SAP MM – Interview QnA on “Account Assignment Categories (K, F, A, etc.)”

1. What is an Account Assignment Category in SAP MM?

Answer:
An Account Assignment Category determines where the procurement cost is posted in Financial Accounting (FI) when a material or service is procured without going into stock.


2. Why are Account Assignment Categories required?

Answer:
They are required when:

  • Material is consumed directly
  • Procurement is non-stock
  • Cost must be posted to a specific cost object (cost center, asset, project, sales order, etc.)

3. What happens if no account assignment category is entered?

Answer:
The material is treated as stock procurement, and the value is posted to inventory account.


4. List the most common Account Assignment Categories.

CategoryDescription
KCost Center
FOrder (Production / Maintenance)
AAsset
PProject (WBS Element)
CSales Order
ENetwork
QProject – Stock

5. Explain Account Assignment Category K.

Answer:

  • Used when cost is assigned to a Cost Center
  • Common for office supplies, travel, utilities
  • Cost is posted directly to P&L

Required field: Cost Center


6. Explain Account Assignment Category F.

Answer:

  • Used for internal orders
  • Often used for maintenance, repair, or production costs
  • Settlement can be done later

Required field: Order Number


7. Explain Account Assignment Category A.

Answer:

  • Used when procuring items for an Asset
  • Asset under Construction (AuC) or fixed asset
  • Capitalized instead of expensed

Required field: Asset Number, Sub-asset


8. Explain Account Assignment Category P.

Answer:

  • Used for Project System (PS)
  • Costs are posted to WBS Element
  • Common in construction and IT projects

Required field: WBS Element


9. Explain Account Assignment Category C.

Answer:

  • Used when cost is directly assigned to a Sales Order
  • Used in Make-to-Order scenarios

Required field: Sales Order & Item


10. Explain Account Assignment Category E.

Answer:

  • Used for Networks in Project System
  • Typically used in complex engineering projects

11. What is Account Assignment Category Q?

Answer:

  • Used for Project Stock
  • Stock is assigned to a specific WBS
  • Unlike P, stock is created

12. Difference between K and F?

K (Cost Center)F (Order)
Direct expenseTemporary cost object
No settlementRequires settlement
Operational costsMaintenance/Production

13. Difference between A and K?

A (Asset)K (Cost Center)
CapitalizedExpensed
Balance SheetP&L
Long-term valueShort-term expense

14. Can we use Account Assignment with Material Master?

Answer:
Yes. In material master:

  • Non-valuated materials
  • Services
  • Consumables

Stock materials usually do not require account assignment.


15. Can we split account assignments?

Answer:
✅ Yes.
You can split costs:

  • Percentage-based
  • Quantity-based

Example:
50% → Cost Center A
50% → Cost Center B


16. Is account assignment mandatory for services?

Answer:
✅ Yes.
Services are always non-stock items, so account assignment is mandatory.


17. How does account assignment affect Goods Receipt?

Answer:

  • With account assignment → No stock created
  • Value is posted directly to expense or asset

18. How does account assignment affect Invoice Receipt?

Answer:
Invoice is posted directly to:

  • Cost Center
  • Asset
  • Order
  • WBS

Depending on the category.


19. Can account assignment be changed after PO creation?

Answer:
🚫 No (after GR).
Before GR → Allowed
After GR → Not allowed (accounting already posted)


20. Where is Account Assignment Category configured?

Answer:
SPRO → Materials Management → Purchasing → Account Assignment


21. Which table stores account assignment data?

TableDescription
EKKNPO Account Assignment
EKPOPO Item
EKKOPO Header

22. Real-time scenario question

Question: Company buys laptops for HR department. Which account assignment?
Answer:

  • K – Cost Center (HR cost center)

23. Another scenario

Question: Purchase of machinery for factory expansion?
Answer:

  • A – Asset (Asset under Construction)

24. Can stock items have account assignment?

Answer:
🚫 Generally No
✅ Exception: Sales Order Stock / Project Stock


25. One-liner interview summary

  • K → Expense
  • A → Capitalization
  • F → Internal tracking
  • P → Project cost
  • C → Sales order cost