SAP Press - Cash Accounting and Cash Flow Planning With SAP Liquidity Planner 2005

81

Transcript of SAP Press - Cash Accounting and Cash Flow Planning With SAP Liquidity Planner 2005

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    Cash Accounting and Cash Flow Planning with SAP Liquidity PlannerStephan Kerber, Dirk Warntje

    Content

    Introduction .............................................. 3Structure of the Book ..................................... 3

    Acknowledgments .......................................... 4

    1 Business Overview .................................. 51.1 The Concept of Cash Accounting .......... 5

    1.2 Tasks of Cash Accounting and

    Liquidity Planning ................................. 6

    1.3 Recipients and the Need for

    Information .......................................... 7

    1.4 Financial Accounting and

    Cash Accounting ................................... 8

    1.5 Differences to Cash Management ......... 9

    1.6 Conclusion ........................................... 11

    2 Case Scenario: Implementing Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning .... 132.1 Conclusion ........................................... 15

    3 SAP Liquidity Planner: Liquidity Analysis Using SAP Actual Calculation ................................................. 173.1 Overall Process and System

    Integration ............................................ 17

    3.2 Technical Settings in SAP Actual

    Calculation ........................................... 17

    3.3 SAP Actual Calculation

    (Cash Accounting) ................................ 19

    Data Model and Master Data ............... 19

    FunctionalityOverview ..................... 21

    Customizing SAP Actual Calculation ... 21

    Tools .................................................... 26

    Tables ................................................... 27

    3.4 Cash Accounting Processes ................... 28

    Information Acquisition from

    Assignment Mechanisms ...................... 28

    Information Acquisition from

    Bank Statement Information ................ 29

    Information Acquisition from

    Financial Accounting ............................ 31

    Manual Assignment and Manual

    Transfer Posting ................................... 36

    Analysis Reports ................................... 36

    3.5 Conclusion ........................................... 37

    4 SAP Liquidity Planner: Liquidity Planning and Reporting Using SAP BW/SEM ............................... 394.1 Modeling in SAP BW/SEM .................... 40

    SAP Business Content ......................... 40

    Master Data ......................................... 45

    Characteristics ..................................... 53

    Planning Layout in

    SAP SEM-BPS/BW-BPS ........................ 54

    4.2 The Liquidity Planning Process .............. 63

    4.3 Extracting Actual Data .......................... 64

    4.4 Reporting in SAP BW ............................ 67

    4.5 Conclusion ........................................... 69

    5 Liquidity Planning and Reporting Without SAP BW/SEM .......................... 715.1 Overview .............................................. 71

    5.2 Customizing .......................................... 71

    5.3 Master Data and Actual Data ................ 75

    5.4 Planning ............................................... 76

    5.5 Reporting ............................................. 77

    5.6 Conclusion ........................................... 78

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    Content

    6 Outlook ...................................................... 79

    Appendix .................................................... 81Lee Iacocca and Cash Flow ............................. 81

    Indirect Cash Flow .......................................... 81

    Plug-in ........................................................... 81

    Case Scenario ................................................. 82

    Bibliography .............................................. 83

    Index ........................................................... 85

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    Introduction

    This book is about money. Where does money come

    from and where does it go? Because liquidity is one of the

    critical success factors for a company, it is integral to run-

    ning a business. The most important aspects of liquidity

    are the ability to ensure solvency and generate payment

    surpluses. In this context, companies constantly try to an-

    alyze and plan their cash ow. Unfortunately, established

    applications such as Accounting or Cash Management

    dont provide the necessary information on cash ow re-

    quired by companies; however, SAP Liquidity Planner af-

    fords you with the much needed relief in this area, as

    shown by its rst implementations in both nationally and

    internationally operating companies. The complex re-

    quirements placed on a retrograde liquidity analysis, a

    decentral planning tool, and an efcient reporting were

    met by the use of SAP Liquidity Planner.

    SAP Liquidity Planner is a component that consists of

    two applications: Cash Accounting (SAP R/3) and Liquid-

    ity Planning (prior to Release 3.5, it was part of SAP Stra-

    tegic Enterprise Management (SAP SEM), from SAP Busi-

    ness Information Warehouse (SAP BW) Release 3.5 on-

    wards, it has been included in BW). Cash accounting

    determines the cash ow either based on an electronic

    bank statement or data from nancial accounting. Liquid-

    ity planning is carried out using the planning functionality

    in SAP BW. Reporting is performed by SAP BW.

    In the past, this component was part of Corporate Fi-

    nance Management (CFM), and since the introduction of

    mySAP Enterprise Resource Planning (mySAP ERP) in 2004,

    it has been located in the Cash Management and Liquid-

    ity Management area as part of Financial Supply Chain

    Management (FSCM).

    This SAP Press Essentials book outlines the concepts of

    cash accounting and liquidity planning, as well as the re-

    sulting requirements that a business software must be

    able to meet. In this book, the authors demonstrate how

    you can meet these requirements using SAP Liquidity

    Planner and also, how you can implement this product.

    Readers of this book should have a sound knowledge of

    the accounting application in SAP R/3 as well as SAP BW

    and SAP SEM.

    Structure of the Book

    Chapter 1 outlines the business principles and provides

    clear denitions of the terms used in the context of cash

    accounting and liquidity planning. In addition, the con-

    cept of cash accounting is introduced, along with a de-

    scription of its interdependencies with accounting. In the

    nal sections of this chapter, we clearly distinguish SAP

    Liquidity Planner from SAP Cash Management.

    Chapter 2 describes a case study that is referred to and

    further developed throughout the book. We use this ex-

    ample to help you understand the functionality and the

    technical concept of SAP Liquidity Planner, but it should

    also serve as an aide to you in implementing this compo-

    nent.

    Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 contain a detailed description

    of SAP Liquidity Planner. They provide an insightful intro-

    duction to the two main areas of the product: Chapter 3

    describes Cash Accounting (SAP R/3), while Chapter 4

    deals with Liquidity Planning (SAP BW). In both chapters,

    you will also nd detailed information on customizing

    and the various functions of the application. Wherever

    necessary, the case scenario is referred to, enhanced, and

    completed.

    Chapter 5 describes a workaround for simplied liquid-

    ity planning and reporting in SAP R/3 without using SAP

    BW.

    Chapter 6 addresses possible developments and future

    requirements of SAP Liquidity Planner. The Appendix con-

    tains additional information.

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    Introduction

    Acknowledgments

    SAP is a registered trademark of SAP AG, Dietmar-Hopp-

    Allee 16, D-69190 Walldorf. We would like to thank

    SAP AG for its permission to use the trademark and the

    materials provided in this book. Note that SAP AG, how-

    ever, is not the publisher of this book nor is it responsible

    for the contents of this book.

    We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our

    colleague Robert Bieber who supported us with numer-

    ous tips and invaluable information.

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    1 Business Overview

    In this chapter, we will rst dene and differentiate cash

    accounting and liquidity planning. This is a rather impor-

    tant step in understanding these concepts as they are of-

    ten used in a multitude of ways. Next, well describe the

    tasks performed by cash accounting and liquidity plan-

    ning. Because cash accounting and general accounting

    are inherently interrelated, we should point out their in-

    terrelationships. Lastly, well describe the differences be-

    tween cash accounting and SAP Cash Management.

    1.1 The Concept of Cash Accounting

    In business literature, youll nd countless discussions

    about the concept of cash accounting and its denition. In

    these discussions, youll also encounter the following

    terms: cash budget management, ow-of-funds analysis,

    and cash ow statement, as well as cash ow accounting.

    Cash accounting records the changes of cash ows, cash

    ows being incoming and outgoing payments of liquid

    funds such as cash in hand and bank savings.

    In accordance with national and international account-

    ing standards such as FASB and IAS, we will use the term

    cash ow in this book to describe the changes in the

    means of payment. Liquidity is therefore referred to as a

    nancial accounting-related concept. Within a certain

    period, cash accounting records transactions that have a

    direct inuence on the stock of liquid funds, regardless of

    the period the payments refer to (see Geuppert 2003,

    p. 8). This type of recording and displaying of cash ows

    can be compared to scal accounting, which is used in

    the public sector.

    Therefore, cash accounting distinguishes itself from ac-

    crual accounting and cost accounting. Figure 1.1 illustrates

    Incoming/Outgoing Payments

    Expenditure/Revenue

    Expense/Profit

    Costs/Benefits

    Cost and Activity Accounting

    Data Source(SAP)

    CashAccounting

    Accounting

    Controlling

    Cash Accounting

    Profit and Loss StatementCash Basis Accounting

    Figure 1.1 Cash Accounting in the Context of General Accounting (according to Baetge 1992, pp. 3)

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    1 Business Overview

    the basic differences between the various types of ac-

    counting.

    In addition, it is now apparent that in business theory,

    cash accounting always refers to several periods. This

    concept is generally adopted by SAP Liquidity Planner.

    Because the SAP Liquidity Planner component consists of

    two applications (see Section 3.1), the rst application,

    SAP Actual Calculation, refers to past and current peri-

    ods, while the other application, SAP Liquidity Planning

    (SAP BW/SEM), considers future periods.

    Cash Accounting Liquidity Planning

    past futurecurrentperiod

    t

    Retrograde Determination Reciprocal Determination

    Figure 1.2 Time-Based Delimitation of Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning

    1.2 Tasks of Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning

    The primary task of cash accounting is to provide infor-

    mation on a companys solvency and internal nancing

    potential. Apart from that, it serves as a basis for the cre-

    ation of ow-of-funds analyses and plannings. Compared

    to the balance sheet and the prot and loss statement,

    cash accounting enables you to better assess the nancial

    situation of a company.

    The ability to generate sufcient liquid funds from its

    business activities and to secure these funds in future pe-

    riods is one of the prerequisites for a company to survive

    (static aspect) (Amen 1999, p. 4). Cash accounting sup-

    ports a company in evaluating its solvency status as well

    as its insolvency risk.

    The comparison of prot and cash ow of the W. T.

    Grant company, as shown in Figure 1.3, demonstrates the

    importance of analyzing and determining the cash ow

    situation. Even though the Grant company was protable

    up until one year before its insolvency, it wasnt able to

    meet its payment obligations. However, cash ow had al-

    ready been negative in earlier years.

    Figure 1.3 Comparison of Prot and Cash Flow at W. T. Grant (Source: Largay/Stickney 1980, pp. 15)

    The reason for such a discrepancy can be found in the dif-

    ferent ways in which information is analyzed by account-

    ing. For example, discrepancies can occur due to an in-

    creased stocking up of a warehouse, an expansion strat-

    egy that requires high investments, or by a bad overall

    economic situation during which extended terms of pay-

    ment are granted.

    A classic example that personies this state of affairs,

    and is therefore frequently cited, is the situation at Chrys-

    ler Corporation at the end of the 1970s when Lee Iacocca

    assumed the position of CEO. At that time, Chrysler had

    a high stock of automobiles, compounded by a low de-

    mand for these vehicles. The cash ow situation was very

    critical (see also the section in the Appendix, Lee Iacocca

    and Cash Flow, or Iacocca 1984, pp. 200).

    These two examples (i.e., W. T. Grant and Chrysler)

    clearly show that in order to evaluate the degree of sol-

    vency, cash ow is a far better indicator than the prot of

    a company.

    Usually a companys external nancing potential, for

    example, by acquiring external capital, is rather limited.

    Due to the size of the company or its current situation

    (for example, high debt-equity ratio), external nancing

    can become increasingly difcult. For this reason, the in-

    ternal nancing potential plays an increasingly important

    role within the range of different nancing possibilities

    for a company (dynamic aspect) (Amen 1999, p. 4).

    Internal nancing potential means that a company can

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    1.3 Recipients and the Need for Information

    generate more revenue than expenditures from its activi-

    ties. This potential is also referred to as internal nancing

    strength. If a company can continuously build up liquid-

    ity, in addition to conducting its regular business activity,

    this surplus is called strategic liquidity.

    To obtain universally valid and comparable informa-

    tion on the degree of solvency of a company, the internal

    nancing potential and the overall nancial situation, na-

    tional and international accounting principles require

    ow-of-funds analyses or cash ow statements as proce-

    dures and display formats. Here a distinction is made be-

    tween indirect and direct procedures. In this book we

    will only describe the direct procedure since cash ac-

    counting doesnt support the indirect procedure. There-

    fore, direct procedure will be a critical part of this book.

    You can nd an example of the indirect procedure, which

    is supported by accounting (SAP FI), in the Indirect Cash

    Flow section in the Appendix of this book.

    According to national and international regulations,

    the ow-of-funds analysis can be divided into three ar-

    eas: Cash ow from operating activities Cash ow from investing activities Cash ow from nancing activities

    According to IAS 7, the basic structure of a ow-of-funds

    analysis could look as follows (Ktting/Weber 2001, pp.

    467): Cash ow from operating activities

    + Incoming payments from customers

    Outgoing payments to suppliers

    = Cash ow from operating activities (1) Cash ow from investing activities

    + Incoming payments from asset retirements

    Outgoing payments for asset acquisitions

    + Incoming payments from nancial asset retirements

    Outgoing payments for investments in nancial

    assets

    = Cash ow from investing activities (2) Cash ow from nancing activities

    + Incoming payments from equity allocations

    Outgoing payments to company shareholders

    + Incoming payments from borrowings

    Outgoing payments for loans

    = Cash ow from nancing activities (3)

    The total of the three areas represents the total cash ow

    of the company. The cash ow statement is an essential

    part of quarterly and annual reports since it meets the in-

    formation needs of various recipients (see Section 1.3).

    1.3 Recipients and the Need for Information

    According to the Financial Accounting Standards Board

    (FASB), the major recipients of cash accounting informa-

    tion that is contained in a cash ow statement are the fol-

    lowing groups (FASB 1978, para. 25): Investors, lenders, suppliers, employees

    To investors, lenders, suppliers, and employees, a busi-

    ness enterprise is a source of cash in the form of divi-

    dends or interests , repayment of borrowing, pay-

    ment for goods or services, or salaries or wages. They

    invest cash, goods, or services expect to obtain suf-

    cient cash in return Customers

    To customers, a business enterprise is a source of goods

    or service, but only by obtaining sufcient cash to pay for

    the resources it usesand to meet its other obligations

    can the enterprise provide those goods or services. Management

    To managers, the cash ows of a business enterprise are

    a signicant part of their management responsibilities,

    including their accountability to directors and owners.

    Figure 1.4 illustrates the major important relationships

    between a company and its business partners in terms of

    activities and liquidity.

    Due to the different kinds of business relationships,

    each of the involved parties has a specic need for infor-

    mation with regard to cash accounting. The following list

    contains the most important items (Geuppert 2003, pp.

    10, and FASB 1978, para. 24): For management

    Ensuring solvency by optimizing cash ow based

    on short-term and long-term liquidity planning Determining the internal nancing potential,

    building up strategic liquidity, and determining re-

    quirements for external nancing Determining nancing requirements for planned

    investments and integration in cash accounting

    and liquidity planning

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    1 Business Overview

    Ensuring creditworthiness, particularly with regard

    to the requirements of rating agencies For investors and lenders (equity providers and pro-

    viders of external capital)

    Assessing the ability to pay dividends, interest, and

    amortization For suppliers

    Evaluating the creditworthiness and solvency and

    forecasting the payment behavior based on these

    evaluations For employees

    Evaluating the creditworthiness, solvency, and future

    existence of the company For customers

    Assessing the delivery reliability and the consistency

    of conditions

    The different recipientsand therefore varying informa-

    tion needsdemonstrate the importance of cash ac-

    counting and liquidity planning.

    1.4 Financial Accounting and Cash Accounting

    The data source (see Figure 1.1) for cash accounting is the

    posting material in nancial accounting. In nancial ac-

    counting, cash accounts, balance sheet accounts, and

    prot and loss accounts (P&L accounts) are interrelated;

    therefore, we can also speak of a threefold accounting

    system. This account-based integration1, as shown in Ta-

    ble 1.1, enables you to determine the cash ow required

    in cash accounting.

    Chart of accounts

    Cash accounts Balance sheet accounts

    P&L accounts

    Cash accounting Balance sheet Prot and loss statement

    Reve-nues

    Expen-ditures

    Assets (without liquid funds)

    Liabili-ties

    ExpenseProt

    Cash balance P&L account

    Table 1.1 The Three Parts of Accounting

    Investors

    Lenders Suppliers

    Company

    Employees Customers

    Activity Cash Flow

    Investment Dividends and Withdrawals

    Payment of Activity

    Payment of Activity

    Payment of Activity

    Amortization and Interest Payments

    Loan

    Figure 1.4 Cash Inow and Cash Outow from a Companys Perspective (according to Geuppert 2003, p. 10)

    1 Accounting and consequently ERP systems are structured according to the principle of double-entry accounting. A triple-entry accounting sys-tem hasnt been implemented yet.

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    1.5 Differences to Cash Management

    In addition, business transactions related to accounting

    can be classied as affecting net income and not affecting

    net income, and as having an effect on liquidity and having

    no effect on liquidity (Gebhardt 1999, pp. 21). The pay-

    ment of a dividend, for instance, is a transaction that af-

    fects the net income and the liquidity; therefore, it is rel-

    evant for both cash accounting and the prot and loss

    statement. The depreciation of an asset merely affects the

    net income, but not the liquidity. This distinction makes

    it easier to determine the source of funds and their appli-

    cation. Figure 1.5 illustrates the relationships between

    the individual accounts in nancial accounting.

    Here you can see that there are 14 different account

    assignment types available to post business transactions

    in accounting. For each account assignment type, we

    have provided an example (the following numbers corre-

    spond to the posting example used in Figure 1.5):

    1. Cash payment for ofce equipment

    2. Revenue from cash sales

    3. Depreciation of tangible assets

    4. Posting of supplier invoice

    5. Invoicing of an activity

    6. Dissolving of provisions

    7. Revenues from invoices

    8. Borrowing

    9. Payment of supplier invoices

    10. Cash payment for material purchases

    11. Accounting exchange on the assets side

    12. Contribution in kind from shareholders

    13. Clearing of receivables and payables

    14. Accounting exchange on the liabilities side

    It is apparent that the connection between two account

    assignment types demonstrates the source or application

    of funds. This is because the central task of cash account-

    ing is the What for search: What have funds been re-

    ceived or paid for? Lets try to clarify this with another

    example.

    In the accounting department of a company, a sup-

    plier invoice (1) is posted. The posting displayed in Figure

    1.5 affects the net income, but has no effect on liquidity.

    This is further claried by the posting example in Table

    1.2.

    Bank VendorOfce equipment

    $ 100 (2) (2) $ 100 $ 100(1) (1) $ 100

    Table 1.2 Vendor Payment

    Then the open item is paid (2). According to Figure 1.6,

    this transaction has an effect on the liquidity, but not on

    the net income.

    Only when these two postings haven been linked with

    each other can you determine the cash ow according to

    its application. One hundred dollars ($ 100) was used for

    ofce equipment. This posting is a simple example of the

    direct determination of a cash ow.

    1.5 Differences to Cash Management

    In this section, well describe the primary differences

    between Cash Management and Liquidity Planner. SAP

    Cash Management is focused on short-term cash manage-

    Figure 1.5 Accounting-Relevant Linking of Cash Accounts, Balance Sheet Accounts, and P&L Accounts

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    1 Business Overview

    ment, whereas SAP Liquidity Planner considers medium

    to long-term liquidity planning.

    Cash Management provides information on the cur-

    rent bank account status and it contains a liquidity fore-

    cast regarding incoming and outgoing payments from the

    perspective of payments for accounts receivables and for

    accounts payables (or write: payments to customer and

    to vendor). The bank accounts in the general ledger con-

    stitute the data basis for the bank account status. If a

    bank account shows a current status of $ 500, this status

    is displayed in the bank account status in Cash Manage-

    ment. The liquidity forecast uses accounts receivable and

    accounts payable as a basis. It evaluates the open items

    of suppliers and customers, and the terms of payment

    stored with the respective documents, and displays this

    information in the liquidity forecast. A cash ow is not

    determined, because only the open items are evaluated

    and displayed. In addition, the cash ows to be expected

    can be displayed only with regard to specic customers

    and customer groups, or suppliers and supplier groups

    respectively. The only information that can be deter-

    mined is From whom and For whom. What the funds

    are paid for cannot be identied. Conversely, cash ac-

    counting refers to real cash ow and the source and ap-

    plication of funds can be identied. Unlike Cash Manage-

    ment, cash accounting requires all general ledger ac-

    counts that have an effect on liquidity, as described in

    Section 1.4.

    Moreover, cash accounting is part of an overall process

    that consists of cash accounting and liquidity planning,

    which will be described in further detail in Chapters 3

    and 4.

    Table 1.3 contains a list of the most important differ-

    ences:

    Cash Management Cash Accounting

    No consideration of cash ow Real cash ow consideration

    No identication of source and application of funds

    Identication of source and application of funds

    Cash Management Cash Accounting

    Customer Group XCustomer Group Y

    Vendor Group XVendor Group Y

    RevenueLiquid Tangible AssetsOther

    MaterialPersonnelTaxes

    Opening BalanceCash Management and

    Forecast

    Closing Balance Closing Balance

    Revenues Revenues

    Expenditures Expenditures

    Figure 1.6 Distinction Between Cash Management and Cash Accounting

    Table 1.3 Differences Between Cash Management and Cash Accounting

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    1.6 Conclusion

    Cash Management Cash Accounting

    Accounting as the data source, but only bank accounts and subledgers

    All relevant accounts of cash accounting chart of accounts as data source

    Liquidity forecast (based on open items)

    Forecast of revenues and expen-ditures possible (based on open items)

    View: Vendors and customers (groups) and bank account status

    View: Revenue and expenditure items

    No integration in planning process

    Integrated planning process (SAP BW/SEM)

    Table 1.3 Differences Between Cash Management and Cash Accounting (cont.)

    1.6 Conclusion

    In the following chapters, we dene the concepts of

    cash accounting and liquidity planning and introduce

    them in the context of different accounting types.

    Moreover, we describe the group of recipients and

    their need for information regarding cash accounting,

    and we highlight the interdependencies with account-

    ing by clarifying how you can use the information from

    accounting to determine your cash ow situation.

    Finally, we describe the differences between SAP

    Liquidity Planner and SAP Cash Management to out-

    line the tasks performed by SAP Liquidity Planner

    within the FSCM product portfolio.

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    2 Case Scenario: Implementing Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning

    Based on a specic real-life situation that weve encoun-

    tered several times, we will build up a scenario for imple-

    menting SAP Liquidity Planner. In the subsequent chap-

    ters, this case scenario will be further developed in parts.

    This example is used to support your understanding of

    the functionality and the technical concept of SAP

    Liquidity Planner, but it will also serve as an aide in help-

    ing you to implement this component.

    The initial situation looks as follows: Well consider an

    international corporation, the IDES Group, which is struc-

    tured as follows: The corporate headquarters is in Germany. The cen-

    tral departments of corporate accounting and global

    treasury are also located in Germany. Legally independent production sites exist in Ger-

    many and Eastern Europe. The sales and distribution network stretches across

    Europe and the US, with legally independent sales

    companies in the respective countries. Research and development is located at corporate

    headquarters in Germany. IDES uses SAP as its standard business software with

    the currently implemented applications: SAP FI for accounting SAP CO for controlling SAP SD for sales and distribution SAP MM for materials management SAP PP for production

    Concerning ofce applications, IDES uses a standard

    off-the-shelf ofce software.

    The current business situation of the IDES group can be

    described as follows: Existing products have been introduced and distri-

    buted throughout the markets and will continue to

    be distributed at the same high level for the next two

    or three years. However, the company expects a de-

    crease in prices in the long run. This means that the

    revenues from its core business will go down (cash

    inow reduction). At the same time, the company

    forecasts a strong increase in raw material prices and

    rising labor costs at the production sites. This will

    lead to a situation in which the expenditures in pro-

    duction will increase dramatically (increase in cash

    outow). Consequently, net cash ow will be strongly

    reduced in the coming years. Furthermore, company management expects product

    imitations to enter the market in two or three years,

    which could lead to price wars and further aggravate

    the situation. For this scenario, corporate manage-

    ment expects an even stronger reduction of net cash

    ow. In the preceding year, the company acquired a US-

    based competitor in order to strengthen its market

    position abroad. This acquisition was nanced with a

    large bank loan that will be amortized within the next

    10 years. So, for a period of 10 years, there will be

    payments for amortization and interest (increasing

    cash outow).

    Corporate management realizes that a continued pursuit

    of its existing strategy can quickly lead to a negative cash

    ow situation; however, since the company is expected

    to remain sound, the management decides to develop a

    comprehensive strategy that should include the factors

    mentioned above: Future competitors will be met with a product offen-

    sive at an early stage. For this reason, investments

    should be made for the research and development of

    new products. At IDES, the development of a prod-

    uct takes two years. To cover R&D for this period, the

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    2 Case Scenario: Implementing Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning

    company needs liquid funds (cash outow for research

    and development in the coming two years). The existing range of products will be introduced into

    new markets, especially in Asia. For this expansion,

    the company needs additional funds (cash outow for

    expansion to new markets). At the same time, man-

    agement expects additional revenues from selling ex-

    isting products to the new markets (cash inow from

    selling existing products to new markets). The company wants to maintain the production sites

    in Germany. Therefore, corporate management will

    develop new work and production models with its

    personnel, which are intended to reduce costs and

    expenditures (reduction of cash outow in production

    for the coming years). In addition, the company checks whether the existing

    bank loan can be converted into a maturity loan. This

    measure would lead to a reduced cash outow for a

    period of 10 years (reduction of cash outow by re-

    scheduling the existing loan).

    Until now, liquidity planning has been conducted by the

    global treasury department. The policy unit receives

    spreadsheets from the individual subsidiaries and inte-

    grates them into a central liquidity planning document.

    This planning process proves to be too complicated,

    time-consuming, and rigid.

    A cash accounting based on value-date dependent

    documents from SAP FI is not carried out because Cash

    Accounting in SAP Liquidity Planner is currently not be-

    ing used.2 The corporate accounting department merely

    performs an indirect analysis of actual data (indirect cash

    ow statement).

    The company management wants to use a tool that

    can measure (actual data) and plan (planned data) the in-

    dividual cash ows. Based on the new strategy, corporate

    management realizes that a powerful tool is required for

    cash accounting and liquidity planning, but also for con-

    trolling the corporation in general. In addition, the de-

    centralized planning process will become more efcient

    and less time-consuming. Furthermore, it must be possi-

    ble to easily and quickly map the various planning sce-

    narios. The tool should also be used as a central reporting

    platform.

    SAP Liquidity Planner is precisely the tool that meets

    the companys requirements (see also Section 3.1). As

    mentioned in the introduction, SAP Liquidity Planner

    consists of two components: SAP Actual Calculation (cash accounting) SAP BW/SEM (planning application and reporting)

    Cash accounting enables you to identify and evaluate the

    cash ows in the company with regard to their value

    dates. As SAP Actual Calculation accesses the data pro-

    vided by SAP R/3 Accounting (cf. Section 1.4), manage-

    ment can ensure the quality of the actual data because of

    this integration. This data forms the basis for qualied

    plan/actual analyses.

    Since the planning and reporting functions in SAP Li-

    quidity Planner are based on the functionalities of SAP

    BW/SEM, the company can optimize the advantages of

    this product.

    Corporate management benets from using SAP Li-

    quidity Planner in the following ways: Direct determination of cash ows Quality of actual data by integrating SAP R/3 Ac-

    counting Extraction from the SAP R/3 systems into SAP BW Flexible planning functionalities to map different

    planning scenarios in SAP BW/SEM Successful implementation of an efcient corporate-

    wide planning process due to the use of SAP BW/

    SEM as a central planning platform (this is particularly

    efcient for decentrally organized companies) Central reporting tool for all parts of the company Use of SAP BW/SEM for the planning aspects of SAP

    Liquidity Planner; this enables you to establish a rela-

    tionship with other plannings (for example, sales and

    distribution plans, investment plans) and an integra-

    tion with liquidity planning.

    In various implementation projects, weve seen many

    companies struggling to survive with ever-changing mar-

    ket environments, similar to the initial situation described

    above. The companies need reliable and up-to-date in-

    formation, as well as the ability to run through various 2 As already described in Chapter 1, you cannot use the SAP Accounting module to directly determine your cash ow situation.

  • www.sap-press.com 15

    2.1 Conclusion

    planning scenarios. Often, the focus was on improving

    the planning process.

    Our experience has shown that these or similar situa-

    tions, carrying out cash accounting and liquidity planning

    with SAP Liquidity Planner can be very useful. In the re-

    mainder of the book, well describe the functionality of

    SAP Liquidity Planner and how you can implement it.

    In the next two chapters, well only marginally refer to

    the above example and provide a detailed description of

    the technology and functionalities of SAP Liquidity Plan-

    ner.

    When working in Chapters 3 and 4, you should use

    the IDES system provided by SAP with the following

    data: Company code 1000 for IDES AG, company code

    2200 for IDES France, and company code 2600 for

    IDES Italia. Use the international chart of accounts, INT.

    Use the general ledger account, 100000 cash as an

    additional cash account. You should use the information and assignments pro-

    vided in the following table (see Table 2.1).

    2.1 Conclusion

    SAP Liquidity Planner is the ideal tool for analyzing

    and planning cash ows. By using this tool, you can

    identify imminent bankruptcies due to insolvency and

    counteract them with the appropriate measures.

    Liquidity item (LI) Account number

    Summarization item 100000 Cash ow from operating activities ------------

    LI 110000 Revenues from product sales 800002

    LI 120000 Revenues from services sales 800001

    LI 130000 Raw materials 170000

    Summarization item 140000 Personnel ------------

    LI 141000 Payments of wages and salaries 449000 and 430000

    LI 142000 Payments of social insurance contributions 440000

    LI 150000 Payments for rents 471000

    LI 160000 Payments for materials 476100; 476000

    LI 170000 Payments for raw materials 300000

    Summarization item 200000 Cash ow from investing activities ------------

    LI 210000 Expenditures for nancial assets 133000

    LI 220000 Expenditures for tangible assets 11000

    LI 230000 Revenues from enterprise transfers 11000

    LI 240000 Capital gains 133000

    Summarization item 300000 Cash ow from nancing activities ------------

    LI 310000 Revenues from borrowing 62110

    LI 320000 Expenditures for loan amortization 62110

    LI 330000 Revenues from interest 273100

    LI 340000 Expenditures for interest payments 220000

    Table 2.1 Case Scenario: Liquidity Item and Account Numbers

  • www.sap-press.com 85

    Index

    AABAP editor 19

    ABAP report 28

    Account-based integration 8

    Accounting 8, 11

    Accounts receivable and accounts

    payable accounting 26

    Account assignment type 9

    Accrual accounting 5

    Actual account 22, 23

    Actual Calculation 14, 17, 19, 21, 27, 35

    Actual data 14, 41, 64, 75, 76

    Administrator Workbench 41, 64

    Allocating assignments from FI informa-

    tion 22

    Analysis report 36

    Application menu 28

    Application of funds 9

    Assignment 23

    from FI information 24

    mechanism 21, 23, 28

    BBank account 23

    Bank statement 23, 30, 31

    item 29

    Basic InfoCube 44

    Buffer item 35

    Business Area 22

    Business Content 40, 41, 42

    Business transaction code 30

    Business Transaction Events 18

    CCase scenario 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23,

    26, 31, 34, 36, 45, 52, 54, 55, 56, 59

    Cash flow 5, 6, 7, 10

    accounting 5

    statement 5, 7, 81

    Cash account 15

    Cash accounting 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 14, 19,

    22, 28, 75, 79

    Cash Budget Management 5, 71, 72, 75,

    77

    Cash inflow 8, 13

    Cash Management 5, 9, 10

    Cash outflow 8, 13, 14

    Characteristic 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 56, 73

    value 73

    Chart of accounts 8

    Clearing document 21, 28

    Clearing transaction 25

    Commitment item 72, 73, 74, 75, 76

    Communications structure 51, 64

    Company code 19, 72

    Company structure 71, 76

    Consistency check 37

    Corporate accounting 13

    Corporate Finance Management 28

    Cost accounting 5

    Creditworthiness 8

    Crystal Reports 40

    Customizing 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 71

    DDataSource 40

    Data flow 45, 51

    Data model 19, 28, 36

    Data target 40

    Default item 19, 22

    Defining

    actual accounts 21

    query-relevant G/L accounts 22

    query sequences 22, 26

    Deletion process 26

    Determinability 20

    Direct determination 9

    Document chain 21, 24, 31

    Document update 75

    Drilldown report 78

    EElectronic bank statement 21

    Element definition 73

    External capital 6

    Extraction 64, 66

    Extractor 17

    FFinancial accounting 8, 9, 19, 21, 31

    Financial accounting-related liquidity 5

    Financial management area 71, 72

    Financing requirement 7

    Fiscal year variant 72

    FI Document Chains 37

    Flow-of-funds analysis 5, 6, 7

    Flow-of-funds planning 6

    Flow data 26, 27

    FM area 72, 75

    From Bank Statement 23, 30

    From Bank Statement Information 23, 29

    From FI Information 24, 26, 27, 33, 34,

    35, 37

    From Invoices 26, 35

    GG/L account 26, 32

    G/L accounts list 37

    Global treasury 13, 14

    GR/IR clearing account 25

    HHaving an effect on liquidity 9

    Having no effect on liquidity 9

  • 86 Galileo Press 2006. All rights reserved.

    Index

    Hierarchy 52

    House bank 22, 30

    IIAS 5

    IDES 13

    IDES system 15

    Implementing SAP Liquidity Planner 13

    Indirect cash flow statement 14

    InfoCube 43, 44, 48, 52, 66

    InfoObject 40, 43

    InfoProvider 43

    Information System 28, 36, 71

    InfoSource 40, 64, 65

    Insolvency 81

    risk 6

    Installing assignment mechanisms 22

    Internal financing potential 6, 7

    KKey figure 57

    LLayout Builder 54

    Lead column 73

    structure 74

    Line item 28

    Line items table 27, 29, 36

    Liquidity

    analysis 25

    forecast 10

    item 15, 19, 20, 25, 30, 31, 32, 35

    planning 3, 5, 6, 14, 39, 63, 71, 77

    relationship 7

    MManual transfer posting 19

    Master data 19, 45, 46, 47, 49, 75

    Modeling 40

    Multi-planning area 54

    MultiCube 41, 45

    MultiProviders 43

    mySAP ERP 71

    NN:M Treatment 24

    Net cash flow 13

    New Formula 68

    Number range 19, 36

    object 20

    OODS object 43

    Online update 27, 28, 32

    Overall process 21

    PPartial reassignment 24

    Plan/actual

    analysis 14, 20

    comparison 17, 71, 72

    deviation 69

    Planability 20

    Planned data 14

    Planning 76, 79

    area 54, 55, 56, 61, 74

    data 41, 44, 60

    depth 20

    function 54, 55, 61, 76

    functionality 17

    interval 53

    layout 48, 53, 54, 59, 60, 73, 74

    level 55, 56, 57

    package 55, 58, 61

    process 14, 15, 79

    profile 74

    screen 61

    unit 53

    value 74

    workbench 55

    Plan version 74, 75

    Plug-in 17, 81

    Posting data 25

    Posting transaction 31

    Profit 6

    QQuery 32, 40, 67, 68, 69

    sequence 23, 30, 37

    RRebuild 27

    Recipients 20

    Release status 17

    Reporting 14, 40, 43, 71, 77

    platform 14

    Report Painter 73

    Retrograde determination 21

    SSAP Actual Calculation see

    Actual Calculation

    SAP Business Content see

    Business Content

    SAP BW 14, 17, 39

    SAP BW-BPS 54

    SAP Liquidity Planner 6, 17, 39

    SAP R/3 3, 14, 17, 65

    SAP R/3 Enterprise 71

    SAP SEM 3, 14, 17, 39

    SAP SEM-BPS 48, 53, 54

    Scheduler 66

    Solvency 6, 7

    Source of funds 9

    Source symbol 36

    Storing global data 21, 22

    Strategic liquidity 7

    System integration 17

    System table 19

    TTest run 28

    Tools 26

    Totals list 37

    Totals table 27, 31, 36, 71

    Total cash flow 7

    Transactional InfoCube 44

    Transaction Events 18

    Transfer posting 36

    Transfer rule 65

    Transfer structure 51, 65

    Treasury 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77

    UUpdate rule 50

  • www.sap-press.com 87

    Index

    VVariable 40

    Version concept 17

    WWeb Template 40

    Cash Accounting and Cash Flow Planning with SAP Liquidity PlannersampleSAP PRESS ESSENTIALSExtractCash Accounting and Cash Flow Planning with SAP Liquidity PlannerStephan Kerber, Dirk Warntje---------------------------------------ContentIntroduction---------------------------------------1 Business Overview1.1 The Concept of Cash Accounting1.2 Tasks of Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning1.3 Recipients and the Need for Information1.4 Financial Accounting and Cash Accounting1.5 Differences to Cash Management1.6 Conclusion

    2 Case Scenario: Implementing Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning2.1 Conclusion

    ---------------------------------------Index---------------------------------------www.sap-hefte.de(c) Galileo Press GmbH 2005

    Cash Accounting and Cash Flow Planning with SAP Liquidity PlannerCash Accounting and Cash Flow Planning with SAP Liquidity PlannersampleSAP PRESS ESSENTIALSExtractCash Accounting and Cash Flow Planning with SAP Liquidity PlannerStephan Kerber, Dirk Warntje---------------------------------------ContentIntroduction---------------------------------------1 Business Overview1.1 The Concept of Cash Accounting1.2 Tasks of Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning1.3 Recipients and the Need for Information1.4 Financial Accounting and Cash Accounting1.5 Differences to Cash Management1.6 Conclusion

    2 Case Scenario: Implementing Cash Accounting and Liquidity Planning2.1 Conclusion

    ---------------------------------------Index---------------------------------------www.sap-hefte.de(c) Galileo Press GmbH 2005