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Investment Project Accounting in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations – Part II

1 October 20192 min read
Dynamics 365 Finance & OperationsD365Project AccountingInvestment ProjectsFixed AssetsWIPEstimationElimination

In Part I, we covered the key setup and configuration for two types of investment project. This post focuses on the transactional flow — posting various transactions on an investment project and later eliminating to acquire a fixed asset.

Posting Transactions

Post transactions such as hours against the project.

Hour journal posted to investment project

With an investment project where cost is posted directly to P&L, D365 F&O debits your account (typically P&L) with the posting type as project cost.

Cost directly to P&L voucher

When using the WIP approach, cost is posted to the balance sheet.

Cost posted to WIP balance sheet

To record other project transactions such as vendor invoices for capturing expenses, use a vendor invoice journal with the project specified as the offset.

Vendor invoice journal with project offset

Running the Estimation Process

Run an estimation spanning all project transactions to ensure cost capitalisation (when using cost directly to P&L) and to prepare for elimination.

Estimation process setup

Review information in the key tabs: Profit and loss, WIP, and Consumption.

For cost posting directly to P&L:

Estimate tabs — cost directly to P&L

For cost posting to WIP:

Estimate tabs — cost to WIP

Configuring Elimination Options

Before posting the estimate, ensure the elimination options are specified. In this example, we are eliminating to a fixed asset — a common scenario where cost is collected over time to build an asset such as a building or machinery.

Elimination options setup

Elimination to fixed asset configuration

Note: Posting of the estimate does not acquire the fixed asset.

Posting the Estimate

Post the estimate and review the voucher entries generated:

  • The voucher will be blank if cost was posted directly to P&L and the line property does not allow cost capitalisation in the WIP setting — the fixed asset would be acquired at zero value. You would need to adjust project transactions to update the line property.
  • The voucher will contain values when posting to P&L and using a line property with cost capitalisation.
  • The voucher will also contain values when using the WIP option.

Posted estimate voucher entries

Tip: Always use a line property that allows cost capitalisation with investment projects.

Line property with cost capitalisation

Eliminating the Estimate

Once all project activities are complete, eliminate the posted estimate. The project must be 100 percent complete to run elimination.

Elimination process

The estimate elimination process creates the fixed asset acquisition.

Fixed asset acquisition created from elimination

Source: Investment project accounting in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations – Part II – Rahul Mohta, Dynamics 365 Community