1.7 Elements of Financial Statements Flashcards
What are “elements of financial statements”?
classes of items in the financial statements
What are financial statements?
the primary means of communicating financial information to external parties
How is additional information provided in the financial statements?
notes & supplementary information
What are “notes” in the financial statements?
- present essential information to amplify or explain financial statement amounts
- Example: describing the accounting policies used and making other disclosures required by GAAP
In what 2 situations would “notes” not be appropriate?
- to correct an improper presentation in the statements
- as a substitute for recognition in the statements
What is supplementary information in the financial statements? Provide an example
- provides information additional to that in the statements and notes
- may include relevant information that does not meet all recognition criteria
- Example: management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A)
What should a full set of financial statements report? (5)
- Financial position at the end of the period (BS)
- Earnings for the period (P&L)
- Comprehensive income for the period
- Cash flows during the period
- Investments by and distributions to owners during the period
Identify the elements or classes of items on the balance sheet
- assets
- liabilities
- equity (net assets of a not-for-profit entity)
- investments by owners
- distributions to owners
Define assets on the balance sheet
- probable future economic benefits
- owned or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.
- an entity can control other’s access to the asset and can obtain the benefits of that asset
What are valuation allowances or contra accounts? Provide an example
- apart of the related asset
- offsets the related asset
- Examples: accumulated depreciation, deferred GP on install accounts, uncollectible A/R, premium on bonds receivable
Define “liabilities” on the balance sheet
- probable future sacrifices of economic benefits
- existing obligations of a specific entity to transfer assets or provide services to other entities as a result of previous transactions or events
Define “equity or net assets” on the balance sheet
the residual interest in the assets of an entity after subtracting liabilities
Define “investments by owners” on the balance sheet
- increases in equity of a business entity during a period
- They result from transfers by other entities of something of value to increase ownership interests
- services also can be exchanged for equity interests
Define “distributions to owners” on the balance sheet (3)
- decreases in equity during a period
- result from transferring assets, providing services, or incurring liabilities
- distribution to owners decreases ownership interests
Identify the elements of the income statement (4)
- Revenues
- Gains
- Expenses
- Losses
Define “revenues” on the income statement
inflows or other enhancements of assets or settlements of liabilities (or both) from
- Delivering or producing goods,
- Providing services, or
- Other activities that qualify as ongoing major or central operations.
Define “gains” on the income statement
- increases in equity (net assets) from peripheral or incidental transactions or other events and circumstances except revenues or investments by owners
Are gains classified as operating or nonoperating?
contingent on their relation to the entity’s ongoing major or central operations
Define “expenses” on the income statement
outflows or other uses of assets or incurrences of liabilities (or both) from
- Delivering or producing goods,
- Providing services, or
- Other activities that qualify as ongoing major or central operations
Define “losses” on the income statement
decreases in equity (net assets) from peripheral or incidental transactions or other events and circumstances except expenses or distributions to owners
How are losses categorized on the income statement?
as operating or nonoperating depending on their relation to the entity’s ongoing major or central operations
What is comprehensive income?
the periodic change in equity of a business entity from non-owner sources
Identify the components included in comprehensive income
It includes earnings (net income) and its components (e.g., gross margin, income or loss from continuing operations and discontinued operations)
Identify the components not included in comprehensive income
it excludes the effects of investments by owners and distributions (e.g., dividends paid) to owners
The full set of financial statements, including comprehensive income, is based on what concept?
Financial Capital Maintenance Concept
True / False:
Comprehensive income is a return OF capital
False - comprehensive income is a return ON capital
Define “financial capital maintenance” concept
the capital of a company is only maintained if the financial or monetary amount of its net assets at the end of a financial period is equal to or exceeds the financial or monetary amount of its net assets at the beginning of the period, excluding any distributions to, or contributions from, the owners