1 | Environment & Theoretical Structure Flashcards
What is the primary focus of financial accounting?
The information needs of investors and creditors.
What is the Accounting equation?
Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity
Name the three providers of financial information.
1) profit-oriented companies
2) non-profit entities (government, charities, schools)
3) households
Name 8 external user groups of financial information.
1) investors
2) Creditors (banks, bond holders, other lenders)
3) employees
4) labor unions
5) customers
6) suppliers
7) government regulatory agencies (IRS, SEC)
8) Financial intermediaries (financial analysts, stockbrokers, mutual fund managers, credit-rating organizations)
What is a capital market?
An efficient mechanism developed when investors/creditors allocate privately owned productive resources to private enterprises that will best use it to provide goods/services most desired by society.
What are Initial Market Transactions?
The initial issuance of stocks/bonds to create new cash by a corporation to individuals/entities who want to invest.
What are secondary market transactions?
The subsequent transfer of stocks/bonds (after initial market) between investors/creditors. The issuing corporation receives no new money but this market is essential for efficient allocation if resources & helps establish market price for additional shares/bonds.
Cash Basis Accounting
What is Net Operating Cash Flow?
The difference between cash receipts and cash disbursements from providing goods/services.
Accrual Accounting
What is Net Income/loss?
The difference between revenues and expenses.
Accrual Accounting
What is the measure of resources provided by business operations called?
Revenue
Accrual Accounting
What is the measure of resources sacrificed to earn Revenue?
Expenses
What does GAAP stand for?
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
What is GAAP?
A dynamic set of broad and specific guidelines that companies should follow when measuring and reporting the information in their financial statements and related notes.
Early US Standard Setting:
What does CAP stand for?
Committee on Accounting Procedures
1938-1959
Early US Standard Setting:
What does AIA stand for?
American Institute of Accountants.
Early US Standard Setting:
What does AICPA stand for?
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Early US Standard Setting:
What does APB stand for?
Accounting Principles Board
1959-1973
Early US Standard Setting:
What does FASB stand for?
Financial Accounting Standards Board
1973-present
How many full-time members does FASB have?
Seven
What does FAF stand for?
Financial Accounting Foundation
FASB’s parent organization
What does SFAS stand for?
Statements of Financial Accounting Standards.
What are SFAFs (Statements of Financial Accounting Standards)?
Specific Accounting standards issued by FASB
What is the FASB Accounting Standards Codification?
All accounting pronouncements integrated and topically organized in a searchable online database.
(FASB standards, interpretations, & SEC pronouncements)
What does ACS stand for?
Accounting Codification System
What does ASU stand for?
Accounting Standards Update
New Accounting Standards issued by FASB
What are the 7 steps if the FASB Standard Setting Process?
1) Receive request/recommendation
2) Chairman decides whether to add it to agenda
3) Board deliberates request/recommendation @ one or more public meeting
4) Board issues exposure draft
5) Board holds public round table meeting on exposure draft
6) Staff analyzes comments/letters from public & board deliberates
7) Board issues accounting standards update
What is the role of an external auditor?
To express an opinion on the compliance of financial statements with GAAP
What is the Conceptual Framework of Accounting (aka The Accounting Constitution)?
A coherent system of interrelated objectives and fundamentals (underlying concepts of accounting) that is intended to lead to consistent standards and that prescribed the nature, function, and limits of financial accounting and reporting.
The Conceptual Framework:
What is the objective?
To provide financial information that is useful to capital providers.