Page 164 - Accounting Principles (A Business Perspective)

4. Completing the accounting cycle

During the 1950s, companies also used bookkeeping machines to supplement manual systems. These machines
recorded recurring transactions such as sales on account. They posted transactions to the general ledger and
subsidiary ledger accounts and computed new balances. With the development of computers, bookkeeping

machines became obsolete. They were quite expensive, and computers easily outperformed them. In the mid-1950s,
large companies began using mainframe computers. Early accounting applications were in payroll, accounts
receivable, accounts payable, and inventory. Within a few years, programs existed for all phases of accounting,
including manufacturing operations and the total integration of other accounting programs with the general ledger.
Until the 1980s, small and medium-sized companies either continued with a manual system, rented time on
another company's computer, or hired a service bureau to perform at least some accounting functions.

MICROTRAIN COMPANY
Trial Balance
2010 December 31
Acct.
No. Account Title Debits Credits
100 Cash $ 8,250
103 Accounts Receivable 6,200
107 Supplies on Hand 900
108 Prepaid Insurance 2,200
112 Prepaid Rent 800
121 Interest Receivable 600
150 Trucks 40,000
151 Accumulated Depreciation—Trucks $ 750
200 Accounts Payable 730
206 Salaries Payable 180
216 Unearned Service Fees 3,000
300 Capital Stock 50,000
310 Retained Earnings 4,290
$ 58,950 $ 58,950
Exhibit 24: Post closing trial balance

An accounting perspective:

Business insight

Imagine a company with an Accounts Receivable account and an Accounts Payable account in its
general ledger and no Accounts Receivable Subsidiary Ledger or Accounts Payable Subsidiary
Ledger. How would this company know to whom to send bills and in what amounts? Also, how
would employees know for which suppliers to write checks and in what amounts? Such subsidiary
records are necessary either on paper or in a computer file.

Here is how the general ledger and subsidiary ledgers might look:

Subsidiary General Ledger Subsidiary Accounts
Accounts Payable Ledger
Receivable
Ledger
JOHN JONES ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE BELL CORPORATION

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