3.4 - final accounts Flashcards
what are the 2 purposes of final accounts
- Final accounts are a legal requirement of financial statements that businesses have to fulfil at the end of a particular accounting period (normally a year).
- Final accounts help with the organization of the business since they include transactions, revenues and expenses but also help to inform internal and external stakeholders of the business situation.
what is an example of internal stakeholders
Some examples of internal stakeholders are: shareholders, managers and employees. And external stakeholders: the Government, costumers, suppliers, the local community, etc. The final accounts will have a different impact in the different stakeholders.
purpose of accounts for 3 internal stakeholders
- shareholders
- mangers
- employees
why would a shareholder want access to final accounts
- the owners of the company are interested to see where there money was spent and the return they will get from the business. shareholders use the financial performance to decide weather to keep their shares, sell them or maybe buy more.
- they are also interested in the performance of the company’s directors to decide ways of motivation or maybe to replace them.
why would a manager want access to final accounts
- managers are interested in the performance of the business for target setting and strategic planning.
- they are also interested in the firms efficiency
why would employees want access to final accounts
- employees are interested in the performance of the business for “job security” and possible increase in salaries.
- it could also lead to strikes and the creation of unions, if the company is profitable and does not increase employees salaries (since this does not happen automatically if profit increase)
name 6 external stakeholders who would be interested in final accounts
- the government
- suppliers
- customers
-competitiors - financers
- the local community
why would the government be interested in final accounts
- the government is interested in a business for tax profitability
- also to verify if the company if following the law
- in case of big multinational companies, the government expects an increase in employment
why would suppliers be interested in final accounts
- the suppliers are interested in the firms final accounts to ensure they will get payed on time or to grant more credit if needed
- also if the firm has a debt with the suppliers, with the final account they can see if its possible to get payed or not
why would customers be interested in final accounts
- customers are interested to see if the firm will keep supplying the product
- final accounts give them an idea to continue being customers of the firm or look for alternatives
why would competitors be interested in final accounts
- competitors use final accounts to compare their performances
- they compare their sales revenues and levels of profitability
why would financers be interested in final accounts
- financers, such as banks, look at the final accounts before approving loans. basically, to verify if the business can pay back the loans
why would the local community be interested in final accounts
- if the business is profitable it might create jobs and improve the living conditions of the local community
- conversely, if the business creates environmental issues it will have a negative effect in the local community
why must a organisation do before preparing its final accounts
- they MUST comply with the ‘principles and ethics of accounting practice’ stablished by a regulatory body.
- Professional accountants have the responsibility to act in the public interest and follow the ethic code.
- Ethics in accounting refers to the study of moral values and judgements as applied in the accounting process.
- The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a global regulatory body for professional accountants that assures its member are properly regulated.
what are the 5 principles of the association of chartered certified accountants (ACCA)
- integrity
- objectivity
- professional competence and due care
- confidentiality
- professional behaviour
what does a profit and loss account show
shows the records of income and expenditure flows of a business over a given period of time. Also know as ‘income statement’. It basically stablishes if the business is making a profit or a loss and it’s divided in 3 parts: a) the trading account; b) the profit and loss account or section; and c) the appropriation account
what does a balance sheet show
also known as “Statement of financial position” a financial statement that outlines the assets, liabilities and equity of a business at a specific point of time.
what is a trading account
it’s the first part of the income statement basically shows the difference for the business’s sales revenue and the cost of those sales for the business.
what are the 2 formulas for calculating trading accounts
- gross profit = sales revenue - cost of sales
- cost of sales = opening stocks + purchases - closing stock
define cost of goods sold
the direct cost of producing or purchasing the goods that were sold during the period.
define gross profit
the difference between the costs of goods sold and the sales revenue
whats is the profit and loss account
it’s the second part of the income statement that shows the net profit before interest and tax and the net profit after interest and tax.
how do you calculate net profit before interest and tax
First, to calculate net profit before interest and tax expenses need to be subtracted from the gross profit (calculated in the trading account). Expenses refer to indirect or fixed costs of production which are not directly linked to the units sold (i.e. rent, advertising costs, insurance, stationary, etc.)
Second, subtracting interest payable on loans we get the net profit before tax.
Finally, deducting the corporation tax we get the net profit after interest and tax.
state the equation for net profit before interest and tax
net profit before interest and tax = gross profit - expenses
state the equation for net profit before tax
net profit before tax = net profit before interest and tax - interest
state the equation for net profit after interest and tax
bet profit after interest and tax = net profit before tax - corporation tax
what is the appropriation account
it’s the final part of the income statement showing how the company’s net profit after interest and tax is distributed. This distribution could be either dividends or retained profit.