What is the function of a control account?

A control account serves to summarize transactions from subsidiary ledgers, providing an overview of a specific category of transactions, such as accounts receivable or accounts payable. These control accounts allow for a clearer consolidation of data, making it easier to track totals and balances for that particular category without having to go through each individual transaction.

For instance, if a company has numerous customers and each customer's transactions are recorded in their respective subsidiary ledgers, the control account for accounts receivable would sum these individual balances to provide a singular figure for total receivables. This process not only simplifies record-keeping but also enhances internal control by allowing for easier reconciliations and monitoring of financial data.