Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, v. 05 (of 10)American School of Correspondence
General
Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, v. 05 (of 10)
American School of Correspondence
Accounting; Business; Commerce
=7. Proving the Work.= Since but one side of each journal entry is
posted, the two sides of the ledger will not agree as in double entry.
Hence a trial balance is, strictly speaking, impossible. The only
absolutely sure method of checking the accuracy of a single account in
the ledger is to carefully check all postings; this is also true of
double entry. But it is possible to prove that the correct totals have
been posted in single entry, as it is in double entry. Since the ledger
is never in balance as in double entry, the proof is not found by
comparing the two sides of the ledger, but by comparing the difference
between the two sides of the ledger, with the difference between debits
and credits in the columns of books of original entry from which
postings have been made. If the difference between debits and credits in
the ledger agrees with the difference between debits and credits in the
books of original entry, the work may be assumed to be correct.
To prove the work, first find the balances of all ledger accounts and
enter the amounts in the debit and credit columns on journal paper—as
for a trial balance. Foot and find the difference between the two
columns. Next foot the order book, day book, cash book, or any other
books from which posting is done, and list the totals which should be
posted to debit and credit of ledger accounts. Foot and find the
difference.
SAMPLE TRANSACTIONS
=8.= For the first demonstration of single entry bookkeeping, we have
selected a small retail business, using transactions which have been
used to illustrate a double entry set. This set is kept in the most
simple manner possible, the books used being journal, cash book, and
ledger.
The business is opened by Wm. Webster on the 21st day of November, 190-.
He is to conduct a retail grocery business and has rented a store from
Wm. Bristol at a monthly rental of $30.00. His resources consist of
cash, $600.00; a stock of groceries, $946.50; personal accounts due him
as follows: Henry Norton $25.00, L. B. Jenkins $22.70. His liabilities
consist of two accounts, as follows: Brewster & Co., $115.20; Warsaw
Milling Co., $64.00. The opening entry recording the above, is made in
the journal as in double entry, but only personal items are posted. Cash
is transferred to the cash book.
[Illustration:
CUTTING OFF DEPARTMENT IN THE PLANT OF THE UNION TWIST DRILL CO.,
ATHOL, MASS.
]
—Nov. 21—
Sold to Henry Norton on account
10# sugar 5½¢ $.55
2 cans corn .25
1 can peas .15
3# rice .30
-----
1.25
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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