In SAP classic GL’s systems PCA has been an important and integral part of Finance module. Profit Center level reporting is drawn out of PCA module. Hence, having this data replicated into CFIN is quite important.

Cental Finance supports transfer of PCA documents from source system to CFIN.

What is Replicated to CFIN from PCA ledger?

In short, postings which are posted directly in PCA module are transferred to CFIN. Below business transaction types are transferred to CFIN.

• Direct PCA postings (Business Transaction Type PRC5)
  
• PCA Assessments (Business Transaction Type PCAA)
  
• PCA Distributions (Business Transaction Type PCAD)

How are these transactions posted in CFIN?

CFIN is an S/4 ERP and in S/4 ERP PCA ledger is redundant due to document splitting. So, PCA postings are replicated as FI postings in CFIN. We would go over the set-up aspects of the replication. But below are the design aspects to keep in mind.

• Postings can’t be replicated to a leading ledger.
  
• Postings can be replicated to an extension ledger on leading ledger or a parallel ledger.
  
• In my view postings to an extension ledger is a good choice as reporting on extension ledger can help reconcile CFIN with PCA subledger in source.
  
• If you have SAP GR on CFIN then that brings additional considerations.

Particulars of the PCA Document Transfer

Mechanism of PCA document transfer

• PCA documents are transferred via FI staging tables into CFIN.
  
• Tables CFIN_ACCHD, CFIN_ACCIT and CFIN_ACCCR are used to transfer PCA documents.

• PCA documents are replicated under a separate node in AIF.
  
• Documents can be transferred under replication mode and real mode.

Source System Set-up

Step 1: Period Settings

Like FI documents we need to define the year and period set-up of the document transfer.

Balances are loaded before 1 Period 2023 and from Period 1 2023 actual balances are transferred.

Period 000 balances can be posted to

• The last period of the previous fiscal year (For example, balances in period 000 of 2021 are posted to the last period of 2020.)
  
• To period 1 of the original fiscal year (For example, balances in period 000 of 2021 are posted to period 1 of 2021.)
  
• By default, balances in period 000 are posted to the last period of the previous fiscal year.
  
• In RtR period 000 postings are not transferred to CFIN.
  
• Special period postings (Period 13-16) are transferred to CFIN.
  
• BCF run should be carried out directly in CFIN.

Step 2: Activating Transfer

This transaction is used to activate EC-PCA ongoing replication. Once a company code is activated for EC-PCA ongoing replication, the corresponding EC-PCA postings will be replicated from the source system to the Central Finance system automatically.

This program updates time stamp in control table CFIN_CTRL

In case you ever need to stop the recording then this control table needs to be cleaned up

CFIN Set-up

Step 1: Assignment of Ledger Group

For each of the source EPRs a ledger group is assigned. Postings are replicated to this ledger group. As written above this can’t be a leading ledger.

Step 2: Assignment of Offsetting Account and default PC

Here we define:

• Document Type: This is the document type assigned to the FI posting that is created from the EC-PCA posting.
  
• G/L Account : If a replicated EC-PCA does not balance to zero, an offsetting line item has to be created for the posting in the Central Finance system. The additional line is posted to the G/L account that you specify here.
  
• Profit Center: If a replicated EC-PCA does not balance to zero, an offsetting line item has to be created for the posting in the Central Finance system. The additional line is assigned to the profit center that you specify here.

Initial Load
Simulation
TCODE: FINS_CFIN_PCA_SIMU

• As the name suggests this transaction simulates PCA document replication. Simulation can be done by document or for IL. It shows the document numbers and balances which are selected for replication.
  
• Transfer happens via SLT

Actual Load

TCODE: FINS_CFIN_PCA_LOAD

• As the name suggests, this transaction carries out the initial load.
  
• IL can be done once for one company code.
  
• IL can reset and re-done.

• After running the IL results can be verified by selecting second option. System will show the document transferred and replication status of each document.
  
• Alternatively, documents can be reviewed in in AIF monitor too.

Real Time Replication

• Once company code is activated for replication in source. Recording in staging tables starts
  
• Once Real time replication is switched on from SLT. Documents are transferred on real time basis.

Reset and Deletion
Deletion in CFIN
TCODE: FINS_CFIN_PCA_DEL

Options are pretty self-explanatory. Simulation, IL and All posting data can be deleted.

Deletion in Source

TCODE: FIN_CFIN_PCA_RESET

This transaction is run from CFIN system, and it resets PCA data from staging tables in source system. Earlier, PCA data was reset by FI deletion program RCFIN_DEL_MIG. IN 2022 SAP released note 3244253 to fix this. Now PCA data can be reset from CFIN system only using above transaction code.

Comparison Reports

Compare Balances

TCODE: FINS_CFIN_DFV_PCA_BA

This compares the balances of EC-PCA documents in the source system with the corresponding balances transferred to the Central Finance system and to check whether these balances have been transferred correctly.

Compare PCA Document Counts

TCODE: FINS_CFIN_DFV_PCA_CN

This report compares the number of EC-PCA entries (including documents and balances) transferred to the Central Finance system and to check whether they have been transferred correctly.

Challenges Experienced

1. Positive and Negative Signage on same line

During balance transfer it could happen that a debit balance line can have a negative balance for one of the parallel currency fields or vice versa. It can happen with balances of allocations. In such situations the messages dump in CFIN. Standard SAP doesn’t support this. To overcome this such lines can be split into multiple lines in CFIN via a custom development.

2. Missing Source Account Assignment in ACDOCA

Source account assignment field is not populated with source profit center for PCA documents. This can play an important role in reconciliation. Same can be done via a small enhancement in CFIN BADI.

The post Cental Finance and PCA Postings Replication first appeared on ERP Q&A.

Through SAP Central Finance or the C_S4FCF_1909 certification, a candidate can explore SAP HANA’s possibilities, i.e. real-time, speed and agility to replicate financial documents into the central system, offering a real-time organization-wide financial view. In short, Central Finance allows a candidate or user to create a standard reporting structure for an organization.

What Does the C_S4FCF_1909 Certification Exam Validate?

The C_S4FCF_1909 or the SAP Certified Application Associate-Central Finance in SAP S/4HANA certification exam confirms that the candidate has the fundamental and core knowledge needed for the Central Finance profile. 

The C_S4FCF_1909 certification assures that the candidate has an overall understanding and in‐depth technical skills to join as a project team member under a senior consultant’s guidance. 

What Is the Level of the C_S4FCF_1909 Certification?

This C_S4FCF_1909 certification exam is recommended as an entry-level exam. It acts as verification that the consultant is ready to take part significantly in Central Finance implementation projects. The C_S4FCF_1909 certification allows the consultant to join an implementation project faster and immediately contribute to the project’s success. The C_S4FCF_1909 certification is the ideal starting point for a career as an SAP Central Finance consultant.

What Topics Are Covered Under the C_S4FCF_1909 Syllabus?

The SAP Certified Application Associate-Central Finance in SAP S/4HANA exam deals with the following topics-

• System Integration Concepts
• Integration Technology ALE
• Central Finance Landscape Architecture
• Run Phase in Central Finance
• Enhancements in the Controlling Area (CO-PA, WBS)
• Corporate Finance Processes supported by Central Finance
• Central Finance Setup and Configuration
• SAP Master Data Governance
• System Landscape Transformation Server (SLT)
• Real time Replication in Central Finance
• Initial Load in Central Finance

How to Get Ready for the C_S4FCF_1909 Certification?

What Is Your Goal?

A candidate must set a goal before jumping into any exam preparation. SAP exams like the C_S4FCF_1909 exams are not always easy to crack, but you can pass it with flying colors if you are determined from the beginning. Setting a goal and remembering it throughout the preparation is your key to success.

You Must Have Idea of the Exam Pattern and Complete the Syllabus Topics:

The C_S4FCF_1909 certification exam is similar to other SAP exams comprising of 80 multiple-choice questions. A candidate has 180 minutes to take the exam, and he must get 66% marks to pass the exam. The syllabus is devoted to some significant topics more, but one must cover the other areas too. Completion of the C_S4FCF_1909 syllabus is a must to attempt the 80 questions asked in the exam.

Choose Your Time and Place of Study to Focus Well:

Planning is always beneficial when you are preparing for an exam. Once you are satisfied with your exam environment, you can focus easily on the exam topics. So make a routine at the beginning of your preparation to utilize your preparation time smoothly. If you set any particular study time in your routine, try to study at the same time every day. Success is highly dependent on good practice, so focus on doing the same thing regularly.

Engage In Small but Persistent Study Sessions:

You don’t need to study for 5-6 hours, and you can only study for an hour and gain success if you choose to be persistent in your routine. Make the most out of your study time through utmost devotion and avoiding cellphone distractions. Stick to your schedule to the final exam day.

Choose Your C_S4FCF_1909 Exam Resources Wisely:

Quality materials are one of the vital factors for learning well and getting success in the C_S4FCF_1909 exam. A candidate must choose to take online C_S4FCF_1909 practice tests besides learning from the SAP training. Taking C_S4FCF_1909 practice tests online helps a candidate assess his preparation level and improve the weaker syllabus areas. So keep practicing from SAP exam reliable sources.

What Are Some Features of SAP Central Finance?

• A candidate can use the central finance to blend master data and replicate posting.
• He can map master data from different source systems (SAP & Non-SAP) to adopt master data in the central finance system either using SAP MDG or manually.
• To utilize data transfer between the source systems and central finance, a user needs to keep mapping that defines the relationship between data in the source systems (SAP and Non-SAP) and data in central finance. Mapping is used for the initial load and day-to-day transactional data transactions to central finance.
• Profitability segment data of an accounting document can also be transferred to central finance system. ACDOCA is upgraded with a profitability document number, and reporting on PA can be gained in the central finance system.

What Benefits Do Customers Get from Using the C_S4FCF_1909 Certification Knowledge and SAP S/4HANA Finance?  

With Central Finance, customers can combine their distributed system landscape to a centralized SAP S/4HANA Finance. This can work well with a combination of SAP systems of different releases and non-SAP systems. Financial Accounting (FI) and Management Accounting (CO) postings can be duplicated into this Central Finance system.

Central Finance allows a candidate to create a common reporting structure. To prepare for this common structure, a candidate must map his different accounting entities (for example, account, profit center, or cost center) in his source systems to one common set of master data in the Central Finance system. You can then replicate financial accounting (FI) and management accounting (CO) postings.

P_TSEC10_75 Exam: Understand System Architecture through SAP Certification

FI, Financial accounting, and management accounting (CO) postings are duplicated to the Central Finance system. The FI documents and the CO postings are blended into one document there. Before a user replicates CO postings to the Central Finance system, he must ensure that accounts are available for all cost elements.

Final Words:

If your focus is to make a career and that through SAP, you must consider taking the C_S4FCF_1909 exam. SAP exams do not need any introduction to make a candidate’s career and boost his career to different levels. So, get ready to start your SAP journey through the C_S4FCF_1909 certification.

The post C_S4FCF_1909 Certification: How to Prepare for Your SAP S/4HANA Central Finance Exam? first appeared on ERP Q&A.