Method and system for processing accounting information

A computer-implemented apparatus for generating a uniform statement of financial information from a plurality of input financial data records, wherein each input financial data record includes at least a record description and an associated input financial value, the apparatus including:

• a data store containing an accounting standard which includes a plurality of predetermined standard terms, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of predetermined standard types;
• a data store containing at least one ruleset associated with the input financial records, the ruleset including a plurality of rules, wherein each rule includes at least a rule description, and an associated mapping to one of the standard terms of the accounting standard;
• computer-software-implemented means for generating a plurality of output financial data records by, for each one of said input financial data records, providing computer-software-implemented means for:
• determining a best-match rule for the financial data record amongst the rules in the ruleset by comparing at least the record description with the rule descriptions of rules within the ruleset;
• and
• generating an output financial data record including a standard description corresponding with the standard term associated with the best-match rule, and an output financial value corresponding with the input financial value,
• computer-software-implemented means for compiling a uniform statement of financial information including said plurality of output financial data records;
• and
• computer-software-implemented means for outputting the uniform statement of financial information.

A system for generating a uniform statement of financial information, the system including:

• a microprocessor;
• at least one memory device, operatively coupled to the microprocessor, which includes one or more data stores containing
• an accounting standard which includes a plurality of predetermined standard terms, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of predetermined standard types, and
• at least one ruleset associated with the input financial records, the ruleset including a plurality of rules, wherein each rule includes at least a rule description, and an associated mapping to one of the standard terms of the accounting standard;
• and
• at least one input/output peripheral interface, operatively coupled to the microprocessor,
• wherein the memory device further contains executable instruction code, which, when executed by the microprocessor causes the system to implement a method including the steps of:
• receiving, via the input/output peripheral interface, a plurality of input financial data records, wherein each input financial data record includes at least a record description and an associated input financial value
• generating a plurality of output financial data records by, for each one of said input financial data records:
• determining a best-match rule for the financial data record amongst the rules in the ruleset, by comparing at least the record description with the rule descriptions of rules within the ruleset;
• and
• generating an output financial data record including a standard description corresponding with the standard term associated with the best-match rule, and an output financial value corresponding with the input financial value,
• compiling a uniform statement of financial information including said plurality of output financial data records;
• and
• outputting the uniform statement of financial information via the input/output peripheral interface.