Validating Data

End-to-End Data Validation Solution

Data validation is a required step in both the data preparation phase and the consolidation phase.

The consistency of reported, standardized, and consolidated financial data must be checked according to the validation method you assigned to each consolidation unit or consolidation group.

The figure describes the problems of the accountant before and during consolidation. It also describes the use of the validation apps in SAP S/4HANA Finance for group reporting in order to avoid these problems.

Groups of subsidiaries generally have to verify financial data before or during consolidation but group accountants performing this task routinely face some specific problems.

To avoid such problems the validation solution delivered with SAP S/4HANA for Group Reporting provides:

An intuitive user interface, that enables the user to create validation rules easily without using complex programming languages.
Validation tasks that can run faster and can be scheduled, delivering immediate results.
The possibility to freely define drill-through reports to investigate why a validation fails.
Instant communication of results and entering comments for reference and explanation of validation results.

The validations available in Group Reporting can be executed either by:

Using the delivered validation apps.
Executing the validation tasks in the Data Monitor or Consolidation Monitor.

The validation results can be checked in the Display Validation Results app.

Data Validation Stages

You can run validations at different stages of the group reporting process.

This figure explains which app has to be used for validation in which consolidation process step in SAP S/4HANA Finance for group reporting.

Validation of Universal Journal Key Points

After data release from ACDOCA to ACDOCU you can run the Validation of Universal Journal task in the Data Monitor to check if errors exist in universal journals like:

missing or incorrect subassignments for FS items
out-of-balances due to missing mappings between g/l accounts and FS items
This validation is a programmed validation, e. i. no configuration is possible

Validation Key Points

Several off-the-shelf data validation rules exist, for example:

Check if Assets = Liabilities + Owners Equity
Check if annual net income = current year retained earnings.

Data validation rules can be imported and exported.

Comments can be required for validation to pass.

Reported Data: data validation checks local currency values and posting levels 00, 01 and 0C.

Standardized Data: data validation checks group currency and posting levels 00, 01, 0C and 10

Consolidated Data: data validation checks group currency and all posting levels.

To proceed with further consolidation tasks, this validation task must run without errors. To be able to block subsequent tasks, this validation task must run without errors.