Cost accounting creates a single posting entry for each accounted dimension. For example, if a journal line in General ledger is posted with a cost center and a purpose dimension simultaneously, Cost accounting generates two separate posting entries: one posting line for the cost center, and another line for the purpose.

General ledger and Cost accounting are integrated in Microsoft Dynamics AX, but the transactions are independent from each other. This can lead to account balance inconsistencies during the reconciliation process.

Assigning dimensions supports the reconciliation of the income statement in General ledger with cost category accounting in Cost accounting. The dimension posting control determines how posting lines are managed in Cost accounting.

The dimension posting control setup is required only if a cost category is related to a cost center and purpose at the same time. In Cost accounting, no specific dimension posting control setup is needed if the assignment of a cost center or a purpose to a cost category is clear and unambiguous.

To generate multiple posting entries for a purpose, the dimension posting control in Cost accounting should not be set up.

It is possible to set up allocations per cost category; however, in most cases, setup on a general level should be sufficient. A more advanced allocation is necessary only in exceptional cases.

If it is possible to enter cost center and purpose for a certain cost category account, the objective might be to post the costs to either a cost center or a purpose. To achieve this, apply the following setup guidelines.