AERIS/400 Documentation - Accounts Receivable

The Accounts Receivable system was designed to support many small business environments. It provides the tools to manage outstanding payables, to control credit granted, and to improve cash flow. Integration with other applications improve reporting while minimizing data entry. Features of the AERIS/400 Accounts Receivable system include:

On line entry of invoices, adjustments, and credit notes. Distribution to any number of General Ledger Accounts. Automatic Invoice Numbering option. Generation of General Ledger transactions. Automatic calculation of Due Dates, based on the Customer and Invoice Type. Accepts invoices from Billing and Order Entry applications. Full Cash Receipt control through batched entry of receipts. Partial Payments are supported. Payment on Account is supported. EDI support for Direct Deposit. Open Item Accounting On line Inquiry of the Invoice History Complete history kept until you decide to unload it.	Full set of management and audit reports. All listings sequenced by Customer Name. Mailing labels in several formats. Interface to the General Ledger allows activity in overlapping periods. Custom format for statements. On Demand Statements from the Customer Review. Multi-company and multi-divisional operation. Exchange processing for multiple foreign currencies. Year 2000 compliant.

Open Item Processing

The processing of the Accounts Receivable system focuses on a register of outstanding invoices. Outstanding invoices include invoices that did not zero balance at the end of last month, and new invoices created this month. In addition to the invoice record which contains original and current status data, sub-entries are recorded for each payment and adjustment to the invoice. These sub-entries remain on file with the invoice until the end of the month in which the invoice reaches a zero balance position. The invoices are recorded and managed this way whether the statements are issued in open item or balance forward format.

Payment history is complete only for the current month. At the end of the month all the records for invoices that are zero balanced are dropped. Historical analysis of sales is better handled in Sales Analysis/Order Entry. There is no provision for analysis of payment history.

Invoice Entry

The Accounts Receivable system is intended to be operated primarily on-line. Invoices and adjustments are applied as they are entered into the computer. Invoices and adjustments are recorded as they happen instead of being collected into batches that are applied as a group. This results in up-to-the-minute completeness for inquiries of customer status.

A daily invoice list is available to provide printed documentation of invoices entered. This report can serve as a form of batch reporting of input. Because the report is produced after the invoices are applied any errors discovered on it must be corrected through invoice adjustments. Billing or invoicing sub-ledger systems assemble data, then produce a series of invoices in one operation. These invoices are applied to the Accounts Receivable as a group. This approach is effectively a method for batch entry of invoices to the Accounts Receivable system. The basic information for an invoice is the invoice number and amount. The amount must be distributed to at least one G/L account. It can be apportioned to many accounts. The invoices that are input on-line must be distributed as they are input because the invoice detail is not being captured simultaneously. The G/L distribution is recorded on the A/R transaction file of current activities separate from permanent invoice records.

New invoices are assumed to default their service charge status from the customer. They are initially assigned to the current period with the original amount being the amount due. The invoice date which may differ from the current date is not used in aging. The due date is calculated based on the invoice date, invoice type, and supplier parameters. Aging begins with the first month-end after the due date.

A credit invoice may represent a general adjustment to the customer account or a payment received without instructions for allocation. These must be recorded immediately in order to reflect the correct customer balance. A credit invoice remains in the system until it is zero balanced by distribution to other unpaid invoices. A credit invoice is not subject to periodic aging. A separate function is used to force or suspend the calculation of service charges for individual invoices.

Receipts - payments

Receipts are assembled in batches and edited before actually being applied to the invoices. The payment batch is stored and listed by customer name, cheque or deposit number, and invoice number.

To allow for off-line receipt entry and partial receipt entry, the process now incorporates all input edits into the Receipt Edit Report. The receipts can not be posted until the Receipt Edit Report is completely error-free. This is controlled by running the Receipt Edit Report as the first step of the Post function, with printing suppressed.

Customer Selection

Using this method, receipts are selected by invoice from the list of outstanding invoices for the customer. After the customer is selected,enter the overall receipt data - date, amount, cheque number. Then a list of outstanding invoices appears. A cheque or deposit number should be entered before making the selection of invoices to be paid. The full amount can be paid or the invoice can be ignored. A partial payment requires an amount be entered with the selection code. There is no limit to the number of invoices that can be paid at one time in the payment process. The order of display is by invoice number for a selected customer. A credit note is effectively an invoice with a negative amount.

Particular Invoices

Operationally this method is similar to the customer selection. After the customer is selected, the user is prompted for the cheque number, check amount and the payment date. Next the invoice number and amount are entered. The invoice can only be entered once for the check selected. F10 will then temporarily save the payment and display all the receipts made with the check. From the list of receipts screen, the Enter key will prompt for another payment and the F10 key will save to disk all the receipts listed.

Receipts on Account

In cases of pre-receipts and lump sum receipts received without instructions for allocations a special process is necessary. The amount must be recorded immediately in order to effect the true customer balance and to complete the cash control report. The Receipts on Account function meets these objectives by:

generating a credit invoice, and
adding a memo to the receipts for cash control.

The input is very similar to that of a regular invoice even to the extent that the amount can be designated G/L accounts if required.

Other Cash Receipts

The purpose of this function is to provide a means of recording all cash receipts through Accounts Receivable for cash control purposes. This function operates by creating a temporary invoice for distribution purposes then immediately generating the payment for the invoice.

Because all invoices must be assigned to a customer, it may be necessary to set up a special customer number to handle the over-the-counter cash receipts from irregular customers.

Adjust Receipts

You may remove an invoice from the selections or change the amount of the payment anytime after the selection has been made and before it has been posted.

Receipt Edit Report

The Receipt Edit Report shows all receipts selected since the last posting. The report totals indicate the cash received in this deposit. The amounts shown are conditional and therefore are not reflected in outstanding amounts for the invoices as yet. The outstanding amount of the invoice is only updated when the selected receipts are posted.

The Receipt Edit Report also applies all the input edits and notes any errors. If errors are found, an error return code is sent at the end of the job so subsequent steps, like the post, can be bypassed.

Delete All Receipts

In the event that the payment selections have serious errors, this function is available to wipe out the entire selection and restart the selection process.

Posting Receipts

When you have completed your invoice selection and you are satisfied with the data on the Payment Edit List, you post the selected receipts. This process updates the amount due on the selected invoices. The posting occurs in cheque number sequence within a given posting run.

Aging

As invoices are entered they are assigned to the current aging period. Although the invoice date is recorded it is not used in invoice aging. Due dates are generated at the time the invoice is entered and may be adjusted later. The due date defines when the invoice moves from current to being overdue (30 day column). The due date is calculated from the invoice date and parameters associated with the invoice type. The due date may be specified as:

a number of days after the invoice date
a specific month and day of the year
a specific month and day of the year if the invoice is before a cut-off date
a combination of the above

At the end of each period, or month, the invoices are moved up one aging period. Aging periods are viewed as covering 30 days in reporting. Freeing the aging from calendar constraints simplifies operations considerably. Aging reports stabilize so that period totals are meaningful and can be used for controls. Management can also choose to delay posting an invoice a few days into a later period, without confusing things by entering an artificial invoice date.

In addition, the aging period is independent of the run date. This allows month-ends to be rescheduled for practical reasons without complicating the operating environment.

Service Charges

Service charges are an accepted approach for encouraging prompt payment of invoices. The Accounts Receivable system provides three levels of control of service charge calculation. At the system level, service charge calculation is defined through the monthly rate, the minimum balance, and the minimum amount. The minimum amount is applied at the overall customer level. The net of all invoices, including credit invoices, which qualify for service charges must exceed the defined minimum balance before a service charge is calculated.

The calculated service charge is recorded as one separate service charge invoice dated at the month-end, no matter how many invoices were outstanding. Each customer is classified by Account Type as to whether they qualify for service charges. All invoices for a customer default to this qualification. Once an invoice is entered it can be forced to be either specifically free of service charges or forced to have service charges. This override can be applied to all types of invoice.

Statements

Statements can be produced in either open item or balance forward format. In the open item format each invoice is shown along with all receipts and adjustments. Service charges are recorded on a special invoice type. In the balance forward format only the invoices occurring in the current month are detailed. A total of receipts received is shown, as well as a total of service charges which includes all adjustments.

The statement form consists of three parts. The left-most part is an abbreviated form of the body of the statement which is your copy of the statement. The other two parts are sent to the customer. The right-most part is returned with the customer payment. It contains a list of invoice numbers and amounts and a column to check off those being paid. The center section is the customer copy showing the needed information on each invoice. It also contains the standard message and the service charge description if any. The return address appears on all three sections. Month-end aging summaries appear on the bottom of the left two sections. Up to three lines of standard message can appear on all the invoices printed during a run.

The return address for statements is stored in a special Customer record. The key to this record is based on the Territory that the customer is assigned. This feature can be used to direct receipts to different collection centers based on Territory. The implementation is such that an address record need only be created for the highest Territory code in a series using the same return address.

Month End - The Cutoff Date

The entry of invoice, adjustments, and receipts is an ongoing process that should not be subject to functional constraints if the data in the computer is to reflect the current business position accurately. Month end processing, on the other hand, is a review procedure that attempts to give an accurate picture of the business at a specific time -- the end of the last day of the month.

To reconcile these two objectives every activity record is given an effective date. This allows invoices to be entered several calendar days late and still appear in the correct reporting month at month end. When the month end preparation is run, the month ending date is entered. The reports include every activity in the system with an effective date on or before this date. Those dated later are ignored. This type of cutoff is particularly important when selecting transactions to journalize to the General Ledger for a given reporting period.

The first step of the process is to prepare the system for final month end completion. This step begins with the calculation of monthly service charges. A series of reports are produced which are used by management to confirm the integrity of the data at month end. If any errors or omissions are discovered, the application can be restored to the pre-month end position, corrections be made, and the preparation repeated.

Completion of the month end begins with close off reports, statements of account, and preparation of the transactions for the General Ledger. It ends by performing the aging calculations, cleaning up the data base, and producing opening reports for the new month.

The General Ledger transactions are generated into a hold area file. They remain there until the General Ledger is ready to receive them. The transactions are then released to a new batch in the General Ledger assembly area. The General Ledger system then takes over responsibility for them.

Credit Administration

Overview

Credit Administration is an optional subsystem to the Accounts Receivable. The role of Credit Administration is to give the user on-line support to administer credit follow-up activities. The service is based on a memo log. Each memo is identified with an Accounts Receivable customer and the date on which the memo is to be actioned. Several memos can have the same Action Date.

A memo has a fixed format consisting basically of a title and twelve lines of body. The originator and the creation date are noted. For follow-up the current status is recorded along with the date it came into effect and which user made the status change. An audit trail of status changes is not maintained for individual memos.

Reviewing Customer Records

The basic Accounts Receivable system provides a function to view all the outstanding invoices for a customer. In Credit Administration this function is expanded to mesh with the memo functions to simplify support for the Credit Administrator while he has the customer on the phone.

Follow Up

Memos are logged by Action Date for each customer. When the Credit Administration wants to review a customer situation he can print all the memos for the customer as a hard copy reference, or scan them on the screen. To help organize the follow up schedule all memos with action dates in a selected range can be printed in customer number sequence.

Status and Purging

The Status code can be used to highlight the progress of follow up on a particular memo. When a memo is created the status is set to A. When the memo is completed and no longer of value the status is set to Z. At the next purging the memo will be deleted from the file. All memos must pass through the purge function before they are removed from the system. All other values of the status code can be assigned to meet the needs of the individual Credit Administrator.

When the status of a memo is changed, the date and the operator id are also needed.

Alpha Search - To find Customer Ids

When a Customer number is not known this function is provides an on-line mechanism for obtaining it without having to leave the current function. The alpha search works as follows:

Press Cmd 2 to obtain a list of the customers from the Customer Masters displayed in alphabetical order.
Press enter to see the next page of customers.
Enter the number corresponding to the desired customer at the prompt and press Cmd 9. The Customer Id number will be displayed in the appropriate field on the screen.
Press enter and the customer name will be displayed below it.
As an alternative, enter the customer name in whole or in part at the prompt and press enter. The customer should be displayed at or near the top of the screen.

NOTE:

If Cmd 9 is pressed and no number is specified at the prompt, the customer id for the customer displayed at the top of the screen is displayed.

Currency And Exchange

The Accounts Receivable system handles exchange processing for offshore customers. The face value of the invoice is recorded in the Accounts Receivable system. Distributions to the General Ledger are done in standard currency-- Canadian dollars. Exchange is calculated at the time the invoice is entered into the system and when receipts are posted. The exchange is applied to an exchange clearing account in the General Ledger. Only one exchange clearing account is supported.

The standard implementation of exchange accounting works as follows:

When an invoice is recorded, the income account is credited in Canadian dollars, accounts receivable is debited in face value dollars, the exchange is credited to exchange clearing in Canadian dollars, and;
When a payment is received, accounts receivable is credited in face value dollars, the bank is debited in face value dollars and the exchange clearing account is debited in Canadian dollars.

Currency Exchange is handled by many of the sub-ledgers to the General Ledger in order for the sub-ledger to operate in face value of currencies and report to the General Ledger in standard value-usually Canadian Dollars. Exchange rates vary between currencies on a daily basis. (Any variations within a day are inconsequential).

A common exchange handling method is used in all sub-ledger applications. It is supported by a single Exchange Rate file. The Exchange Rate file is assigned to a suitable database for regular backup. e .g. Payables if activity has them being backed up daily. For independence of operation a standard update program is implemented in each application. A procedure links each program to the common Exchange Rate file.

A standard subroutine module is copied into each program that needs to calculate exchange. The subroutine is passed the currency code and the effective date of the transaction. It then returns the buy or sell exchange rate in effect on that day. If you are not entering the exchange rate on currencies every day, so in the event that an exchange rate was not entered for the exact date given the subroutine returns the exchange rate for the most recent date preceding the effective date. In the case that no exchange rate is available the default value of 1.0 is returned.

The exchange rate is precise to 7 decimal places and can handle up to 1,000,000 times unit conversion.

Invoice Entry

To enter standard invoices into Accounts Receivable. In fact, any type of invoice, like credits, can be done this way.

Data Entry

Customer ID - If the customer ID exists on the Customer Master the customer name is displayed. If the customer ID does not exist, an error message is displayed. Use the alpha search or list key if the customer ID is not known.
Invoice Number - The invoice number must be unique for this customer. If it already exists as an Outstanding Invoice, an error message is displayed. Cmd5 asks the system to assign the invoice number as one higher than the highest invoice number already existing in the Outstanding Invoices.
Invoice Date - The effective date for the invoice. This governs the aging reports. It is also used to define the Due Date. It also controls when the distributions are applied to the General Ledger.
Invoice Amount - The total face value of the invoice. It is given in the currency of the invoice, which is not necessarily the same as the base units of the General Ledger.
Invoice Type - A code to identify the particular invoice type. It can also define how the Due Date is calculated.
Reference - A short description of the purpose of the invoice.
Distribution Code - A series of distributions can be entered. If the distribution code is found on the General Ledger Chart of Accounts the account name is displayed. Otherwise, it is rejected.
Distribution Amount - Each distribution code is accompanied by an amount. Any amount is acceptable. The net total of all the distributions must agree with the invoice amount. When the total of all the distributions agrees with the invoice the entire invoice is stored.

Receipt Entry

To prepare receipts for accounts receivable invoices. Receipt Entry is a multiple-phase function consisting of:

customer selection
lists for reviewing the receipts
changes to the selections for payment
posting of the receipts.

Receipt Entry by Customer Selection

To select accounts receivable invoices for payment individually, by customer.

Data Entry

Customer I. D. - The customer name will appear if the correct customer ID is found. If not an error message is shown. Use the alpha search or list key if the customer ID is not known. The Amount Due is displayed followed by Invoices.
Receipt Date - This is the first entry.
Receipts - Key in the total amount of the payment in the form 123.45. Field exit.
Cheque Number - No edit is performed on this field. Enter the cheque number, credit voucher number, or payment document ID.
Invoice List. Enter one of beside the invoice:
- Y - to pay the invoice
- N - to not pay the invoice
- A - to pay all the remaining invoices on the screen
- P - to pay part of the invoice. Enter the amount to be paid as well.
- E - leave all the remaining invoices unpaid.

To confirm the selected payment, press enter. When the payment entry is complete the screen will display an OK to process message which then entry can be applied, or an error message if fields were entered incorrectly.

Selected Invoice List

To list all of the invoices selected for payment. The list is in customer name sequence. Verify Receipt control copies to this list.

Data Entry

None. The list is put on the job queue immediately.

Adjust Receipts

To alter data in the invoice selection. You can change the amount to be paid on any selected invoice or you may delete any of the selected invoices.

Data Entry

Customer ID - The customer name will appear if the customer is found. If not, the message Invalid Customer will be displayed.
Invoice Number - Cheque Number, if it is a manual cheque. The invoice data is displayed if the payment is found, otherwise the message Invalid Invoice is displayed.
New Amount - The amount must be less than the amount due or the message Invalid Amount will appear.

Reject All Selections

To get rid of all selections made to date and start again.

Data Entry

None. The deletion job is put on the job queue immediately.

Post Receipts

Updates the outstanding amounts on the associated invoices.

Data Entry

None. The posting is put on the job queue immediately.

Adjustment Entry

To record adjustments applied to receivable invoices.

Data Entry

Adjustment Date.
Customer ID - If record is found the customer name is displayed. If not an error message is shown. Use the alpha search if customer number is not known.
Adjustment or Discount. Enter one of:
- A - adjustment
- D - discount
- S - service charge.
The message Enter Correct Field will appear if anything else is entered.
Invoice Number - Must be a registered invoice for this customer. If not the message Invoice Not Found will appear.
G/L account - Must be on the G/L Master. If it is, the account name is displayed. If not, the message G/L Account Not On File appears.
Amount - The amount is added to the present amount to give the new amount. The amount may be signed if the invoice amount is to be reduced.
Reference - Journal voucher ID. OK to update.
- Y - accepts the data and returns to step
- N - returns to step 2 but does not clear the screen

Invoice Interest Override

To cause an invoice to be either:

subject to service charge, or
free of service charge no matter what other conditions may indicate. It is also used to change the invoice type, the due date, and other parameters.

Data Entry

Customer Number - It must be on the Customer Master, or else an error message is shown. If valid, name and address information is displayed.
Invoice Number - It must be a registered invoice for this customer. The current invoice characteristics are displayed.
Force Interest
- I - service charge must be calculated for this invoice
- N - no service charge is to be calculated for this invoice
Invoice Date - The effective date of the invoice can be changed. This does not affect the date on associated G/L distributions.
Due Date - Overrides the calculated due date.
Aging - The invoice can be forced to appear in a particular aging column.

Review Customer Account

To review the invoices registered to a customer account.

Selection

Customer ID. - Customer ID must be on the Customer Master or else an error message is shown. Otherwise, the customer's name and telephone number are displayed. Use list function if customer number is not known. Anything else and the message Invalid Entry will appear.

Invoice Details

A list of invoices and related transactions appears. If more than 1 screen of etries is available, you can page through the list.

Function Keys

F9	Display summary Aging Analysis based on the Invoice Date.
F17	List invoices for all customers with this Customer key as the Bill-to address. This is used for large customers, like Chevron, who have several branches as customers.
F21	Show the Ship-to data for each invoice.

Month End Processing

The month end functions are on a separate menu.

Back Up

The Accounts Receivable data base should be backed up to diskette before beginning month end processing.

Prepare the Month End

Calculates the service charges and prints analysis reports. If corrections are necessary, the Accounts Receivable data base must be restored from back up before this procedure is rerun.

Data Entry

Back up
- Y - Yes, continue
- N - No, stop immediately
Service Charge Date - The effective date of the service charge invoice. It is also the month end cutoff date.

Complete The Month End

Prints the statements and other final reports. The General Ledger transactions for the month are moved to a hold area. Then the month end rollover is done which includes aging the invoices. Closed invoices are purged and outstanding invoices are aged. Finally, the opening reports for the new month are produced. There is no input required by this procedure.

Contra Accounting

The Contra Accounting functions automate the netting out of invoices between Payables and Receivables. This is implemented in both Receivables and Payables. It is best to start from the side with the lesser outstanding amount. The edits insist that everything be balanced before the transactions are recorded, so the starting side is only important when you want to clear one side and do not know how much is outstanding.

General Table entry GL-CA defines the Contra Account in the General Ledger. This entry appears in both applications. Each side of the contra entry process generates a journal to this account for each invoice affected. These journals are generated during the Post function of the regular payment process in each application.When a contra has been completely processed the journals net out to zero.

Although the entry programs are modelled on the Payment and Receipt Entry programs, do not generalize the screens to serve both purposes. The Payment and Receipt Edit programs are used directly in a combined edit function. The posting process for contras is very basic in Receivables. However, backing up two databases in one function could make a combined posting function confusing for the user. Therefore separate posts are used and are presented in both applications.

Contra processing uses the same work files as payments and receipts. In theory the two forms of pay transaction could be processed together. However the post programs do not differentiate and would generate invalid journals. It is left to the user to insure that this does not happen.

Reports

Customer Lists

Lists displaying basic customer information are available in several sequences. The selection criteria used are dependent on the report selection.

Selection Criteria

Discount Level - Between 0 and 5. Enter blank if all Customers are to be listed.
Range of Customer Numbers - Enter first and last Customer Number. F4 lists all Customers.
Location and Territory - Enter first and last Location and Territory. If only locations are entered, all territories in the first and last locations are listed as well as all those in between.

Labels

Print mailing labels for Accounts Receivable customers.

Selection Criteria

Range of Customer Numbers. If the TO field is LEFT blank the FROM field is automatically passed to it.

Detail Accounts Receivable

Print the detailed Accounts Receivable report showing aging, interest and total due by customer. The report shows receipts received and adjustments made. The basic sequence is by Customer Name. An alternate sequence by Location and Territory is available.

Selection Criteria

Discount Level. - Enter a code between 0 and 5 for one discount level to print. Enter a blank for all customers to be listed. Anything else will cause the message Enter Correct Field to be displayed.

Accounts Receivable Summary

Print the aged Accounts Receivable Summary report. The basic sequence is by Customer Name. An alternate sequence is available by Location and Territory.

Selection Criteria

Discount Level. - Enter a code between 0 and 5 for one discount level to print. Enter a blank for all customers to be listed. Anything else will cause the message Enter Correct Field to be displayed.

General Ledger Journals

Prints a detail journal showing adjustments, discounts, invoices, receipts and other journal entries to the General Ledger from the Accounts Receivable system. The basic sequence is by transaction type. An alternate sequence by G/L Account is also available.

Selection Criteria

Report Ending Date. - The last effective date to appear on the report.

Credit Administration - Proposed

Add a Memo

To create a new memo for a customer. This function may be used independently, or as a sub-function to the Review Accounts.

Setup

Customer Id - The customer to whom the memo is addressed.
Action Date - The date on which action is to be taken on the memo. The selected combination must not already exist on the memo log.

Data Entry

Title - Brief description of the purpose of the memo.
Originator - Who authorized the memo. This could be different from who entered it.
Creation Date - When the memo was written.
Status - Usually A
Status Date - Date the status came into effect.
Update - User id of person entering the memo.
Body - 12 lines of 75 characters.

Most entries are duplicated when the add is repeated for several memos.

Customer Update

To add a customer or change descriptions of customers.

Selection Criteria

Customer ID - If the customer Id is on the Customer Master the action is a change, otherwise it is treated as an addition. Use the list function if customer number is not known.

Data Entry

Address - This is the address for whom the work was done
Billing Address - This is the address of where the billing will be mailed to.
Contact - Person who is responsible for payment. Use format first name, last name.
Telephone - Phone number of Company
Credit Limit - The user can assign a credit limit by customer. The customer's outstanding balance should not be allowed to exceed this amount. The outstanding balance is displayed on the screen also but cannot be updated here. O/S orders which have not yet been invoiced are also displayed but cannot be updated here.
Customer Type - Classifies accounts for service charge calculations:
Statements
Service Charge
- I - Service charge applicable.
- C, L, N - Service charge is not applied.
Currency Code
Discount Code - Classifies customers for report selection. May also be used to control discount calculations.
Provincial Tax
Federal Tax
Federal Tax License Number
Company
Group
Division
Territory
Location
Status

Application Tables

These application tables are AERIS General Tables for this application. They are supported using the utility programs for the tables assigned to this application. The Application Code for Receivables is "R". The tables used in Receivables include:

A - Adjustment Types. Types that have programmed functions include:
- A - Adjustment
- D - Discount
- K - Contra transactions
- P - Payments
BK - Bank Accounts
CT - Customer Types
DS - Discount Codes
FN - Field Names
G - GST Invoice Type
GL - G/L Default Accounts
I - Invoice Types
PR - Provinces
SL - Selection on Lists
ST - Status
SV - Service Charge

Update Tables

The utility Update for General Tables is used to maintain these tables.

Print Tables

The utility Table Print for General Tables is used to print these tables.

Exchange Rates

Normally the buy and sell exchange rates are recorded each working day. Transactions use the appropriate rate for the effective date of the transaction. If there is no exchange rate defined for that date, the rate for the nearest preceding date is used. For an exchange rate to be completely defined it must have a description as well as rates. If the description is missing some functions will not accept the currency code.

Update

To define a currency code and its exchange rates.

Selection

The normal selection is to update exchange rates for which the parameters are:

Currency Code
Effective Date
Cmd5 activates the description update for which the selection parameter is only the Currency Code.

Data

For Exchange Rates:

Buy Rate - A fourteen digit number with seven place decimal accuracy. It represents how many of the currency units can be purchased with one Canadian dollar.
Sell Rate - A fourteen digit number with seven-place decimal accuracy. It represents how many Canadian dollars can be purchased with one unit of the currency.
Description - 30-character name of the currency.

List

Print a complete list of all exchange rates on record.

Purge

Delete all records up to a selected date.

Selection

End Date of the Purge. All exchange rates dated on or before this date are removed from the record.

Data

None

Customer Cleanup

From time to time it is necessary to purge inactive or defunct customers in order for the customer list to be an effective control. The cleanup is a multi-step process to insure that no valuable information is lost.

Identify Purgeable Customers

This function is similar to the Customer Update. You select the customer and the information is displayed in the same format used in the Customer Update. This information can not be updated though. A Status is displayed at the same time for updating. Put '*' in the Status for customers to be purged. The customer is not deleted immediately. Customers with activity cannot be Purged!

Select a Customer by Identifier: Enter a nine character numeric code which uniquely identifies the customer to be purged.
- OR -
Select a Customer Via Alpha Search: F4> to select the Alpha search option. In the Continue from area Key the Alpha character that the customer's name starts with and Press Enter. This will result with a list of Customers with that Alpha Character to be Displayed. Continue Pressing Enter until you see the customer that you want to select. Key the two digit code associated with the Customer next to the Cmd 9 display and Press _____ to display the Customer information screen with the Customer Id., encoded for you.

Update the Customers Status Code:

Asterisk (*) to identify the customer for Purge.
Blank ( ) to reactivate the Customer, will Not be Purged.

List Purgeable Customers

This is a list of all customers that have been given the delete status code of '*', identifying them as purgeable.

Remove Purgeable Customers

This Option allows the user to physically remove the purgeable customers from the Customer Master File. Any Customers with a STATUS Code of * are eliminated from the file.

System Control

From time to time you may find that you may have to change the Accounts Receivable Control parameters as defined. This is accommodated with the following functions provided.

Update Systems Parameters

This Option allows the user to Update the Accounts Receivable Systems control parameters. These parameters identify Company information, G/L Accounts specific to A/R, and General control information for the System.

Field Number to Change - Two Digit Numeric code identifying field to alter Discount Levels. The discount levels assigned here are used within the Customer Master and Invoices to indicate the level of discount that the Customers qualify for.
Service Charge Information
- Monthly Rate - Percent to charge Customers on Overdue Invoices.
- Minimum Balance - The minimum Balance to charge Interest on.
- Minimum Amount - The Minimum Amount that will be charged for Service Charges.
Exchange Rate - The Rate of Exchange to apply to U.S. Invoice/Receipts to bring them to Canadian Dollar Values.

G/L Account Definitions

Accounts Receivable Account - the Account within the General Ledger assigned as the A/R Clearing Account.
Canadian Bank Account - the Account within the General Ledger assigned to record receipts made in Canadian Currency.
Service Charge Account - is the Account within the General Ledger assigned to record Service Charges Income to.
U.S. Bank (Exchange Bank) Account - the Account within the General Ledger assigned to record receipts in non Canadian Funds. IE: U.S. Funds
A/R Exchange Account - the Account within the General Ledger assigned to capture the Exchange portion of Invoice or Invoice Adjustment Entries.
Cash Exchange Account - Account within the General Ledger assigned to capture the Exchange portion of Receipt Entries.
Default Distribution Account - The Account within the General Ledger assigned as the Default Account for Invoice Distribution. IE: Revenue Account
Statement Type - A one Character Code assigned to indicate what type of Statements to produce.
- O - Open Item Statements
- B - Balance Forward Statements

Company Control Information

Company Name - 30 Character Descriptor Identifying the Company A/R is for. This Name will appear on all Reporting within the A/R System.
Page Length - 2 Character Number Identifying Lines to print per page for Reporting.
Date Format - 1 Character code Identifying the Date Format being used for entry.
- Y - Year/Month/Day
- M - Month/Day/Year (NOTE: this option is not active yet)
- D - Day/Month/Year
Screen Format - 1 Character Code indicating a Varying format for G/L Account Entry.
- L - Territory code can be Alphanumeric
Position Cursor control for G/L Account Entry - This allows the user to assign the default element of the General Ledger Account to position the cursor on.

Creating Files

Work files are used at times in the application - often when preparing reports. With basic AS/400 security logical files can not be created by regular users because the *PUBLIC only has change authority. To give the proper users the authority they need to create logical files an Authorization List is created for the application, e.g. RCVCLERK. It contains all Receivables users giving them *ALL object authority. The Authorization List is then attached to each file that the users could create logical files from. At this time these files include:

Customer Masters
Invoice Headers
Invoice Details
Interim Receipt Headers
Interim Receipt Details

When a new user is being set up for Receivables, their name is added to the Authorization List and they get authority to create all work files in the application. When a user no longer works in Receivables. their name is deleted from the Authorization List.

Table Of Contents

Accounts Receivable Highlights

Dictionary Of Terms

Procedures And Facilities

Open Item Processing

Invoice Entry

Invoice Adjustments

Receipts - payments

Customer Selection

Particular Invoices

Receipts on Account

Other Cash Receipts

Adjust Receipts

Receipt Edit Report

Delete All Receipts

Posting Receipts

Aging

Service Charges

Statements

Month End - The Cutoff Date

Credit Administration

Overview

Reviewing Customer Records

Follow Up

Status and Purging

Alpha Search - To find Customer Ids

NOTE:

Currency And Exchange

Regular Functions

Invoice Entry

Data Entry

Receipt Entry

Receipt Entry by Customer Selection

Data Entry

Selected Invoice List

Data Entry

Adjust Receipts

Data Entry

Reject All Selections

Data Entry

Post Receipts

Data Entry

Adjustment Entry

Data Entry

Invoice Interest Override

Data Entry

Review Customer Account

Selection

Invoice Details

Function Keys

Month End Processing

Back Up

Prepare the Month End

Data Entry

Complete The Month End

Transfer To G/L

Contra Accounting

Reports

Customer Lists

Selection Criteria

Labels

Selection Criteria

Detail Accounts Receivable

Selection Criteria

Accounts Receivable Summary

Selection Criteria

General Ledger Journals

Selection Criteria

Credit Administration - Proposed

Add a Memo

Setup

Data Entry

Maintenance Functions