are now stored in the Universal Journal.   The key features of general ledger accounting include the following.   ## Single Source of Truth The Universal Journal now serves as the single source of truth because it combines other SAP components, such as controlling, fixed assets, profitability analysis, and the material ledger.   ## [SAP HANA](https://learning.sap-press.com/sap-hana) and Big Data With its in-memory database, SAP has eliminated unnecessary redundancy and avoids the need for aggregation performed on the fly. Instead, by using predefined aggregate tables, the general ledger enables real-time reporting capabilities with large datasets. Additional month-end reconciliation is eliminated as a result of this design, which enables automatic reconciliation. [SAP S/4HANA](https://learning.sap-press.com/sap-s4hana) provides drilldown capabilities and navigation paths so you can source documents in a fraction of a second. Moreover, SAP has optimized the Universal Journal table to handle big data, so you don’t have to worry about large volumes of data.   ## 360-Degree View Due to real-time integration with other SAP components, SAP offers numerous SAP Fiori apps for viewing all accounting activities using key performance indicators (KPIs) and cards.   ## Extensibility SAP S/4HANA offers extensibility features so you can add custom fields to the Universal Journal.   ## Extension Ledgers SAP has introduced an extension ledger capability to enhance the standard general ledger. Extension ledgers can provide an internal management view (in contrast to views for external users), with simple configuration. Extension ledgers inherit from their underlying ledgers.   ## Parallel Accounting The Universal Journal supports parallel accounting using parallel ledgers. SAP recommends the parallel ledger approach to meet certain accounting requirements.   ## Multicurrency Support The Universal Journal now supports additional new parallel currencies.   ## Consolidation Real-time consolidation is now possible with the unified data model using detailed documents from the Universal Journal (table ACDOCA), consolidated postings (table ACDOCC), and virtual providers in [SAP Business Warehouse](https://learning.sap-press.com/sap-data-management#SAP-Business-Warehouse) (SAP BW).   ## Simulation Before period-end close, you can simulate data before posting.   ## Prediction Accounting Using extension ledgers, users can now perform prediction accounting, for example, for considering incoming sales orders.   ## Plan Data Plan and actual comparison reports, through analytical [SAP Fiori](https://learning.sap-press.com/sap-fiori) apps, can now read from the Universal Journal (table ACDOCA) and the planning table (table ACDOCP) and display this information to users.   The figure below shows the features of the Universal Journal in the general ledger in SAP.   ![Features of the Universal Journal](https://blog.sap-press.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2364_01_008.png?width=650&height=562&name=2364_01_008.png) We strongly recommend reviewing the following SAP Notes to learn about all the new features offered in SAP S/4HANA general ledger accounting: - SAP Note 2842890 FAQ SAP S/4HANA Finance - SAP Note 2428741 Universal Journal FAQ ## Learn SAP Financial Accounting in Our Rheinwerk Course! Financial accounting is more than just money in, money out! Get the experts’ view on finance operations in SAP S/4HANA. During this four-day course, connect essential FI functionality to its underlying configuration and see how the pros get the most out of their systems. Click on the banner below to learn more and order your ticket.   [![blog_courses_046_essential_fi_on_demand](https://blog.sap-press.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog_courses_046_essential_fi_on_demand.png?width=600&height=200&name=blog_courses_046_essential_fi_on_demand.png)](https://www.sap-press.com/online-courses/essential-fi-financial-accounting-in-sap-s4hana/)   Editor’s note: This post has been adapted from a section of the book *[General Ledger Accounting with SAP S/4HANA](https://www.sap-press.com/general-ledger-accounting-with-sap-s4hana_5630/?utm_source=sappressblog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Blogs&utm_term=2364_chapter1&utm_content=2364)* by Anand Seetharaju and Mayank Sharma. ## Recommendation [![General Ledger Accounting with SAP S/4HANA](https://blog.sap-press.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/2364-Jul-13-2023-01-01-26-6376-PM.jpg?width=170&name=2364-Jul-13-2023-01-01-26-6376-PM.jpg)](https://www.sap-press.com/general-ledger-accounting-with-sap-s4hana_5630/?utm_source=sappressblog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Blogs&utm_term=2364_chapter1&utm_content=2364) **General Ledger Accounting with SAP S/4HANA** The general ledger is the backbone of your financials system. Learn everything you need for configuring and using the general ledger in SAP S/4HANA. Walk step by step through setting up fiscal years, posting periods, parallel ledgers, and more. See routine processes like posting, document control, and year-end closing in action. Whether you’re planning a new implementation or a system conversion, this is your complete guide to general ledger accounting in SAP S/4HANA! [Learn More](https://www.sap-press.com/general-ledger-accounting-with-sap-s4hana_5630/?utm_source=sappressblog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Blogs&utm_term=2364_chapter1&utm_content=2364) ![SAP PRESS](https://blog.sap-press.com/hubfs/Twitter_profile_pic.svg) **by [SAP PRESS](https://blog.sap-press.com/author/sap-press)** SAP PRESS is the world's leading SAP publisher, with books on ABAP, SAP S/4HANA, SAP IBP, intelligent technologies, SAP Business Technology Platform, and more! 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