[IMP] accounting/bank: outstanding accounts

Update bank doc to better explain suspense and outstanding accounts and to explain that payments don't create journal entries without outstanding accounts.

task-3474209

content/applications/finance/accounting/bank.rst

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 Bank and cash accounts
 ======================
 
-You can manage as many bank or cash accounts as needed on your database. Configuring them well
+You can manage as many bank or cash accounts as needed on your database. Configuring them correctly
 allows you to have all your banking data up-to-date and ready for :doc:`reconciliation
 <bank/reconciliation>` with your journal entries.
 
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ which include action buttons.
 .. image:: bank/card.png
    :alt: Bank journals are displayed on the Accounting Dashboard and contain action buttons
 
-.. _accounting/bank/manage_accounts:
+.. _accounting/bank_accounts/manage:
 
-Manage your bank and cash accounts
-==================================
+Manage bank and cash accounts
+=============================
 
-Connect your bank for automatic synchronization
------------------------------------------------
+Connect a bank for automatic synchronization
+--------------------------------------------
 
 To connect your bank account to your database, go to :menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration
 --> Banks: Add a Bank Account`, select your bank in the list, click on :guilabel:`Connect`, and
@@ -36,16 +36,17 @@ follow the instructions.
 .. seealso::
    :doc:`bank/bank_synchronization`
 
-.. _accounting/bank/create_account:
+.. _accounting/bank_accounts/create:
 
 Create a bank account
 ---------------------
 
 If your banking institution is not available in Odoo, or if you don't want to connect your bank
 account to your database, you can configure your bank account manually.
 
-To manually add a bank account, go to :menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration --> Banks:
-Add a Bank Account`, click on :guilabel:`Create it` (at the bottom right), and fill out the form.
+To manually add a bank account, go to :menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration --> Add a Bank
+Account`, click on :guilabel:`Record transactions manually` (at the bottom right), fill out the bank
+information, and click :guilabel:`Create`.
 
 .. note::
    - Odoo automatically detects the bank account type (e.g., IBAN) and enables some features
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ To create a new cash journal, go to :menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration
 Journals`, click on :guilabel:`Create` and select :guilabel:`Cash` in the :guilabel:`Type` field.
 
 For more information on the accounting information fields, read the
-:ref:`accounting/bank/configuration` section of this page.
+:ref:`accounting/bank_accounts/configuration` section of this page.
 
 .. note::
    A default cash journal is available and can be used straight away. You can review it by going to
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ Edit an existing bank or cash journal
 To edit an existing bank journal, go to :menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration --> Accounting:
 Journals` and select the journal you want to modify.
 
-.. _accounting/bank/configuration:
+.. _accounting/bank_accounts/configuration:
 
 Configuration
 =============
@@ -87,13 +88,21 @@ You can edit the accounting information and bank account number according to you
    - :doc:`get_started/multi_currency`
    - :doc:`bank/transactions`
 
-.. _bank_accounts/suspense:
+.. _accounting/bank_accounts/suspense:
 
 Suspense account
 ----------------
 
-Bank statement transactions are posted on the :guilabel:`Suspense Account` until the final
-reconciliation allows finding the right account.
+Bank statement transactions are posted on the suspense account until they are reconciled. At any
+moment, the suspense account's balance in the general ledger shows the balance of transactions that
+have not yet been reconciled.
+
+.. note::
+   When a bank transaction is reconciled, the journal entry is modified to replace the bank suspense
+   account with the account of the journal item it is reconciled with. This account is usually the
+   :ref:`outstanding receipts or payments account <accounting/bank/outstanding-accounts>` if
+   reconciling with a registered payment or the account receivable or payable if reconciling with
+   an invoice or bill directly.
 
 Profit and loss accounts
 ------------------------
@@ -105,7 +114,7 @@ register a loss when the ending balance of a cash register differs from what the
 Currency
 --------
 
-You can edit the currency used to enter the statements.
+You can edit the currency used to enter the transactions.
 
 .. seealso::
    :doc:`get_started/multi_currency`
@@ -114,7 +123,7 @@ Account number
 --------------
 
 If you need to **edit your bank account details**, click on the external link arrow next to your
-:guilabel:`Account Number`. On the new page, click on the external link arrow next to your
+:guilabel:`Account Number`. On the account page, click on the external link arrow next to your
 :guilabel:`Bank` and update your bank information accordingly. These details are used when
 registering payments.
 
@@ -124,12 +133,13 @@ registering payments.
 Bank feeds
 ----------
 
-:guilabel:`Bank Feeds` defines how the bank statements are registered. Three options are available:
+:guilabel:`Bank Feeds` defines how the bank transactions are registered. Three options are
+available:
 
 - :guilabel:`Undefined yet`, which should be selected when you don’t know yet if you will
   synchronize your bank account with your database or not.
 - :guilabel:`Import (CAMT, CODA, CSV, OFX, QIF)`, which should be selected if you want to import
-  your bank statement using a different format.
+  your bank statements and transactions using a different format.
 - :guilabel:`Automated Bank Synchronization`, which should be selected if your bank is synchronized
   with your database.
 
@@ -142,47 +152,46 @@ Bank feeds
 Outstanding accounts
 ====================
 
-By default, payments are registered through transitory accounts named **outstanding accounts**,
-before being recorded in your bank account.
+By default, payments in Odoo do not create journal entries, but they can easily be configured to
+create journal entries using **outstanding accounts**.
 
-- An **outstanding payments account** is where outgoing payments are posted until they are linked
-  with a withdrawal from your bank statement.
 - An **outstanding receipts account** is where incoming payments are posted until they are linked
-  with a deposit from your bank statement.
-
-These accounts should be of :ref:`type <chart-of-account/type>` :guilabel:`Current Assets`.
-
-.. note::
-   The movement from an outstanding account to a bank account is done automatically when you
-   reconcile the bank account with a bank statement.
+  with incoming bank transactions.
+- An **outstanding payments account** is where outgoing payments are posted until they are linked
+  with outgoing bank transactions.
 
-Default accounts configuration
-------------------------------
+These accounts are usually of :ref:`type <chart-of-account/type>` :guilabel:`Current Assets` and
+:guilabel:`Current Liabilities`.
 
-The outstanding accounts are defined by default. If necessary, you can update them by going to
-:menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration --> Settings --> Default Accounts` and update your
-:guilabel:`Outstanding Receipts Account` and :guilabel:`Outstanding Payments Account`.
+Payments that are registered in Odoo are posted to the outstanding receipts and outstanding accounts
+until they are reconciled. At any moment, the outstanding receipts account's balance in the general
+ledger shows the balance of registered incoming payments that have not yet been reconciled, and the
+outstanding payments account's balance in the general ledger shows the balance of registered
+outgoing payments that have not yet been reconciled.
 
-Bank and cash journals configuration
-------------------------------------
+.. note::
+   The movement from an outstanding account to the journal's bank or cash account is done
+   automatically when an incoming or outgoing payment is reconciled with a bank transaction.
 
-You can also set specific outstanding accounts for any journal with the :ref:`type
-<chart-of-account/type>` :guilabel:`Bank` or :guilabel:`Cash`.
+Bank and cash journal configuration
+-----------------------------------
 
-From your :guilabel:`Accounting Dashboard`, click on the menu selection ⋮ of the journal you want to
-configure, and click on :guilabel:`Configuration`, then open the :guilabel:`Incoming/Outgoing
-Payments` tab. To display the outstanding accounts column, click on the toggle button and check the
-:guilabel:`Outstanding Receipts/Payments accounts`, then update the account.
+To make payments create journal entries, set outstanding accounts for the journal's payment methods.
+This can be done for any journal with the :ref:`type <chart-of-account/type>` :guilabel:`Bank` or
+:guilabel:`Cash`.
 
-.. image:: bank/toggle-button.png
-   :alt: Select the toggle button and click on outstanding Accounts
+To configure the outstanding accounts for a journal's payment methods, first go to
+:menuselection:`Accounting --> Configuration --> Journals` and select a bank or cash journal. In the
+:guilabel:`Incoming Payments` and :guilabel:`Outgoing Payments` tabs, set :guilabel:`Outstanding
+Receipts accounts` and :guilabel:`Outstanding Payments accounts` for each payment method that you
+want to create journal entries.
 
 .. note::
-   - If you do not specify an outstanding payments account or an outstanding receipts account for a
-     specific journal, Odoo uses the default outstanding accounts.
-   - If your main bank account is added as an outstanding receipts account or outstanding payments
-     account, when a payment is registered, the invoice or bill's status is directly set to
-     :guilabel:`Paid`.
+   - If the main bank account of the journal is added as an outstanding receipts account or
+     outstanding payments account, when a payment is registered, the invoice or bill's status is
+     directly set to :guilabel:`Paid`.
+   - If the outstanding receipts or outstanding payments account for a payment method is left blank,
+     registering a payment with that payment method will not create any journal entry.
 
 .. toctree::
    :titlesonly:

content/applications/finance/accounting/bank/internal_transfers.rst

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Internal money transfers can be handled in Odoo. At least two bank or cash accou
 make internal transfers.
 
 .. seealso::
-   :ref:`How to add an additional bank account <accounting/bank/create_account>`
+   :ref:`How to add an additional bank account <accounting/bank_accounts/create>`
 
 Configuration
 =============

content/applications/finance/accounting/reporting/year_end.rst

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Before closing a fiscal year, ensure first everything is accurate and up-to-date
 - Validate all :doc:`expenses <../../expenses>`, ensuring their accuracy.
 - Corroborate that all :doc:`received payments <../payments>` have been encoded and recorded
   accurately.
-- Close all :ref:`suspense accounts <bank_accounts/suspense>`.
+- Close all :ref:`suspense accounts <accounting/bank_accounts/suspense>`.
 - Book all :doc:`depreciation <../vendor_bills/assets>` and :doc:`deferred revenue
   <../customer_invoices/deferred_revenues>` entries.