The Consolidation Panel

Basic Navigation Tips

• Additional learning material can be found by selecting Training from Help Resources in the user icon/username section in the application.

• Online Help (OLH) and Community – For additional resources, use the OLH and Community options available.

Consolidation Control Panel

Purpose

This reference guide provides instructions on how to use and navigate the Consolidation Control Panel. The panel centralizes all consolidation activities in one location.

How to Use the Consolidation Control Panel

The Consolidation Panel supports many types of entries for different business needs and is organized within a central pane. Entries populate based on selections in the Control Panel Header and Processes pane.

Key Areas:

1. Control Panel Header – Select the Scenario, Period, and Entity (Company) to which consolidation entries will be posted.
   Note: Consolidation may be run on any scenario.

2. Processes pane – Lists all consolidation process tasks available based on the user’s access. Select a process to display previously generated entries in the center pane, along with a process‑specific toolbar to create or modify entries.

3. Administration pane –
   • Consolidation Setup: Define data intersections and map accounts that will be populated during the consolidation process.
   • Security: Assign process access and company access to users.

4. Center/List pane – Populates and displays entries based on the selected consolidation process.

5. Actions pane –
   I. Entry Actions: Shows workflow steps associated with the entry selected in the Center/List pane.
   II. Process Approval: Allows marking the consolidation process complete for all entries for the specified period.
   III. Reports: Displays reports related to the selected consolidation process.

Important: Consolidation processes cannot be posted to locked periods.

Consolidation Processes Pane Overview

Purpose

Quick instructions on navigating the Consolidation Processes Pane, which lists all consolidation tasks a user can perform on a selected entity based on security settings.

Processes Pane

The Processes Pane allows users to perform various consolidation processes that ensure the correct posting of financial information to the database.

• Consolidation Process – Completes the workflow for consolidating multiple entities within a group. It can be run by the application or customized to suit organizational needs. Consolidations may be processed for one month or several months at a time within a selected year.

• Standard Journals – One of four journal types; used for one‑time adjustments for a specific period. Examples: Acquisitions, Dispositions, Capital Assets, Inventory.

• Recurring Journals – Used to post entries for multiple periods where amounts do not fluctuate from period to period. Examples: Monthly Depreciation, Amortization.

• Dynamic Journals – Used to post entries with fluctuating amounts from one period to another. Example: Income Tax Accruals.

• Non‑Controlling Interest – Describes the relationship between a parent company and a subsidiary, the related accounts, and Dynamic Journal entries used in adjusting the investment in the subsidiary. Examples: Joint Ventures, Minority Interest relationships.

• Reclassifications – Used to correct posting errors against a segment intersection in the database. Example: An incorrect amount posted to a general ledger account.

• Eliminations – Elimination sets comprise “Due to” and “Due from” accounts that make up inter‑company balances and cancel the accounting effect of transactions between entities within a group. Example: Eliminating a sale from Subsidiary A to Subsidiary B in the Intercompany dimension.

• Validations – User‑defined checkpoints to test the appropriateness of posted financial information. Example: Ensure an allocations GL account balance is zero before running the Consolidation Process.

Workflow and Approval Steps

Purpose

Instructions on Consolidation Entry Actions and Process Approvals workflows that allow administrators to control the lifecycle of journal entries and the overall consolidation process.

How to Use Consolidation Entry Actions

The Entry Actions workflow is an ordered path journal entries follow to ensure accurate review before posting to the database. Available actions depend on the Consolidation Process and the specific journal entry selected.

1. In Process – Status applied when a journal entry is added but not yet forwarded for review. Select In Process to edit a rejected, sent back, or unposted entry.

2. Forward – Submit the entry to the approving user/manager for review.

3. Reject – Refuse the journal entry. To edit a rejected journal, select it and click In Process.
   Note: A rejected journal entry is unavailable for approval.

4. Send Back – Return a journal entry to In Process to make required changes.
   Notes:
   • Available only when the entry is in Pending Review or Approved state.
   • After revising the entry, forward it again to continue the workflow.

5. Approve – After the appropriate review, mark the entry ready to be posted.

6. Post – Submit the journal entry to the database.

7. Unpost – Reverse a Post action. After a successful Unpost, In Process becomes available again in the Entry Actions pane.

Final Note: All journal entries must be Posted to be included in the final step of the Consolidation Process.