Cannot find Actual This Period Cost column...?

I want to match the layout of a schedule pdf has a column called "Actual This Period Cost".  I cannot find a column with that name.  I can pull up period Material Cost, etc but not the "Actual this period cost".  I want to match the pdf layout of an xer I was sent.  I assume it has to do with setting up financial periods.  On a more broad note, what is the advantage of setting up Financial periods.  We are looking to reconcile the schedule and the SOV in the least complicated manner, I would like to avoid having to review more than 1 type of % complete because it is a large schedule, what is the minimum workable system?  I thought of just requiring activity or schedule % complete and then have one activity to balance with all the special cost adjustments done in excel and placed on that one activity - to avoid work% vs schedule% which doubles the complications...and advice is appreciated.  You can try to make contractors spell out which are which, but they likely will not, leading to more work that people who saw it already will not get...