C_TS4FI Financial Accounting Practice Question
A financial accountant is configuring a new company code in SAP S/4HANA. The company operates in a country where the fiscal year is the same as the calendar year, but the fiscal year is divided into 4 special periods for year-end adjustments. The accountant needs to define the posting periods. Which configuration step is required to enable 4 special periods?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the fiscal year variant with the posting period variant, thinking that the latter defines the number of periods when it only controls their openness.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Define the fiscal year variant with 12 normal periods and 4 special periods.
The correct answer is the one that states defining the fiscal year variant with 12 normal and 4 special periods. The fiscal year variant is the central configuration that determines the number of posting periods and their characteristics. By defining it with 12 normal periods and 4 special periods, the system allows postings in periods 13-16 for year-end adjustments. This variant is then assigned to the company code, and the posting period variant controls which periods are open.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Assign the fiscal year variant to the company code and set the special periods indicator in the company code global parameters.
Why it's wrong here
Assigning the fiscal year variant to the company code is necessary, but the number of special periods is defined in the fiscal year variant itself, not in the company code global parameters. There is no separate indicator for special periods in company code settings; it is inherent in the variant. Therefore, this step alone would not enable 4 special periods.
- ✗
Define a posting period variant with 12 normal periods and 4 special periods, and assign it to the company code.
Why it's wrong here
The posting period variant controls which periods are open for posting for different account types. While it is essential for opening and closing periods, it does not define the number of periods. The number of normal and special periods is defined in the fiscal year variant. The posting period variant simply references the periods from the fiscal year variant. So this step is not the one that enables special periods.
- ✓
Define the fiscal year variant with 12 normal periods and 4 special periods.
Why this is correct
In SAP S/4HANA, the fiscal year variant controls the number of posting periods. To have 12 normal periods and 4 special periods, the fiscal year variant must be defined accordingly. Special periods are used for year-end closing adjustments and are numbered 13 through 16. This configuration is done in Customizing under Financial Accounting -> Financial Accounting Global Settings -> Fiscal Year -> Maintain Fiscal Year Variant. It ensures that the system allows postings in the special periods.
- ✗
Create a new ledger in General Ledger Accounting and specify 16 periods for the fiscal year.
Why it's wrong here
Ledgers in SAP S/4HANA are used for parallel accounting and can have their own fiscal year variants, but they do not define the number of periods for the company code's fiscal year. The periods are derived from the fiscal year variant assigned to the company code. Creating a new ledger with 16 periods would not automatically enable special periods for the company code's financial statements.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official SAP exam blueprint
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