If a client chooses not to use a shared group-level Chart of Accounts with Accounting Context in NetSuite, and instead creates a separate chart of accounts per subsidiary, what are the implications? What kind of duplication or complexity does this introduce — for example in terms of items, mappings, reporting, or maintenance?

AI generated answer (using internal Slack threads):

****** Disclaimer: This response was generated by an artificial intelligence assistant based on previous conversations from multiple Slack channels, and may contain inaccuracies or mistakes. ****** If a client chooses not to use a shared group-level Chart of Accounts (COA) with Accounting Context in NetSuite, and instead creates a separate chart of accounts per subsidiary, there are several implications to consider: 1. Duplication: Each subsidiary will have its own set of accounts, which could lead to duplication of accounts across subsidiaries. This could make it more difficult to manage and maintain the accounts. 2. Complexity in Reporting: Consolidated reporting could become more complex as you would need to map accounts across different subsidiaries to generate consolidated reports. This could also affect the accuracy of your reports if not done correctly. 3. Maintenance: Maintaining separate COAs for each subsidiary could be more time-consuming and require more resources. For example, if you add a new account, you would need to add it to each subsidiary's COA separately. Similarly, if you add a new subsidiary, you would need to set up a new COA for that subsidiary. 4. Intercompany Transactions: If your subsidiaries have transactions with each other, managing these intercompany transactions could become more complex. You would need to ensure that these transactions are correctly recorded in each subsidiary's COA. 5. Accounting Context Impact: Using separate COAs could impact how you use the Accounting Context feature in NetSuite. This feature allows you to use different numbers for the same account in different subsidiaries, but if you're using separate COAs, this could complicate things. 6. Searches: Accounting context changes how you do searches in NetSuite. So, if you're using separate COAs, you need to understand the impact there before implementing it in production. Remember, NetSuite is designed to simplify your accounting, not complicate it. It might be worth considering using a shared group-level COA and using features like classes, departments, and custom segments to differentiate between subsidiaries.