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Financial accounting is the preparation of financial statements that can be consumed by the public and the relevant stakeholders. Financial information would be useful to users if such qualitative characteristics are present. When producing financial statements, the following must comply: Fundamental Qualitative Characteristics:
A ratio's values may be distorted as account balances change from the beginning to the end of an accounting period. Use average values for such accounts whenever possible. Financial ratios are no more objective than the accounting methods employed. Changes in accounting policies or choices can yield drastically different ratio values. [6]
Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the process of recording and processing information about economic entities, such as businesses and corporations. [1] [2] Accounting measures the results of an organization's economic activities and conveys this information to a variety of stakeholders, including investors, creditors, management, and regulators. [3]
Given the above, one view of the progression of the accounting and finance career path is that financial accounting is a stepping stone to management accounting. [16] Consistent with the notion of value creation, management accountants help drive the success of the business while strict financial accounting is more of a compliance and ...
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to accounting: . Accounting – measurement, statement or provision of assurance about financial information primarily used by managers, investors, tax authorities and other decision makers to make resource allocation decisions within companies, organizations, and public agencies.
Accounting standards are currently set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and were historically set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) subject to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. [7] Auditors took the leading role in developing GAAP for business enterprises. [8]
Accounting standards prescribe in considerable detail what accruals must be made, how the financial statements are to be presented, and what additional disclosures are required. The term generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) was popularized in the late 1930s.
Financial intelligence requires an understanding of the basics of financial measurement including the income statement, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement. It also requires knowing the difference between cash and profit and why a balance sheet balances. Understanding the art. Finance and accounting are an art as well as a science.