Kontosaldot

Kontosaldot refer to the balances of individual accounts in a general ledger within Finnish accounting and financial reporting. The term denotes the net amount currently recorded for a specific account at a given date, and is used to prepare financial statements and perform reconciliations. Kontosaldot arise from double-entry bookkeeping, where each transaction affects at least two accounts with debits and credits. The balance of an account is the result of summing all debits and credits posted to that account. Whether the balance is on the debit side or the credit side depends on the account type: asset and expense accounts generally have a debit normal balance, while liability, equity, and revenue accounts generally have a credit normal balance. If postings make debits exceed credits, the account shows a debit balance; if credits exceed debits, the account shows a credit balance. Some accounts may have an opposite or unusual balance depending on historical activity or adjustments.

Kontosaldot are used to compile financial statements, such as the balance sheet and income statement, and to monitor the financial position of an entity. They are also essential for closing entries, trial balances, and reconciliations with external records such as bank statements or supplier ledgers. In practice, accounting software and ERP systems display kontosaldot for each account and allow users to drill down into the underlying postings. The concept is common across many accounting frameworks, though the exact treatment and naming may vary by jurisdiction and standard (for example Finnish GAAP, IFRS).