Journal

A journal is a book in which financial transactions are recorded. Because it is where transactions of a business are first recorded, it is otherwise known as the “book of original entry.”

Journals can be used to track business records, monitor investments, create budgets, manage daily finances such as receipts and expenses (including profit and loss information), or any other kind of record-keeping that is done regularly.

How Is a Journal Used?

Some companies employ a computerized accounting system while others may still be using manual accounting. Either way, journals are still important in order to keep a record of all sorts of transactions.

When a financial transaction happens, the bookkeeper records the transaction into the journal and a journal entry is then made.

The entry will detail the date when the transaction was made, the accounts affected by the financial transaction, the corresponding amounts involved for each account affected, and a brief explanation to support the transaction.

Regularly maintained journals are also essential for accounting purposes because they provide information about money coming into and going out of your company’s bank account.

Types of Journals

In double-entry bookkeeping, companies usually keep 7 different types of accounting journals. This is done in order to further organize the kind of transactions into the specific journal type where it fits.

This way, it will be easier to analyze the effects of the transactions than if they were recorded in one journal.

The seven types of accounting journals are:

Purchase Journal

The purchase journal is where all credit purchases of merchandise or inventory are recorded. Thus, this kind of journal must not contain transactions such as the purchase of assets on credit because this should only be exclusively for merchandise or inventory.

Also, merchandise or inventory purchases paid by cash should not be recorded in this journal as it is exclusively for credit purchases.

Purchase Returns Journal

This type of journal houses all returns of inventory that were originally purchased on credit. Take note that inventory returns that were originally purchased in cash cannot be entered into this journal.

Cash Receipts Journal

The cash receipts journal is where all cash receipts, which could be payments from customers for the service or product that you sell, are recorded.

Sources of cash could also include, but are not limited to, debtors, income, or loans received. This is where one would record items such as customer payments and bank deposits.

Cash Disbursements Journal

The cash disbursements journal is where all payments to creditors using cash are noted down. This includes payments for a variety of expenses such as payroll, suppliers’ bills, interest paid on a loan, or mortgage payment.

The cash disbursements journal is also otherwise known as the “cash payments journal.” Note that some companies may have specific journals for each type of expense category they have in order to track costs more effectively.

Sales Journal

This journal records all sales of goods on credit. Sales to customers who pay in cash should not be recorded here, but instead entered in the Cash Receipts Journal.

Sales Returns Journal

This journal is where all credit returns of merchandise or inventory are recorded. Also, if the items were originally purchased in cash and returned in credit, they should not be entered here but instead entered in the Purchase Returns Journal.

General Journal

The general journal is where one will record all the journal entries that do not fit into any of the six types mentioned above. An example of a financial transaction that could be recorded here is the purchase of an asset on credit.

This is also where we list information about credits and debits so as to form a complete accounting system for recording transactions in double-entry bookkeeping.

A simple journal entry in a general journal will look like this:

Journal vs Ledger

Both journals and ledgers are useful tools in bookkeeping but each of these serves different purposes and uses. As has been already mentioned, a journal is where a financial transaction is first recorded.

A ledger, on the other hand, is where the results of the transactions are kept permanently. During preparation, all financial transactions will have to be recorded first in the journal before they are translated into the ledger.

Here are some points to remember to differentiate a journal from a ledger:

Final Thoughts

The journal is a very important tool in accounting. Although it may seem quite simple, this record-keeping tool can be a powerful asset for your business.

Journals are the books used by companies and businesses in order to maintain records of financial transactions. They are important sources of data that can be analyzed to gain valuable financial insights on business operations, performance, and cash flow status.

Just keep in mind these things and always remember to use journals properly so you don’t have to face any problems while doing your books.