INBOOKS · PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Accounting for Logistics
Use the shipment or job reference to connect customer charges with carrier, handling and subcontractor costs. Separate advances and pass-through amounts for review so a busy month does not conceal incomplete jobs or unrecovered charges.
Records and controls to prioritize
- Shipment/job register with customer and supplier references
- Carrier and subcontractor bills matched to completed jobs
- Fuel, toll and vehicle-cost records where relevant
- Customer advances, open jobs and unbilled-charge reconciliation
Practical questions
Why is job-level matching useful?
It shows which costs belong to each shipment and highlights supplier invoices or customer charges that have not yet been captured.
How should a payment made before the supplier bill be handled?
Keep evidence of the advance, match it when the bill arrives and review unallocated balances regularly with the responsible operator.
Scope the work around your operations
Describe the channels, entities, accounting system and periods involved. Agree the review and reporting scope before work starts.
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