In classic general ledger accounting in SAP ERP (often referred to as SAP ECC), you can also display secondary accounts in the profit and loss statement (P&L), but you must take a few aspects into account. Secondary cost elements (often referred to as secondary accounts in SAP) are primarily used in Controlling (CO) and not directly in Financial Accounting (FI). They are usually used for internal activity allocations and their balances are normally handled in the operating concerns of Controlling, not directly in FI General Ledger Accounting. There are a few ways to display secondary accounts in the income statement: 1. Transfer to primary accounts: One option is to periodically (e.g. at the end of the month or year) transfer the balances of secondary accounts to corresponding primary accounts that are managed in FI. This can be done manually or via automated processes. 2 Integration between CO and FI: Ensure that your CO and FI modules are properly integrated. By configuring the real-time integration correctly, you can ensure that the results of the CO invoices, including the activities in the secondary accounts, are transferred to FI on time. 3 PA transfer structures: In the Profitability Analysis (CO-PA) module, you can define transfer structures that enable costs and revenues (including those in secondary accounts) to be assigned to the corresponding revenue and cost types in the income statement and displayed there. 4. Report Painter / Report Writer: Use specialized reporting tools such as the Report Painter or Report Writer to create reports that include data from both FI and CO (including secondary accounts) and reflect them accordingly in the P&L. So it is possible, but it requires specific configuration and additional process steps if necessary. In the newer SAP S/4HANA versions, the integration of CO and FI is more advanced, which simplifies some of these processes. If you continue to work on the classic SAP ERP system, it is recommended that you work closely with your SAP CO/FI consulting team to find an optimal solution.
Need more help from our chatbot? Click here and visit our AI SAP Helper on the SAP learning platform et.training.1
1. log in with your Espresso Tutorials account. Digital subscription or trial access required.


