Journals / Adjustments

This help article goes through some best practice guidance for journals/adjustments in Silverfin.


  • All journals should be tagged (e.g. pre manager review, post manager review).

  • Journals should not be edited after a manager review unless specifically requested by the reviewer. This is so that changes are easier to follow and there is a clearer audit trail.


  • Internal vs External - Journals should always be appropriately tagged as "Internal" or "External". This will assist with the year-end adjustments export from Silverfin.

What are internal adjustments?

Internal adjustments would be used when we are not going to reflect the adjustment in the clients bookkeeping system. Most examples of internal adjustments are posted for accounts disclosure or presentational purposes.

Examples include;

- Hire purchase/Loans: in the accounts, we disclose the hire purchase and loans as due within and after 1 year and post a journal to split them out in SF. Many clients only have 1 HP/Loan code and do not split the liability within their bookkeeping system so this wouldn't be posted to the client's bookkeeping system.

- Trade debtors / Trade creditors: in some cases there might be group balances included within trade debtors / trade creditors, which for AP purposes we would reallocate to the amounts to/from group companies nominal codes. The client will still want to keep track of the balances within the debtors / creditors ledger so this wouldn't be posted as an adjustment to the client's bookkeeping system.

- Partner capital accounts: sometimes we split the capital accounts into capital and current accounts and do a transfer journal of the movement in the year, this is just presentational and should not be posted in client bookkeeping system


Internal adjustments are not posted to the clients bookkeeping system, and therefore not 'marked as posted' in the year end adjustments process.


What are external adjustments?

These are changes that should be reflected in the client's book-keeping software. For example, a bad debt write off, or depreciation charge for the year.


Useful points:

  • Copying journals - you can use this function to copy adjustments from a previous year, to your current year.

When you're in the adjustments screen, click 'actions' then 'copy adjustments'. Select the period you wish to copy from, and click on the relevant adjustments.

  • Reversing journals - you should use this function to remove any adjustments that are no longer required, to avoid deleting any.

When you're in the adjustments screen, click 'actions' then 'reverse adjustments'. Select the period you wish to reverse, and then click on the adjustment you no longer wish to appear.

  • Uploading journals - the journal import function can be helpful if you have a large journal or trial balance to post it may be quicker to upload it rather than typing it out. See example video here (2min). The example is showing importing a Sage trial balance but same logic applies on all imports.

-Download the journal import template from Silverfin (Adjustments, Drop down "Download/Upload" and select "Upload", Select "Download example".

-add your data to the template following instructions below

-category = external

-account_number = leave blank

-original_account_number = nominal code (if importing a TB can copy and paste from TB report)

-account_name = nominal name (if importing a TB can copy and paste from TB report)

-description = example "being b/fwd Sage Tb"

-value_debit & value_credit = as stated (if importing a TB can copy and paste from TB report)

-tags = leave blank

-Highlight sheet and covert format to "Text"

-Save file

-Upload the journal to Silverfin (Adjustments, Drop down "Download/Upload" and select "Upload")

-Drag and drop the formatted import file



NOTE: If there is anything in this help article that needs updated please get in touch with the Silverfin Experts.