Accounting Category - Firm Settings
Overview
This guide defines each sub-setting within the Accounting Firm Settings in Efimis.
As outlined in the Firm Settings Overview, the accounting category focuses on foundational financial configuration that supports core system operations.
Accounting Settings Included
- Accounting Method*
- Cost Centres/Tags
- Budget Sets
- Client Interest Rate Sets
- Disbursement Codes
- Payment Methods
- Financial years and Periods (Date Reporting) *
- Funds Clearance Method
- Posting Templates
- VAT Codes
- Activities
Navigation Tip: Use the table of contents on the top-left to jump directly to each section.
Only Users with the appropriate administrator permissions can modify these settings.
Important Notice
Settings marked with an asterisk (*) must NOT be changed without approval.
Always verify with your Accountant or Practice Manager before updating:
- Accounting Method
- Financial Years & Periods
Changes here can significantly impact financial reporting accuracy and compliance.
Accounting Method
The Accounting Method defines how income and expenses are recorded in the system.
Options
- Cash
- Accrual (default)
Impacted Reports
Changing this setting affects:
- Consolidated Tax Report
- General Ledger Report
- Office Trial Balance
- Profit & Loss Report
How to Update
- Select Accounting Method
- Choose Cash or Accrual
- Click Save Changes
Confirm with your Accountant before making changes.Cost Centres/Tags
Tags allow firms to segment financial activity for reporting purposes.
Used for:
- Departments
- Teams
- Income categories
- Expenditure tracking
Learn more in Creating Cost Centres
Budget Sets
Budget Sets allow firms to define financial budgets over a set period.
Used for:
- Financial planning
- Monitoring income vs expenses
- Performance tracking
- Multiple budget scenarios
Learn more on Creating Budget Sets Client Interest Rate Sets
Client Interest Rate Sets define how interest is calculated using tiered bands.
These settings determine:
- How much interest is accrued
- Whether it is eligible for posting
- How it is applied to matters
Learn more on Setting Up Client Interest Rates
Disbursement Codes
Disbursement Codes are reusable templates that auto-populate transaction fields.
Used in:
- Cost recoveries
- Anticipated disbursements
- Incurred payments
- Incurred purchases
- Incurred GL disbursements
Learn more on Setting up Disbursement Codes Finalise Invoice on Approved
Controls whether approved invoices are automatically finalised and posted. When disabled, approved invoices are sent to Ready to Post and must be manually finalised by a user with invoice finalisation permissions.
Payment Methods
Payment Methods define how payments are made and received in the system.
Includes:
- Cash
- EFT
- Credit Card
- BPAY
Learn more on Setting up Payment Methods Financial Years and Period/ Date Reporting
Do not modify without Accountant approval.
This setting controls financial reporting structure and time periods.
Includes:
- Financial year setup
- Period definitions
- Reporting structure alignment
Learn more on Setting Up Financial Years & Periods
Learn more on Period Date Reporting
Funds Clearance Method
Controls when a receipt is considered cleared in the system.
Options
| Method | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| After Specified Days | Clears automatically after set number of days (or from banking date if applicable) |
| Marked for Reconciliation | Clears when marked for reconciliation |
| After Reconciliation | Clears once bank reconciliation is completed |
Posting Templates
Posting Templates store reusable text entries for transactions.
Used for:
- Purchases
- Payments
- Receipts
- Journals
Learn more on Creating Posting Templates Activities
Activities define the type of work performed on a matter.
Used for:
- Time categorisation
- Billing accuracy
- Reporting analysis
- Activity-based rates
Key Functions
- Classify legal work types
- Support fixed-fee or itemised billing
- Improve billing transparency
- Enable detailed reporting
Learn more on Creating Activities Best Practices
To ensure accurate system configuration:
- Configure accounting settings carefully from the start
- Avoid changes to financial periods and accounting method without approval
- Maintain consistency across all firm settings
- Review reporting impact before updating financial settings
- Always confirm with your Accountant or Practice Manager where required
Correct configuration ensures:
- Accurate financial reporting
- Compliance with accounting standards
- Consistent transaction processing
- Reduced risk of reporting errors
- Efficient system performance