Post Exchange Methods / A Manual for Exchange Stewards, Exchange Officers, Members of Exchange Councils, Commanding Officers, Being an Exposition of a Simple and Efficient System of Accounting Which Is Applicable to Large and to Small Exchanges Alike.

by Paul D. Bunker

Ledger Accounts.

As has been previously described, our method of handling our charge accounts has rendered it unnecessary for us to keep a private ledger account with each of our charge customers. To do so would be merely to repeat information which we already possess. Also, our Purchase Record has obviated the necessity of a separate ledger account with each of our creditors, for the same reason.

Having no private ledger accounts, it follows that this book then becomes a “General Ledger”, holding only general accounts, such as Bills Payable, etc.

Some of our general accounts should be sub-divided in order to give us a better idea of what the business is doing. Take the Expense account, for example. It is usually desirable to classify our expenses as nearly as possible under the following headings:—

• Wages,
• Fuel and Lights,
• Insurance,
• Freight and Express on out-going goods,
• Printing and Stationery,
• Telephone and Telegraph,
• Office, including expendable supplies used and not distributed to departments.

Another example is Bills Payable, which is divided into Charge Accounts, Credit Coupons, Enlisted Men’s Laundry, etc., as circumstances dictate.

A complete list of the accounts in our ledger should run about as follows:—

• 1. Post Exchange (Synonyms:—Present Worth, Surplus, Net Worth, etc.).
• 2. Bills Receivable, Notes. (Entrance fees of incoming organizations.)
• 3. Bills Receivable, Charge Accounts.
• 4. Bills Receivable, Credit Coupons.
• 5. Bills Receivable, Enlisted Men’s Laundry.
• 6. Check Account. (Outstanding Coupons.)
• 7. Bills Payable, Mdse. (Or Creditors.)
• 8. Exchange Building. (If not a Government building.)
• 9. Laundry Building. (If owned by the Exchange.)
• 10. Exchange Fixtures.
• 11. Laundry Fixtures. (Including all machinery, tools, etc.)
• 12. Laundry. (A departmental account.)
• 13. Store. (Same. There should be an account for each department.)
• 14. Interest and Discount.
• 15. Insurance.
• 16. Fuel and Lights.
• 17. Freight and Express.
• 18. Printing and Stationery.
• 19. Telephone and Telegraph.
• 20. General Expense.
• 21. Depreciation. (If taken frequently.)
• 22. Lost Accounts.
• 23. Athletics.
• 24. Dividends.
• 25. Sick in Hospital.
• 26. Regimental Fund.
• 27. Wages.
• 28. Profit and Loss. (Or Loss and Gain.)
• 29. Maintenance.