Value Flows into SAP Margin Analysis (CO-PA) in S/4HANA

Stefan Eifler · Christoph Theis

Espresso Tutorials GmbH

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This practical manual guides you step by step through the flows of actual values into SAP Profitability Analysis (CO-PA) and the forms these flows take in S/4HANA, including the account-based CO-PA required there. The book presents the technical prerequisites and changes that SAP S/4HANA brings compared to the previous product, ERP, and discusses whether there is any truth in rumors such as “The Controlling module will no longer exist.” Using a simple, continuous example, the authors, who have many years of experience with SAP Controlling, illustrate how an SAP value flow progresses through the individual stages of the process: from a sales order, through production, right up to the issue of goods and invoicing. The book shows where you will find these values at each respective point in time in Financials (FI) and Controlling (CO). The authors explain both the business and the SAP technical view in detail and highlight the benefits of the innovative approach under S/4HANA, now known under the new name of “SAP Margin Analysis.” Furthermore, the book delivers a plea for CO-PA to be used as a tool for sales management — a tool that allows the widest possible variety of business analyses.</br> </br>  

- Value flows based on the logistical sales and production process</br>  

- Comparison of costing-based and account-based CO-PA</br>  

- Presentation of the changes in the value flow compared to SAP ERP</br>  

- Continuous numerical example right up to closing activities</br>  

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Stefan Eifler has worked as an external and internal SAP consultant for more than 17 years, focusing on CO. He specializes in Profitability Analysis (CO-PA).

After completing his business studies degree at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, he began work as an external SAP consultant at COPA GmbH, a consultancy specializing in the beverages industry. He has implemented the module CO, always including CO-PA, successfully and on schedule at many well-known companies in the beverages industry, such as Coca-Cola, Veltins, Schwarze, Amecke, Berentzen, and Schneider Weisse.

After marrying his wife Karin and while awaiting the birth of his son Jan Lukas, Stefan accepted an offer from Berentzen-Gruppe AG to work there as an in-house SAP consultant. There, as lead for controlling projects, in addition to many SAP projects, such as the implementation of SAP R/3 when the Berentzen companies were merged into one company, he led projects such as the implementation of international reporting (IFRS) for December 31, 2005. In additional roles such as sales and production controller, Stefan was able to gather a lot of practical experience in controlling.

Thanks to his holistic business training, he was also the risk manager for Berentzen-Gruppe AG and supported numerous internal and external students with their degree dissertations and theses. Since February 2012, Stefan has been working at the global company Sartorius AG in Göttingen, Germany, as an in-house consultant for CO and PS (Project System), enabling him to gather deeper international experience.

Christoph Theis studied business administration and now has more than ten years of experience in the SAP environment, with a focus on Financials and Controlling. Up until 2012 he was employed at Logwin AG. His main tasks included on one hand accompanying various international SAP rollouts with a focus on reporting, forms, Finance, and Controlling, and on the other hand, customizing the system, testing settings, training key users, and performing data migrations. For one year he managed the Cash Management department with nine employees and gathered extensive know-how as an employee in the Treasury and Controlling group at Logwin AG. 

At the beginning of 2013, Christoph became an external SAP consultant and for one year, supported various medium-sized companies in SAP implementations and SAP optimization projects in the areas of FI and CO. He now works as an accountant/in-house consultant for rollouts and integration projects with SAP FI & CO at Sartorius AG in Göttingen and supports international SAP rollouts in the areas of Financials and Controlling, for example in the USA, in Puerto Rico, France, Belgium and Tunisia.