Abstract: An automated ledger account maintenance system provides up-to-the-minute balances in all ledger accounts whenever data relating to a completed transaction is entered. The system is implemented on a general purpose computer and includes a predefined data file structure including ledger account data files corresponding to the ledger accounts and transaction record data files corresponding to transaction journals. Compliance with user definable accounting procedures is ensured through the use of an accounting control table that contains symbolic codes used by the recordkeeping procedures to authorize and control the creation and updating of the ledger account and transaction record data files. Cross-referencing and indexing of ledger account records, transaction records, and the second control records is provided to ensure a high degree of resistance to unauthorized alteration of the data files and to provide for traceability of all entries and postings.