The classic Profit Center Accounting (EC-PCA) simulation tool, used within the SAP S/4HANA Central Finance initial load process, is designed to test the replication setup before committing to an actual data load. Its primary functions are to validate the data against the target system's configuration. The tool simulates the posting process by running source system data through the defined mapping rules (e.g., for profit centers) and the posting logic (e.g., derivations, validations) of the Central Finance system. This allows for the proactive identification and correction of errors, such as missing master data or incorrect mapping, without creating any actual postings in the general ledger.

C. Posts actual data in the target system: A simulation run, by definition, does not create persistent data or actual financial documents. Its purpose is to test the process, while an update run posts the data.

D. Creates mapping entries: The tool identifies and reports missing or incorrect mapping entries as errors. However, it does not create them; mapping maintenance is a separate configuration activity performed by an administrator.

1. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA 2023

"Initial Load for EC-PCA Postings": The documentation for the initial load report FINSCFINPCAINITIALLOAD specifies the use of a "Test Run" checkbox. It states

"If you select the Test Run checkbox

the system only simulates the posting of EC-PCA documents. The system checks whether the required master data exists and whether the mapping is maintained correctly. It does not post any data." This directly supports that the tool checks mappings (A) and simulates the posting

which includes its logic (B)

without posting actual data (making C incorrect).

2. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA 2023

"Running the Initial Load for CO Secondary Postings": While this refers to CO postings

the principle is identical for all Central Finance initial loads

including EC-PCA. The documentation explains that a test run "simulates the replication of postings" and is used to "check for errors in your mapping and customizing settings before you start the initial load." This confirms the tool's role in checking both mapping (A) and posting logic derived from customizing (B). It also reinforces that the tool only identifies issues

it does not create configuration like mapping entries (making D incorrect).

SAP's clean core strategy for SAP S/4HANA is designed to keep the digital core of the system free from modifications, promoting agility and simplifying upgrades. To achieve this, SAP defines four key guiding principles. The selected answers represent the most strategic pillars of this approach: establishing the foundational governance and technical framework (D), integrating clean core practices directly into the business value chain (C), and implementing robust release management to control the system lifecycle and stay current (A). These principles collectively ensure that the clean core approach is embedded organizationally, functionally, and operationally for long-term success.

B. Establish regular housekeeping tasks and procedures.

This is also a correct guiding principle outlined in official SAP documentation. However, the question limits the choice to three, and options A, C, and D represent more foundational strategic pillars.

E. Define roles and responsibilities as part of a process transformation office.

This is a specific task, not a guiding principle. It is an action that falls under the broader, official principle of establishing an organizational structure and governance framework (Option D).

1. SAP White Paper. (April 2024). Clean Core: The Strategy for Your SAP S/4HANA System

Version 2.0. Page 10

Section "Guiding Principles for Clean Core". This document explicitly lists the four principles that correspond to options A

B

C

and D.

2. SAP Learning Hub. (2023). S4C01 - SAP S/4HANA Cloud Onboarding Fundamentals. Unit 5: Extensibility

Lesson 2: Describing the Clean Core Approach. The course material reiterates the four guiding principles from the official white paper

confirming A

B

C

and D as correct.

In an SAP Central Finance landscape, SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) serves as the central authority for managing master data quality and consistency across all connected source systems and the Central Finance system. Its primary features include providing a governed, centralized process for the creation, modification, and distribution of master data objects (B). A common and recommended architecture is to deploy MDG as a central master data hub, establishing a single source of truth (C). Furthermore, the MDG framework is a critical component used to define and manage the value mappings required to harmonize master data identifiers (like G/L accounts or cost centers) from various source systems into a unified structure within the Central Finance system (E).

A. It only provides consolidation for business partners, customers, and vendors.

This is incorrect because MDG in a finance context also governs crucial financial master data such as G/L accounts, cost centers, and profit centers.

D. It is used to maintain and perform business mapping.

This statement is too general. The more precise function within Central Finance is "value mapping," which is a specific type of mapping to harmonize data values, as correctly stated in option E.

1. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA 2023

Central Finance

"Master Data Governance in Central Finance": This document explicitly states

"SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) provides a central point of control for the creation

changing

and distribution of master data... You can use SAP MDG as a master data hub...". This directly supports answers B and C.

2. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA 2023

Central Finance

"Mapping": This official guide details the mapping process: "Mapping is a mandatory activity in a Central Finance project... The mapping functionality for Central Finance is based on the SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) mapping framework." This confirms that MDG governs the value mapping process

supporting answer E.

3. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA 2023

Central Finance

"Master Data": This section lists the various master data objects that are relevant for Central Finance and can be governed by MDG

including "Cost Center"

"Profit Center"

and "G/L Account"

which proves that option A is too restrictive and therefore incorrect.

Deploying SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server (SLT) on a dedicated, separate instance is the recommended architecture for Central Finance. This approach decouples the replication workload from the operational source and target systems. A key advantage is the ability to connect multiple source systems or run additional replication scenarios without impacting the performance of the primary source systems (C, E). This architectural separation also simplifies maintenance and upgrades, as the SLT server has an independent lifecycle from the connected source or Central Finance systems, thus minimizing dependencies and downtime during maintenance windows (D). This deployment offers the greatest flexibility, scalability, and operational stability for complex system landscapes.

A. No RFC connection is required to source Central Finance systems.

This is incorrect. A standalone SLT server fundamentally relies on RFC connections to communicate with both the source systems and the target Central Finance system.

B. SLT has direct access to source Central Finance systems.

This is misleading. Access is remote via RFC and a database connection. The term "direct access" implies co-location, which is the opposite of a separate instance deployment.

1. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA

SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server: In the section "System Landscape and Deployment Options for SAP LT Replication Server

" the documentation states that the standalone scenario is recommended for most cases. It lists key advantages: "Flexibility to support multiple source systems and multiple target systems

" "Independent upgrade cycles for the SAP LT Replication Server and the source/target systems

" and "Reduced impact on the source and/or target systems." This directly supports options C

D

and E.

2. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA for central finance foundation 2023

"System Landscape for Central Finance": This guide describes the recommended system landscape

showing the SLT system as a separate box. It explains that this setup "avoids any impact on the source systems" and allows the SLT server to be used for "other replication scenarios in parallel

" which validates options C and E.

3. SAP Note 2154420 - SAP S/4HANA Central Finance: Setup and Configuration: This central note for Central Finance implementation refers to the SLT Operations Guide

which details the deployment options. The recommendation for a standalone server is consistently based on minimizing performance impact on source systems (supporting option C) and allowing for independent maintenance schedules (supporting option D).

In the technical configuration of a Central Finance landscape, a logical system is a unique identifier for a specific client within an SAP system (e.g., a source ERP system). To enable data replication and communication between the Central Finance system and the source system, a Remote Function Call (RFC) destination must be established. This RFC destination contains all the technical connection parameters (like hostname, system number, and user credentials). This pre-configured RFC destination is then explicitly assigned to the logical system, thereby creating the technical link that allows the systems to communicate.

B. System name: The system name (SID) is a component used within the RFC destination's definition, not an object assigned directly to the logical system.

C. Company code: A company code is a business organizational unit. It is configured in business mapping, not assigned at the technical logical system level.

D. Client ID: A logical system is assigned to a client in transaction SCC4 to identify it uniquely within the landscape; a client ID is not assigned to the logical system.

1. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA

Central Finance - Configuration in the Source System: "You must set up an RFC connection between the Central Finance system and the source system... You have created an RFC destination from the Central Finance system to the source system... You have defined a logical system for the source system client." This documentation outlines the creation of both entities as prerequisites for the connection. The assignment is a standard step in the Application Link Enabling (ALE) customizing (Transaction SALE).

2. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA

Central Finance - Administration Guide

Section: System Connection: "To set up the connection between the source system(s) and the Central Finance system

you must... Define logical systems... Create RFC destinations." The guide details these as sequential and related steps for establishing the technical communication channel. The assignment connects the logical name to the physical connection path.

3. SAP Customizing Implementation Guide (IMG): Path: SAP NetWeaver -> Application Server -> IDoc Interface / Application Link Enabling (ALE) -> Basic Settings -> Logical Systems -> Assign Logical System to Client. This standard SAP configuration area shows the relationship. Furthermore

in transaction SALE

the modeling of distribution models requires assigning RFC destinations to the logical systems involved in the communication.