SAP Certified Application Professional – Business Consolidation with SAP ERP 6.0 – print view

Disclaimer: These sample questions are for self-evaluation purposes only and do not appear on the actual certification exams. Answering the sample questions correctly is no guarantee that you will pass the certification exam. The certification exam covers a much broader spectrum of topics, so do make sure you have familiarized yourself with all topics listed in the exam competency areas before taking the certification exam.

Introduction

Advanced Professional certifications require proven project experience, business process knowledge, and a more detailed understanding of SAP solutions. Professional certifications are targeting profiles with minimum 4-7 years of experience. Besides the recommended education courses also practical job experience is required and tested. With professional-level certification, you can:

• Demonstrate both your experience and your expertise through a rigorous testing process
• Promote a more globally applicable accreditation with higher billable rates
• Lead as well as execute tasks and engagements
• Access a community of SAP professional-level certified peers

If you are a consultant with more than 5 years of experience, you probably are already in possession of the knowledge you need to pass the exam. This certification preparation guide is designed to provide some guidance as to the topics covered in the exam, sample questions, and study resources.

Exam Competency Areas

The certification test for "SAP Certified Application Professional – Strategic Enterprise Management – Business Consolidation" verifies the profound knowledge in the area of SEM-BCS. This certificate proves that the candidate has an advanced understanding within this profile and is able to apply these skills practically and provide guidance in project implementation.

Software components: SAP SEM BCS 6.0

Number of Questions: 90

Duration: 180 minutes

Competency Areas: The following list helps you to identify the competency areas covered in this test. The percentage indicates the portion of the test dedicated to a particular competency area.

1. Conceptualize complex processes into customer prominent solutions. Based on professional application and advanced analysis qualification, customer business requirements can be recognized and transferred into concepts and blueprints of prominent customer solutions (40%).

Topics / Learning Options:

• Data Entry
  You should be familiar with all aspects of data entry, including but not limited to:
  • Reported financial data
  • Posting levels: used to classify journal entries in the consolidation system and differentiate between reported data, standardized data, elimination entries and elimination of investment entries. (Consolidation of investments)
  • Additional financial data
    There are several areas where additional financial data can be used including, but not limited to changes in investments and elimination of inter-unit profit in inventory.
  • Flexible/Fixed data layouts
  • Manual posting
• Master data for consolidation
  You should be familiar with both options for master data as well as features for master data such as:
  • Data synchronization with BI
  • Changing objects in BI
  • Consolidation specific master data including breakdown categories.
    Breakdown categories provide similar functions and features to field status, a common theme throughout most of SAP financials and other modules, but, can also be used on the loading of totals records. Thorough understanding of how breakdown categories insure data integrity will be covered.
  • Time and Version dependencies
    Versions are used to execute parallel consolidations according to different aspects of data, such as:
    • (for example, Actual, Plan, Target)
    • Accounting principles (for example, U.S. GAAP, IAS, German HGB)
    • Valuations
    • Simulations (for example, to see how different exchange rates or a divestiture of a consolidation unit affect the consolidated statements)

    A consolidation area can have one or more characteristics with the role version. If multiple characteristics have the role version, you can choose which version combination is to be used in consolidation. The role version cannot be assigned to dependent characteristics, which are compounded with independent characteristics.

    When there are two characteristics with the role version: Accounting Principles and Data Category, these might have the following characteristic values:

    • Data category: Actual and Plan
    • Accounting principles: U.S. GAAP and German HGB

    You use both accounting principles for planning, but you use only U.S. GAAP for creating consolidated statements with actual data. Therefore, you select the following three combinations (out of the four that are available):

    • Actual / U.S. GAAP
    • Plan / U.S. GAAP
    • Plan / German HGB

  • Hierarchies
    Hierarchies of consolidation units are always defined as version dependent and time dependent. You can decide whether hierarchies of other characteristics in the consolidation system (SEM-BCS) are dependent on time or the version (for example, hierarchies for financial statement items and sub assignments). Other hierarchies are independent of versions, time periods, and version dependent.

    Assignments (higher-level nodes → lower-level nodes) within a version are time dependent. A starting year and period determine from which point forward an assignment is valid, and an ending year and period determine up to which point in time the assignment is valid. The assignment can also be valid across multiple timeframes.

    When defining a hierarchy in SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence (BI) for a characteristic, you can choose: whether hierarchies of this characteristic are version dependent and whether the entire hierarchy or the hierarchy structure is time dependent.

    Hierarchy settings in BI also affect the consolidation system. Hierarchies of consolidation units are the exception: They must be defined as time and version dependent – regardless of the settings in BI.

• Reconciliation and Inter-Unit Elimination

  Inter-unit (IU) elimination enables you to eliminate business relationships, based on the trade of goods and services between the consolidation units and within a consolidation group. You should be familiar with implementation considerations related to eliminations including:

  • Selections for eliminations
    Selection is at least a pair of financial statement items and, if applicable, consolidation unit, partner unit, sub-assignments, and other characteristics which are used to determine the elimination difference. You use the selections to reflect the business relationships (receivables/payables etc.) between the consolidation units which are within a consolidation group. You can create multiple pairs of selections for each elimination method. The first selection contains the accounting objects; the second selection contains the offsetting accounting objects for the eliminations.
  
  
  
  • One and two sided posting
    Two-sided inter-unit elimination is based on two selections, uses a pair of elimination entries, and is typically used for eliminations of group-internal business relationships through trade and services. Posting level 20 is reserved for this task.
    
    By contrast, one-sided inter-unit elimination is a simplified form of elimination. One sided elimination entries are based on the values listed in only one selection.
  
  
  
  • Strategies related to posting differences
    Differences can be posted to a specific consolidation unit or based on values in a business context. Exposure to strategies should be included in a consultant's experience.


• Currency Translation
  Translation of financial data, usually reported by consolidation units in local currency, to group currency is required to create consolidated financial statements. Subject matter to be familiar with include:
  
  
  • Translation to Target Currency: Used to translate the data records from a source key figure (such as the local currency) to a target key figure (such as the group currency).
  
  
  
  • Rounding: When different exchange rates are used to translate different sections of the trial balance, rounding errors can occur during the translation of currencies. Rounding function insures that the rounding rules are observed (in the source currency), and the system clears the rounding differences in the target currency insuring a footed trial balance.


• Reclassification
  The reclassification function enables you transfer values from one account assignment to another. In the Consolidation system you can use reclassifications for all posting levels. That is, you can use them to: Adjust the financial data reported by consolidation units to meet the group's accounting requirements (standardizing entries) and to reclassify already-consolidated data. One of the most common reclassification tasks in consolidations are the postings to the income statement clearing, current year retained earnings, and balance sheet clearing accounts.
  
  You also can use reclassifications to model the proportionate method of consolidation in the system. One should be familiar with:
  • Elements of reclassification
  • Appropriate use of different posting levels
  • Conditions and Sub assignments


• Manual Postings
  Posting levels, inversion, (reversal) and other aspects of manual postings provide one of the initial building blocks for reported financial data. Subject matter may include investment related activities and the posting of group shares.



• Validation
  Used to insure consistency of reported, standardized, consolidated, and additional financial data, validations can be used for both totals data and documents.

2. Build solutions by independently researching valid implementation options. Based on profound understanding and deep application skills, project requirements can be transferred into solid customer solutions (40%).

Topics / Learning Options:

• Data Modeling
  Included in this section are features and constraints related to: Data basis, Consolidation area, permanent parameters, and periodicity.



• Consolidation of Investment activity
  Consultants should understand the differences between the supported accounting techniques, including Purchase and Equity Method. You should also understand the relationship between investment activities and those methods. Knowledge of proportionate/proportional consolidation is also advised.



• International Accounting Standards (IAS & US GAAP)
  BCS is designed to handle multiple accounting standards. Consultants should be knowledgeable about the difference between accounting standards and concepts related to Consolidation of Investment



• Treatment of Goodwill



• Migration from:
  • ECCS
  • Legacy Systems



• Balance Carry Forward – and the appropriate settings related to movement types



• Change to consolidation group

3. Accomplish and identify solutions for defined project tasks. Based on profound knowledge and basic understanding, identified tasks can be performed during system implementation, configuration, and testing (20%).

Topics / Learning Options:

• Reporting
  Reporting with BI queries, technical reports, XBRL, and other tools and functions are all included in this section. Consultants should also be familiar with the use of virtual info providers and multi providers within the context of a data mart.
  
  Financial reports in consolidation are generated with queries that are neither directly based on the InfoCubes for totals records nor journal entries. Instead, these queries are based on the virtual InfoProviders delivered in SAP BI Content, which in turn refer to the aforementioned InfoCubes. The reason for this indirect method of data access is due to accounting principles with regards to single-entity statements and consolidated statements which necessitate various modifications to the data stored in the BasicCubes. The data staging occurs dynamically when a query is executed with the help of programs that are assigned as data sources for the virtual InfoProviders. Data staging can involve the following steps:
  • Consideration of the hierarchy of consolidation units and groups, and the assignment of those consolidation units to the consolidation groups: During this step, the system may need to temporarily create additional data records or, for reporting purposes, even discard data records read from the InfoCube for totals records.
  • If a consolidation unit simultaneously belongs to more than one consolidation group, the system creates in the virtual InfoProvider additional data records that are not contained in the InfoCube for totals records.


• Financial closing procedures/processes
  Allocations and assessments and all aspects related to fast close including timing and sequences can be included in the exam. Consultants taking the exam should also be familiar with the appropriate use and limitations of trading partner and group accounts.



• Planning
  BCS has fairly specific data requirements. Consultants should be aware of those requirements as they relate to planning and the integrated tools that use BI including BPS and BI-IP.



• Archiving



• Authorization
  Subject matter includes authorization objects related to task processing as well as reporting authorization. Consultants should understand the differences between the two.



• Transports
  Consultants should be familiar with transport tools and proper sequencing of transports. In addition copying consolidation area-dependent settings and other items may also be included. Appropriate settings for allowing changes in a productive environment may also be included.

Sample Questions

DISCLAIMER: These sample questions are for self-evaluation purposes only and do not appear on the actual certification exams. Answering the sample questions correctly is no guarantee that you will pass the certification exam. The certification exam covers a much broader spectrum of topics, so do make sure you have familiarized yourself with all topics listed in the Exam Competency Areas before taking the certification exam.

1. You have used the copy function to copy data from version "A" to version "B". Thereafter, both versions are in sync. However, when you subsequently update or modify data in version "A", it will differ from the data in version "B". How does SEM-BCS release 6.0 support synchronization, to ensure version "B" will be updated immediately after version "A" is modified?

Please choose the correct answer.

2. You want to upload a consolidation unit hierarchy. Master data for both consolidation unit and consolidation groups is not yet entered in the system. What is the minimum number of uploads required to get a consolidation unit hierarchy completed in the system?

Please choose the correct answer.

3. You have the following situation in a customer project: You have a version for plan (200) and a version for actual data (100). All settings (including the assignment of the exchange rate indicator to an item within the CT method) and the whole consolidation process are the same. There is one exception concerning the currency translation requested: for actual data there must be a different exchange rate used than for plan data. What is the lowest cost but still effective way to meet this requirement?

Please choose the correct answer.

4. In a customer project, you want to use the validation at the time of data entry. A validation method has to be assigned to the valid version or version combination. When creating a validation method, you select the type of data stream as "Totals record". What kind of validation type do you have to select to fulfill the requirements?

Please choose the correct answer.

5. Which of the following roles can be assigned to more than one InfoObject?

There are 4 correct answers to this question. Select which of the following answers are correct.

6. You discuss the consolidation chart of accounts with the subsidiary financial department regarding mapping the elimination of interunit (IU) payables and receivables. Which of the following items can be of relevance to the elimination of IU payables and receivables function and should therefore receive a breakdown by partner unit, so that they can be included within the method definition?

There are 4 correct answers to this question. Select which of the following answers are correct.

7. There are different reporting architectures available in SEM-BCS 6.0. Which one of the following models is the fastest performing one?

Please choose the correct answer.

8. In a customer project, you have the following requirements: The consolidation process has to be executed in group currency USD at first and eventually the consolidated data should be available in EUR as well. However, you want to execute the consolidation run in one version only. Given these described requirements, which of the following statements are true?

There are 3 correct answers to this question. Select which of the following answers are correct.

9. Please consider the following scenario.

Unit M is parent of A and has a share of 100% of A.
Unit A is parent of B and has a share of 80% of B.
All units are included using purchase method in a flat consolidation unit hierarchy.

Please answer the following questions with yes or no!

The following data is reported:

M	Investment to Investee A	= 	8.000 USD
A	Equity 			=	-10.000 USD
A 	Investment to Investee B	=	5.000 USD
B	Equity 			=	-2.000 USD

During the first consolidation the following postings will be executed. Please assume that the first consolidation of all units takes place in one period. The Goodwill for both A and B are calculated based on direct share.

	  
M	Investment to Investee A 	= 	-8.000 USD
A	Equity 			=	+10.000 USD
A	Goodwill			=	-2.000 USD

	  
A 	Investment to Investee B	=	-5.000 USD
B	Equity 			=	+2.000 USD
B	Equity Minority		=	- 400 USD
B	Goodwill			=	+3.400 USD  
	  
	  
	  

10. Assume the following situation in a customer project:
The customer system is life since 12/2006, for one version with several tasks grouped in 3 task groups. Because of new process requirements, you are asked to include a new task in task group 2 as of 10/2007. What is the simplest way with a minimum of customizing effort to fulfill the new requirement?

11. The breakdown category for the items is stored in the software component _____.

Please use the keyboard to enter the right answer.

________________________________________

12. You want to use the copy function to copy documents from one version A to another version B. The documents which are copied are defined as "reversal in the next period". Which task would you have to run in version B to invert the copied document in the next period?

Please choose the correct answer.

13. In a customer project you have the following situation:

• The location of values for CoI is for Equity in AFD and for Investment in RFD.
• There are units using "at equity and purchase method".
• You have activated the validation of AFD, message type "error".
• There is just one scope for reported data for "at equity units" (scope A=annual net income).
• Unit E follows the "at equity method" and will be first consolidated in 03/2007.
• Unit P is parent of unit E. Unit P reports the investment data through RFD and unit E reports the equity for first consolidation in AFD.
• Given this scenario, what would happen when the validation task is executed?

Please choose the correct answer.

14. When you execute the breakdown checker and you have a validation method active which is based on version/version combinations – what do you have to keep in mind?

Please choose the correct answer.

15. In the example described below, a new subsidiary is acquired. Please consider the differences between posting with direct share or group share in this scenario.

B Goodwill = _________USD

Please use the keyboard to enter the right answer.

________________________________________

Unit M is parent of A and has a share of 80% of A.
Unit A is parent of B and has a share of 80% of B.

The following data is reported:

	
M	Investment to Investee A	=	8,000 USD
A	Equity 			=	-10,000 USD
A 	Investment to Investee B	=	5,000 USD
B	Equity 			=	-2,000 USD

	
	

During the first consolidation the following postings will be executed. Please assume that the first consolidation of all units takes place in one period.

M	Investment to Investee A 	=	-8,000 USD
A	Equity 			=	+10,000 USD
A	Equity Minority		=	-2,000 USD

A 	Investment to Investee B	=	-5,000 USD
B	Equity 			=	+2,000 USD
B	Equity Minority		=	- 520 USD

B	Goodwill			=	??? USD

Please calculate the value which is posted to the "B Goodwill" item using group share.

Note: The following document line is missing in the example described above.

   A	Min. Investment	=	XXX USD 
   

16. In the example below, consolidation unit M is the parent company and owns 20% of consolidation unit U. There is a consolidation method using the at equity method assigned to unit U.

The following data is reported:

Please calculate the value for the missing two lines. The absolute value is the same for both lines. The values just differ by the sign, as depicted in the example.

Absolute value for M Goodwill (+) and M Investment to Subs. (-) = _________USD

Please use the keyboard to enter the right answer.

________________________________________

M	Investment	3,000 USD
U	Equity		500 USD

   

The following posting will take place during the first consolidation:

   
U	stat. Equity		-100 USD
U	stat. offset Item		+100 USD
M	Goodwill			+ ?? USD
M	Investment to Subs. 	- ?? USD
   
   

17. Please consider the following scenario: Unit A is included using a purchase method. M is the parent unit and owns A with a 100% share. Unit A was first consolidated in 12/2005 and currently the system posts the subsequent consolidation in 09/2006. No other activities are valid in this period. Please assume that the values reported are defined as a trigger for the activity "subsequent consolidation".

Note: It is irrelevant whether the data is reported using additional or reported financial data.

Please use the keyboard to enter the right answer.

____________________________________________________________

A	Retained earnings			500,000 USD
A	Currency translation differences	100,000 USD
A	Other reserves				200,000 USD

A	stat. Retained earnings (RE)		+ ??? USD
A	stat. RE offset item			-??? USD

18. Which of the following information are reportable from BW as standard, as of Release SEM-BCS 6.0?

There are 2 correct answers to this question.

Select which of the following answers are correct.

19. After the task "validation of consolidated data", only one task can be executed. This task is called ______.

Please use the keyboard to enter the right answer.

________________________________________

Expert Guidance

In preparing for this exam, it is important to remember that the exam covers a broad range of topics, and therefore it is not possible to ask many questions on any one topic. Certain topics, such as the Master data for consolidation and Data entry receive more emphasis than topics such as Changes to consolidation groups and Transports. Also, be advised that although this exam is focused on the technical/configuration aspects of BCS, you will be asked questions regarding accounting standards and concepts, BI data modeling/reporting as it relates to financial statement presentation, and some questions related to the transactional accounting system . You should use the percentage guides from the Exam Competency Areas section above to guide the allocation of your preparation time.

As shown in the sample exam questions, a good understanding of various business scenarios and accounting procedure/processes is helpful when choosing the best answer from a list of possible approaches. For these types of questions where multiple answers are correct, it may be helpful to use a selection/elimination strategy. You can possibly eliminate answers that are factually wrong, while selecting answers that are clearly correct. This leaves fewer answers where you might not be sure, thus speeding up the selection process.

For questions that are based on product functionality rather than a business scenario, the answers are usually found in the course material listed for that area in the Exam Competency Areas section above. While several answers may be very similar in their wording, take sufficient time to clearly understand the meaning of each answer rather than rushing. Remember that BCS is designed to work globally and that some questions may be in part based on different accounting standards and practices. That will help in distinguishing which answer(s) is/are correct. Functionality questions are normally about the primary functions of the software, not obscure or secondary features and options.

Consolidation of investments and related accounting standards are areas where practical knowledge will be especially helpful. Some of the questions in these areas may not be discussed directly in the training material and require an understanding of accounting processes. The resources listed below can also be useful in learning the more technical aspects of accounting methods and practices.

Data modeling with an understanding of InfoProviders and InfoObjects are also important areas of the exam where experience and additional knowledge will make it easier to score well. The exam was not designed to have 'trick' questions or answers, but you should think through the choices to make sure you understand the exact meaning and impact of each option before making your choices.

The majority of the questions in this exam are multiple choice questions. Some of these require you to select the single correct answer others, are multiple choice questions. In the multiple choice questions, be sure to note the advice on the number of correct answers. You must choose the number of answers indicated. There isn't any partial scoring and multiple response questions are scored as either correct or incorrect. There may also be a small number of Fill-in-the Blank items. These questions are not designed to test your language skills so there is normally a range of acceptable answers, for example with or without capitalization, etc.

Resource Page

SAP Service Market Place

SEM – Strategic Enterprise Management

SAP ERP Central Component, Release 6.0, SR1, incl. SP11, November 2007

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp60_sp/helpdata/en/3a/c670373bbf0303e10000009b38f842/frameset.htm

BW Expert

http://www.bwexpertonline.com/

Providing US GAAP and IFRS resources for Members

SAP Developer's Network (SDN):

http://sdn.sap.com > Information Management > Business Intelligence

A great source of whitepapers, blogs, wikis and forums for SAP NetWeaver BI

SAPPress Web site:

http://www.sap-press.com

Solutions

Further Information

Further information about SAP Certification can be found on the SAP Education Web site.

If you have any queries about this document please contact your local SAP Education representative orSAP Education.