What Is a Topside Entry in Accounting?

Supplies ordered from a vendor, interest payments on a loan, and taxes are all examples of accumulated costs. In pushdown accounting, the costs incurred to acquire a company appear on the separate financial statements of the target, rather than the acquirer. As an example, assume a construction company begins construction in one period but does not invoice the customer until the work is complete in six months. The construction company will need to do an adjusting journal entry at the end of each of the months to recognize revenue for 1/6 of the amount that will be invoiced at the six-month point.

A Summary of the Accounting Cycle

• These helmets are designed to protect the head and face of the diver from bumps, impacts, and debris.
• This practice is referred to as top-sided journal entry and is allowed within the scope of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Companies usually do not make top-side entries to the general ledger, according to the Center for Audit Quality.
• Given that you might provide the goods or services over an extended period of time, you might record these as an adjustment.
• However, there have been instances where the quality of construction work has been compromised due to the lack of proper training and safety measures.

The entries are made in accordance with the matching principle to match expenses to the related revenue in the same accounting period. The adjustments made in journal entries are carried over to the general ledger that flows through to the financial statements. The topside entries normally are not represented within the general ledger, and that means they are not subject to the same financial controls of the system as other adjusting entries.

Reduced Risk of Contamination or Damage to Sensitive Environments

OSHA sets and enforces safety standards for workplace environments in the United States, including those for topside diving. These regulations include requirements for hazard communication, respiratory protection, and emergency response plans. Topside entry is a necessary procedure in the oil and gas industry for maintenance or repair work at the top of an offshore platform.

How Pushdown Accounting Works

Safety, accessibility, and convenience are some critical factors considered when choosing a topside entry system for offshore operations. As mentioned earlier, topside entry involves accessing offshore structures through an opening on the top. Traditionally, this involves using a ladder, but modern topside entry systems come with more advanced features, such as airlocks, hydraulic lifts, and elevator systems. Make sure you get senior management clearance for any topside entry revisions before posting them.

Conclusion: The Advantages and Limitations of Topside Entry Diving

Although auditors recognize top-side entries as a possible indicator of financial fraud, there are legitimate reasons to use this type of bookkeeping entry and methods to manage the risk. An adjusting journal entry is an entry in a company’s general ledger that records transactions that have occurred but have not yet been appropriately recorded in accordance with the accrual method of accounting. The entry records any unrecognized income or expenses for the accounting period, such as when a transaction starts in one accounting period and ends in a later period. Income statement accounts that may need to be adjusted include interest expense, insurance expense, depreciation expense, and revenue.

What Is an Adjusting Journal Entry?

Making written guidelines for how topside entries should be completed is another way to promote regular and accurate topside entry adjustments. The guidelines may be included in the company’s policies and procedures manual, which is made available to all employees for accountability and transparency. You should be able to spot and fix any errors or discrepancies if the workers in charge of making topside entry adjustments adhere to these procedures. Adjusting what is a topside entry entries are all in the name – adjustments made to the accounts as part of the workings for the financials or to the financials themselves rather than in an underlying trial balance. They may also be for practical purposes due to limitations of accounting software, the chart of accounts, business processes or any other reason. In the vast and intricate landscape of accounting, topside journal entries play a specific, albeit occasionally controversial, role.

The act of entering, a method of entering, a record in a journal, or a piece of information on a list are all examples of entries. Environmental factors such as weather, water conditions, and marine life also play a significant role in the safety and success of these operations. It is important to comply with local regulatory requirements and ensure that all crew members are properly trained and certified. In addition to OSHA and IMCA regulations, topside diving may be subject to local and regional regulations and permitting requirements. Underwater construction and welding are also high-risk activities that require specialized training.

Specify the situations approved for top-side entries, such as correction of a previous error or an entry pending information from the previous day’s close of business. Require approval for each top-side entry and limit permissions to make such entries to one or two people. If you’ve set any or all of the topside entry alterations to be temporary, make sure you undo them when they’re no longer needed.

The policies could be part of the companys policies and procedures documentation that is available to all employees for transparency and accountability. If those employees entrusted with performing topside entry adjustments follow these procedures, you should be able to detect and correct any mistakes or inconsistencies. It can also help to limit the number of people in your company who are authorized to make topside entry adjustments. Select one or two trusted people and grant them the necessary access rights in your accounting system. This ensures that you know who might be making topside entry adjustments and you might be less likely to see the privilege abused.