SAP Group Reporting, how FS items are set up and how attributes are defined

In SAP Group Reporting, Financial Statement (FS) items represent the accounts used for consolidation. They are the building blocks for your consolidated financial statements. Here's how they are set up and how attributes are defined:

Setting up FS Items

1. Consolidation Chart of Accounts: FS Items are dependent on the Consolidation Chart of Accounts. This chart defines the structure and accounts used in your group reporting.
2. Define FS Items App: You can use this app to create, copy, and modify FS items.
   • Create: Define properties like ID, description, item type (asset, liability, equity, revenue, expense), and the relevant consolidation chart of accounts.
   • Copy: This allows you to easily create a new FS item based on an existing one, saving you time and effort. You can choose to copy time-dependent and version-dependent data as well.
   • Modify: Change existing properties as needed.
3. Mapping to G/L Accounts: One or more General Ledger (G/L) accounts from your subsidiary companies are mapped to each FS Item. This mapping enables the collection of financial data from different sources into a standardized format for consolidation.

Defining FS Item Attributes

Attributes provide additional characteristics to FS items, influencing how they are treated during consolidation. There are two types:

• Time and Version-Independent Attributes: These are permanent attributes. Examples include:
  • Breakdown Category: Allows you to further categorize FS items (e.g., by partner unit, subitem, subitem category).
  • Elimination Attribute: Specifies whether the FS item is relevant for eliminations (e.g., intercompany receivables and payables).
  • Currency Translation Attribute: Determines how the item is translated (e.g., using average rates, closing rates).
• Time and Version-Dependent Attributes: These attributes can change over time and with different versions of your consolidation. A key example is the FS Item Role attribute. This attribute is crucial for defining how specific items are treated in calculations. For example, you can assign roles to determine the calculation of:
  • Annual net income
  • Deferred tax
  • Retained earnings
  • Currency translation differences
  • Rounding differences

Defining Attribute Values

You define attribute values in the "Define FS Item Attribute Values" customizing activity within SAP S/4HANA for Group Reporting. These values reflect groups of FS items with shared characteristics. This allows you to use these attributes for:

• Selections: Easily filter and select specific groups of FS items for reports or analysis.
• Reclassification Rules: Define rules to move amounts between FS items during consolidation.
• Totals Validation Rules: Set up rules to check the accuracy and consistency of your consolidated data.
• Analytics: Analyze your consolidated data based on specific attributes.

Custom FS Item Attributes

SAP Group Reporting allows you to create custom attributes to meet your specific reporting needs. You can define these in the "Custom Fields" app. These custom attributes can be used in the same way as standard attributes, providing greater flexibility in your consolidation process.

By carefully setting up FS items and defining their attributes, you ensure that your consolidated financial statements in SAP Group Reporting are accurate, consistent, and meet your specific reporting requirements.