What does posting refer to in accounting?

Posting in accounting refers to the process of recording information from journal entries into the general ledger. The general ledger serves as the primary accounting record for an organization, where all financial transactions are compiled, categorized, and summarized. This process ensures that all financial data is organized and easily accessible for reporting, analysis, and financial statements.

When transactions are first recorded in the journal, they are often in chronological order. Posting then transfers the summarized information to the individual accounts in the ledger, updating the balances for each account. This is critical for accurate financial reporting and helps ensure the integrity of financial records.

While creating financial forecasts, analyzing financial trends, and verifying financial transactions are important aspects of accounting, they do not capture the specific act of transferring data from journals to ledgers, which is what posting entails.