diff --git a/conservancy_beancount/data.py b/conservancy_beancount/data.py
index 28c587f14ce2ff9b323e5c45e892deb71894e5b6..55c995d136f9a571a7188c7c192db48790414015 100644
--- a/conservancy_beancount/data.py
+++ b/conservancy_beancount/data.py
@@ -192,6 +192,11 @@ class Account(str):
             elif isinstance(entry, bc_data.Close):
                 cls.load_closing(entry)  # type:ignore[arg-type]
 
+    @classmethod
+    def load_from_books(cls, entries: Iterable[Directive], options_map: OptionsMap) -> None:
+        cls.load_options_map(options_map)
+        cls.load_openings_and_closings(entries)
+
     @classmethod
     def is_account(cls, s: str) -> bool:
         return cls.ACCOUNT_RE.fullmatch(s) is not None
diff --git a/tests/test_data_account.py b/tests/test_data_account.py
index 3b92fcde6de1c214858452c16dfdd48203c2360c..2ef4b4256d65429a47616b1aee629304652221b3 100644
--- a/tests/test_data_account.py
+++ b/tests/test_data_account.py
@@ -313,3 +313,23 @@ def test_is_account_respects_configured_roots(clean_account_meta, account_s, exp
     config['name_income'] = 'Revenue'
     data.Account.load_options_map(config)
     assert data.Account.is_account(account_s) == expected
+
+def test_load_from_books(clean_account_meta):
+    entries = [
+        Open({'lineno': 310}, Date(2001, 1, 1), 'Assets:Bank:Checking', ['USD'], None),
+        Open({'lineno': 315}, Date(2001, 2, 1), 'Revenue:Donations', None, Booking.STRICT),
+        testutil.Transaction(date=Date(2001, 2, 10), postings=[
+            ('Revenue:Donations', -10),
+            ('Assets:Bank:Checking', 10),
+        ]),
+        Close({'lineno': 320}, Date(2001, 3, 1), 'Assets:Bank:Checking'),
+    ]
+    config = bc_options.OPTIONS_DEFAULTS.copy()
+    config['name_expenses'] = 'Costs'
+    config['name_income'] = 'Revenue'
+    data.Account.load_from_books(entries, config)
+    for post in entries[2].postings:
+        assert data.Account.is_account(post.account)
+    check_meta = data.Account(entries[0].account).meta
+    assert check_meta.open_date == entries[0].date
+    assert check_meta.close_date == entries[-1].date