Chart of Accounts

View and manage your general ledger accounts — the foundation of your accounting records.

The Chart of Accounts is the complete list of accounts used to categorise every financial transaction in your business. Each account belongs to one of five types — Asset, Liability, Equity, Revenue, or Expense — and has a unique code for easy reference.

Accounting

Overview

The Chart of Accounts page shows a searchable, filterable table of all your general ledger accounts. When you first enable accounting, Helium creates a standard set of UK accounts to get you started. You can add, edit, or deactivate accounts at any time.

Understanding the account list

Each row in the table shows:

Column	Description
Code	A short numeric code (e.g. 1001, 4000) that identifies the account. Codes are displayed in a fixed-width font for easy scanning.
Account Name	The descriptive name of the account (e.g. "Trade Debtors", "Sales Revenue").
Type	The account classification — Asset, Liability, Equity, Revenue, or Expense. Each type has a colour-coded badge.
Category	A more specific grouping within the type, such as "Current Assets", "Cost of Goods Sold", or "Operating Expenses".
Balance	The current balance, shown as Dr (debit) or Cr (credit).
Status	Whether the account is Active or Inactive.

Some accounts also display small badges next to their name:

System — A system-managed account that cannot be deleted
Control — A control account used for aggregation (e.g. Trade Debtors control)
Bank — An account linked to a bank account

Searching and filtering

Search bar — Type part of an account code or name to filter the list instantly
Type filter — Use the dropdown to show only accounts of a specific type (Asset, Liability, Equity, Revenue, or Expense)

Creating a new account

Click New Account

Click the New Account button at the top of the page. A dialog appears with the account form.

Enter the account code

Choose a numeric code for the account. Codes are typically grouped by type — for example, asset accounts might start with 1, liabilities with 2, equity with 3, revenue with 4, and expenses with 5 or higher. The code must be unique.

Enter the account name

Give the account a clear, descriptive name. This name appears throughout the system wherever the account is referenced.

Select the type

Choose one of the five account types:

Asset — Things your business owns (cash, stock, equipment)
Liability — Things your business owes (loans, supplier balances, VAT payable)
Equity — Owner's capital and retained earnings
Revenue — Income from sales and other sources
Expense — Costs of running your business

Select the category

Choose a category within the selected type. The available categories change depending on which type you select. Categories help organise your accounts for reporting.

Add a description (optional)

You can add a short description to explain what the account is used for. This is optional but helpful for team members who may not be familiar with accounting terminology.

Save

Click Create to add the account to your chart. It will appear in the list immediately.

Account types explained

Assets

Things your business owns or is owed. Examples include bank accounts, trade debtors (money customers owe you), stock, and equipment. Asset accounts normally have a debit balance.

Liabilities

Things your business owes to others. Examples include trade creditors (money you owe suppliers), VAT payable, and loans. Liability accounts normally have a credit balance.

Equity

The owner's stake in the business. This includes share capital, retained earnings, and drawings. Equity accounts normally have a credit balance.

Revenue

Income earned by your business. This includes sales revenue, interest income, and any other income sources. Revenue accounts normally have a credit balance.

Expenses

Costs incurred by your business. This includes cost of goods sold, wages, rent, utilities, and other operating costs. Expense accounts normally have a debit balance.

System accounts

Accounts marked as "System" are created automatically and are used internally by Helium. You should not delete or rename these accounts, as they are referenced by automated processes such as order posting and bank reconciliation.

Tips

Keep your chart of accounts as simple as possible — only add accounts you actually need
Use consistent naming conventions so accounts are easy to find
Deactivate accounts you no longer use rather than deleting them, so historical transactions remain linked
Review your chart of accounts periodically to ensure it still reflects your business structure