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The accruals account template reconciles the accruals value in your trial balance to the underlying detail — the amounts accrued for. This article explains how to enter or import that detail, how the frequency calculation works, and how the reconciliation resolves. It is relevant for anyone preparing an accruals reconciliation in Silverfin.

Table of contents 

How do I get started?

Get the relevant accruals information from the client's bookkeeping system, then either:

  • Option 1 – enter the data manually into the template, or
  • Option 2 – upload an extract from the underlying system.

There is no preference — use whichever suits you.

How do I enter the data manually?

The accrued amount is calculated from the current period end date relative to the Period from and Period to dates and the invoice amount.

  1. Pull in the relevant nominal accounts using the # functionality.
  2. Set the Frequency (D/M column):
    • D — Days: the invoice amount is spread by the fraction of days in scope up to the period end, over the total number of days.
    • M — Months: the amount is spread by whole months. Silverfin calculates months as the number of days ÷ 30.4167, rounded. For example, 10/11/2020 to 09/11/2021 is a 12-month span and counts as 12 months. (Files whose period end date is before 31 March 2022 use the older month-counting method.)
    • If enabled by an Admin, a Fractions option (F) also appears, letting you enter the fraction directly.
  3. Enter the Period from date.
  4. Enter the Period to date.
  5. Enter the total invoice amount.
The "Days" option gives the most accurate result.

The Invoice number, Invoice date and Description columns are optional (unless the invoice date configuration below is applied).

How does the invoice date logic work?

This option is available to Admins only. By default, the invoice date does not affect the accrued amount if it falls within the period. To make the invoice date drive the calculation, an Admin adds invoice_date_logic = true to the Accruals account template configuration.

This applies to all client files with accruals and may change previously reconciled workings, so warn users first.

How do I upload an extract from Excel?

  • Give every column a header.
  • Don't use thousands separators — enter 15000.00, not 15,000.00.
  • You still drag in the relevant account with the # functionality.
  • Select the frequency after import.

To import:

  1. Click Actions → Import reconciliation data.
  2. Select Upload Excel file and map your columns to the fields available in Silverfin.

How does the reconciliation work?

If the accruals are correct, the recalculated amount reconciles to the book value and the account shows the green dot. Any residual can be entered under Explanation of differences, which is added to the sum of the Accrued amount column.

How do I copy the data to the next period?

When you move to the next period, use Copy Data to roll the prior-period detail forward; you then only add new accruals.

How do I preview the proposed journal?

Tick Show journal summary to preview the proposed journal. If it isn't showing, contact support to enable it.