How to Create a Journal Entry

Post a manual double-entry journal to correct accounts or record transactions not captured elsewhere.

What this does

A manual journal entry lets you post debits and credits directly to your chart of accounts. Every entry must balance — total debits must equal total credits — before it can be saved. Relentify validates this automatically as you type.

When to use it

Use journals for adjustments that don't fit the normal invoice, bill, or expense flows — for example, depreciation, accruals, prepayments, or correcting a mis-posted entry. Admin and Accountant roles can create journals; Staff cannot.

Step by step

  1. Go to Reports in the top navigation and select Journals
  2. Click New Journal
  3. Set the Journal Date — this must fall within an open (unlocked) period
  4. Add a Reference or description to explain the purpose of the entry
  5. Add the first line: select an account from the Account picker, then enter either a Debit or Credit amount
  6. Add the second line (and any further lines): select accounts and enter the offsetting amounts
  7. Watch the Balance indicator — it must reach £0.00 before you can save
  8. Optionally, tick Accrual if this entry should auto-reverse at the start of the next period
  9. Click Post to save the journal as a permanent entry, or Save as Draft to review it first
  10. To reverse a posted journal, open it and click Reverse — Relentify creates an equal and opposite entry

Good to know: Four journal templates are available (Depreciation, Accrual, Prepayment, Correction) to speed up common entries. Select a template from the dropdown on the new journal page.