Double Entry Accounting Process

In this article I will discuss the proper procedures to follow when using the double entry accounting process

. In accounting we generally record transactions involving two parties. We have transactions with external parties such as customers, creditors, or financial institutions. In addition to external parties we also have internal transactions. These transactions involve exchanges between divisions within a company or payments to employees.

You first begin the accounting process by analyzing the source documents. For example, let's say you are on a business trip and you purchase food or pay for a hotel. When you make the purchase you receive a receipt. If you want the company to reimburse you for the meal and hotel expense you must present evidence of your expenditure. This evidence takes the form of the source document, which is your receipt. After identifying a business transaction, we record it in a journal in chronological order by date of occurrence. At the end of the accounting period, usually at the end of a month, the transactions in a journal are posted to a ledger account. This is a systematic process of transferring information from the journal to the ledger. The ledger groups transactions by the accounts impacted. For example, all transactions that result in an increase or decrease in the cash account will be posted to the cash ledger account. Finally, after all transactions have been posted, then we prepare a trial balance. The purpose for the trial balance is to make sure that all information is transferred correctly and is correct.

We all know the following basic accounting equation is assets = liability + equity. If we look at the expanded accounting equation equity is broken down into four parts; common stock, less dividends, plus revenues, and less expenses. We should also be familiar with T-accounts which are used to represent a general ledger account. The left side of the T-account is called the debit side and the right side of the T-account is called the credit side.

Let us now establish the mathematics of the double entry system. Equity and liability accounts have the opposite sign of asset accounts. This is because liability accounts were moved to the left side of the equation, the equation would read assets liabilities = equity. Therefore, a debit to an asset account will increase the account while a credit decreases the asset account. The remaining math is easy because liability and equity accounts have the opposite sign of asset accounts therefore, a debit to a liability or equity means a decrease and a credit means an increase.

In the expanded accounting formula equity is common stock, less dividends, plus revenues, and less expenses. Revenues increase equity so it should be recorded like a common stock account. A credit is an increase in revenues and a debit is an increase in expenses. Hence, common stock and revenue accounts are both increased with a credit and decreased with a debit. Since expense and dividend accounts have opposite signs, they are increased with a debit and decreased with a credit.

Let us apply the procedures to follow in using the double entry accounting process with an example. Let's say on November 1st a shareholder invest ten thousand dollars to start a company called Star Bright. After reading the previous steps you should know that the cash account and the common stock account should increase. Therefore, we debit/increase the cash account for ten thousand and we credit/increase the common stock account. Your double entry should look like the following:

Cash $10,000

Common Stock 10,000

Our books are in balance because total assets are equal to total liabilities plus equity. Let us look at a second transaction. Star Bright buys office supplies for seventeen thousand five hundred dollars in cash. In doing so Star Bright exchanged one asset, cash, for another asset, supplies. The cash account will decrease but the supply account will increase. In this example, you should increase the supply account with a debit and decrease cash account with a credit. The double entry should look like the following:

Supply $17,500

Cash 17,500

I hope you have a better understanding of the double entry process. Basic terminology and the basic accounting equation are the foundation of accounting and should be mastered in order to further improve your knowledge in any accounting field.

Double Entry Accounting Process

By: Juan Magana

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