General Ledger Account Code Regex for Python

What this pattern does

This page provides a lightweight, single-purpose regular expression for matching general ledger account code, ported and verified for Python. Financial data validation has zero tolerance for false negatives — a missed invalid entry can corrupt downstream calculations. The snippet below is ready to drop into your Python project — whether you're validating in a Django view, a FastAPI endpoint, or a standalone data processing script.

Python Implementation

# General Ledger Account Code
# ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Finance > Financial Formats

import re

general_ledger_account_code_pattern = re.compile(r'^[0-9]{4,8}(?:-[0-9]{2,6})?$')

def validate_general_ledger_account_code(value: str) -> bool:
    return bool(general_ledger_account_code_pattern.fullmatch(value))

# Example
print(validate_general_ledger_account_code("1000"))  # True

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Finance > Financial Formats category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for Python developers because particularly important in Python web servers where CPU-bound regex operations can stall concurrent request handling. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.

Common Pitfalls

Technical Notes

GL account structures vary: SAP uses up to 10 digits, QuickBooks uses 5. The department/cost center suffix is common for segment reporting. Ranges: 1xxx=assets, 2xxx=liabilities, 3xxx=equity, 4xxx=revenue, 5-9xxx=expenses.