Assigning a Cost Center to a Purchase Invoice
Cost centers are valuable in analyzing cost sources, especially indirect costs, and they help distribute profits according to the costs generated. Cost centers are flexible to the extent that each accountant can use the supportive method for their accounting system and workflow.
Among the methods used is assigning specific cost centers to purchase invoices. For example, you can create a cost center for each supplier, so you ultimately know which suppliers contribute the most to your profits through their products and services. This aids in making more precise purchasing decisions.
Assigning a Cost Center to a Purchase Invoice
First, make sure to add the cost center you intend to assign the purchase invoice to, and you can review the steps in this article for more details on creating a new cost center.
Click on ‘Purchase Invoices‘ under ‘Purchases‘ from the main menu, then click on the purchase invoice for which you want to assign a cost center.
Then click on “Assign Cost Center“.
Select the cost center and its percentage or amount.
You should add this cost center to the account first for it to appear to you, and you can learn more about adding a new cost center from here.
The entry appears from the purchases account to the supplier’s account.
The selected cost center entry also shows, 80% of the total amount allocated.
The remaining amount remains unallocated to a cost center unless you assign its accounts to another cost center. You can review and assign a cost center to it by going to ‘Cost Centers‘ under ‘Accounting‘ in the main menu, then clicking on the Accounts and Reports button and selecting ‘Accounts without Cost Centers‘ from the dropdown menu.
Choose the fixed assets account, and inside it, you will find the purchase account to which the purchase invoices are automatically directed. Assign a cost center to it if you wish, or leave it as is.
