How should posting periods be defined for a carbon ledger to support restatement

Updated 9/24/2025

Define fixed posting periods (monthly/quarterly) with a clear status lifecycle: open, soft-closed, hard-closed. Allow adjustments after soft-close with approval and timestamped reason codes; after hard-close, require remeasurement entries tagged to the original period but posted in the current period with cross-period references. Use period-specific factor snapshots so recalculations are repeatable. Maintain separate dimensions for transaction date, activity date, and posting date to support accruals and late evidence. Align but not necessarily synchronize with financial periods; store mapping tables for reconciliation. Implement audit logs capturing who changed what and when (immutable). Ensure your period-close checklist includes completeness tests, variance analytics, and uncertainty rollups. This construct preserves an unbroken audit trail, enables transparent restatements, and supports external assurance requirements for consistency and traceability across reporting periods. Key Takeaway: Use phased closes and remeasurement entries with immutable logs; separate activity, posting, and transaction dates to preserve history and enable transparent restatements.

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