How to Create Chart of Accounts in SAP

By : Mason Garcia Mason Garcia
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⚡ Smart Summary

Chart of Accounts in SAP is a client-level list of all general ledger master records, assigned to each company code and organized into account groups, created with transaction code OB13 to structure financial reporting.

  • 🗂️ Chart of Accounts: A client-level list of all G/L master records assigned to each company code.
  • 🔧 Transaction OB13: OB13 creates the chart of accounts; OB62 assigns it to a company code.
  • 📊 Three Types: Operating, group, and country-specific charts serve daily, corporate, and legal reporting.
  • 🗃️ Account Groups: Account groups inside the chart control number ranges and field status of accounts.
  • ✅ Customizing Request: Saving the chart and its account groups requires a customizing request.
  • 🤖 AI Assistance: SAP Joule helps design account structures and answer chart of accounts questions.
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How to Create Chart of Accounts in SAP

What is a Chart of Accounts in SAP?

In SAP, the Chart of Accounts (COA) is defined at the client level and assigned to each company code. It is a list of the General Ledger account master data that falls under the different account groups of a company code. This grouping mechanism helps to develop better financial reports.

Types of Chart of Accounts

There are three types of Chart of Accounts:

  1. Operating chart of accounts: Used to post daily expenses. The accounts could be either expense or revenue accounts, and the information is shared by the Finance and Controlling modules.
  2. Group chart of accounts: Accounts used by the entire corporate group. They help generate reports at the corporate level.
  3. Country-specific chart of accounts: Helps meet country-specific legal requirements.

How to Create Chart of Accounts

Step 1) Enter Transaction code SPRO in the command field.

Create Chart of Accounts in SAP

Step 2) In the next screen, select SAP Reference IMG.

Create Chart of Accounts in SAP

Step 3) In the next screen, “Display IMG”, navigate the following menu path: SAP Customizing Implementation Guide -> Financial Accounting -> General Ledger Accounting -> G/L Accounts -> Master Data -> Preparations -> Edit Chart of Accounts List.

Create Chart of Accounts in SAP

Step 4) In the next screen, select New Entries.

Create Chart of Accounts in SAP

Step 5) In the next screen, enter the following data:

  1. Enter a unique Chart of Accounts code, maximum length four characters.
  2. Enter a description for the Chart of Accounts.
  3. Enter the language in which the Chart of Accounts is created. All accounts have a description in this language, and master data can only be displayed or maintained in this language.
  4. Enter the maximum length for G/L account numbers, up to ten digits. If a number is shorter, SAP prefixes zeros to reach the maximum length.
  5. Enter the type of integration between G/L accounts and cost elements.
  6. Enter the Chart of Accounts used in the corporate group.

Create Chart of Accounts in SAP

Step 6) After entering this information, press Save Create Chart of Accounts in SAP. In the next screen, enter your Change Request number.

Create Chart of Accounts in SAP

You have successfully created a new Chart of Accounts.

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How to Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Step 1) Enter Transaction code SPRO in the command field.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Step 2) In the next screen, select SAP Reference IMG.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Step 3) In the next screen, “Display IMG”, navigate the following menu path: SAP Customizing Implementation Guide -> Financial Accounting -> General Ledger Accounting -> G/L Accounts -> Master Data -> Preparations -> Define Account Group.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Step 4) In the next screen, select New Entries.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Step 5) In the next screen, enter the following information:

  1. Enter the Chart of Accounts key in which the account group is to be created.
  2. Enter a unique Account Group key.
  3. Enter a description for the account group.
  4. Enter the number range for the G/L account to be created in the account group.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Step 6) Select Field Status from the Application menu.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Step 7) In the next screen, you can change the field status for different sections of the G/L COA master data. For example, select Account Control.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Step 8) Now you can maintain the status of different fields belonging to the Account Control tab between Suppressed (Hidden), Required, Optional, and Display modes.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

Note: The default status of fields is Optional.

Step 9) After maintaining the field status, press save Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group and enter your change request number.

Create Chart of Accounts (COA) Account Group

You have successfully created a Chart of Accounts Account Group.

FAQs

Transaction OB13 creates and maintains a chart of accounts, reached in SPRO under Edit Chart of Accounts List. The chart is defined at client level before any company code can use it for G/L master data.

Use transaction OB62 to assign an operating chart of accounts to a company code. Each company code is linked to exactly one operating chart, and many company codes can share the same chart for consistent reporting.

A chart of accounts is the full list of G/L accounts available at client level. An account group is a subdivision within that chart that controls the number range and field status of the accounts created under it.

Yes. The SAP Joule AI copilot can suggest account group structures, explain operating versus group charts, and answer OB13 questions in natural language, helping consultants design a clean chart of accounts faster.

SAP Joule, the generative AI copilot in S/4HANA Cloud, drafts account master data, flags duplicates, and guides users to the right customizing step, giving finance teams intelligent, context-aware help with G/L master data.

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