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Basics of Accounting Theory
Accounting Concepts&principles
Analysis of cash flow statement
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a. What is accounting and how does it help you manage your personal finances?
Accounting is defined as set of concepts and techniques that are used to measure and report financial information about economic units. (Walther L.M, 2012).
Accounting has two distinct methods that can be used for financial reporting, which are accrual and cash accounting methods.
Accrual accounting according to Siegel, (2009) is a method of accounting that measures the performance and position of a company by recognizing economic events regardless of when cash transactions occur.
Cash accounting method on the other hand is a method of accounting in which cash flow is the base of account. With this method receipts are recorded during the period they are received
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Describe the three products of accounting and bookkeeping procedures that are most useful in personal financial planning.
The three products of bookkeeping and accounting procedures that are useful for personal financial planning include income statement, balance sheet and cash flow.
Income statement gives us a summary of incomes and expenses for a given accounting period. It gives the financial performance on how the business incur it revenues and how it spent it through operating and non-operating cost activities. With income statement one can see expenses of income and adjust accordingly.
When it happens that income is greater than expenses we have surplus and when it is less than expenses we have a deficit. Having a surplus means that we can either save, invest or increase our expenditure. If there is a deficit then the income statement can enable us know where we need to adjust our debts and expenditure.
Cash flow statement is a financial statement that enables us know how changes in balance sheet accounts and income affect cash and the equivalent of cash.
It shows how well one is creating liquidity as well as net income. It is useful in determining the short run viability of a company. Examples may include the payment of loan or payment of
Financial Accounting is ‘Asset valuation, accounting record completeness and accuracy, accounting estimates, reporting transparency, fair value accounting issues, convergence of accounting standards, evolution of accounting standards, audit efficiency and effectiveness’, as suggested by Accounting Dictionary (2014).
Every small business must make a choice between two accounting methods, the cash method or the accrual method. The difference between the two is how and when you record income and expenses. In the cash vs accrual accounting debate, most experts recommend the accrual method for businesses, however, there are pros and cons to both and ultimately it 's up to you to decide which is right for your business.
Accounting is basically a service activity. Its purpose is to provide quantitative information that principally used by the managers, investors, tax authorities, and other decision makers to make the financial decisions within companies, organizations, and public agencies. Accounting is also widely known as the “language of business.” An accountant measures, communicates, and interprets financial activities. They prepare financial statements or reports for individuals, businesses, government agencies, or other non-profit organizations. They use the accounting systems to categorize the expenses and income to the typical groups. They also keep tract of the money received or paid out to see if the transactions are accurate and complete. Accountants are familiar with the computer operation. They use the computer...
The statement of cash flows reports a firm’s major cash inflows and outflows for a period. This statement provides useful information about a company’s ability to generate cash from operations, maintain and expand its operating capacity, meeting its financial obligations, and pay dividends. There are three types of activities to look at in this statement, which are cash flows from operating activities, investing activities, and financial activities (3, 2005).
Subsequent to obtaining the accounting information, managerial accountants will then proceed to use it to plan, evaluate the company performance and also control the business operations. With regards to planning, the managers are required to make decisions concerning the kind of product to introduce into the market, when to introduce the product and where the production should take place. In performance evaluation, individual product lin...
Cash flow statements provide essential information to company owners, shareholders and investors and provide an overview of the status of cash flow at a given point in time. Cash flow management is an ongoing process that ties the forecasting of cash flow to strategic goals and objectives of an organization. The measurement of cash flow can be used for calculating other parameters that give information on a company 's value, liquidity or solvency, and situation. Without positive cash flow, a company cannot meet its financial obligations.
The statement of profit or loss is also known as income statement and it’s equation is revenue minus expenses equals profit or loss. The statement of profit or loss summarize the revenues and expenses of a business and also shown the ability of a business to generated business. The total profit or loss that generated in an organization during an accounting period can be seen through the income statement. For example, if the expenses of the company are higher than revenues, the company will get a loss in the business. However, the company will generate a profit when the revenues are greater than the
Accounting principles are main consideration , certain standards like rules of operations are pillar characteristicis to built accounting statements. Accounting principles can be presented in many ways, sometimes its create confusion for readers mainly for beginners, but still acoounting principles are main tool to obtained financial statements. Its hold the whole acoounting process together.
Financial statements provide an overview of a business' financial condition in both short and long term. They help in understanding the past performance of the company and making future predictions about the company. It thus helps us to look beyond the profit figures.
For example: if bhatbhateni’s inventory cost $20000 but in current scenario the cost has dropped to $16000, than the company records $16000 in its balance sheet and records $4000 difference amount as a loss in income statement. (accounting coach, 2016)
Income statement-: Income statement is the financial statement that measures a company 's financial performance over a specific accounting period. Financial performance is assessed by giving a summary of how the business incurs its revenues and expenses through both operating and non-operating activities.
In the above cited the accounting of business is use to record and measure the size of the business, in terms of gains and loss on monthly, quarterly Semi- Annual and Annual basis. Use of the accounting in business, gives a clear review of net income, helps to plan budget of the business accordingly.
Accounting itself is a system that people has been using for thousands of years, the system records financial information about a person or business, businesses use it in order to be able to keep and track their financial accounts and other financial information in a safe and efficient way. (Brooks, 2012)
Accounting aids the government and organisations in decision making for their financial stability. This numerical data helps solve real life problems and contributes to how the economy and businesses perform.
Accounting is a vital element of business. It records the way a business has grown and, after analyzing figures, suggests the way it should go in the future. Furtunes are gambled on the advice of accountants.