Chart of accounts (plan comptable)
The French General Chart of Accounts (Plan Comptable Général) is a mandatory reference issued by the ANC that classifies all company accounts, defines numbering conventions, usage rules, and applicable accounting principles.
In practice
Understanding the chart of accounts is not reserved for accountants. A manager who grasps the logic of the account classes — 1: equity and long-term liabilities, 2: fixed assets, 4: third-party accounts, 6: expenses, 7: revenues — can read a balance sheet and income statement without assistance. Management accounting plans — cost centres, margin by product — are distinct from the general chart and have no legal obligation, but are valuable for multi-sector groups.