Accounting Principles Flashcards
GAAP
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Common set of accepted accounting principles, standards and procedures
Aims to improve clarity of communication of financial information
10 principles of GAAP
- Regularity
- Consistency
- Continuity
- Sincerity
- Non-compensation
- Prudence
- Permanence
- Periodicity
- Good faith (materiality)
- Utmost good faith
International Accounting Standards
- older accounting standards
- replaced by IFRS in 2001
IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standards
Why did IFRS replace IAS?
- aim to make it easier to compare businesses around the world
- aim to increase transparency and trust in global reporting
IFRS 16
- effective 1 January 2019
- lease accounting standard
- requires lessee to recognise assets and liabilities for leases with term of more than 12 months
- IFRS reporter must recognise, measure, present and disclose leases
What is the objective of IFRS 16?
- report information that represents lease transactions
- ensures leases are placed on balance sheets
What is the result of IFRS 16 financial reporting?
- increase in assets, liabilities and net debt where leases are brought into balance sheet
- can affect accounting ratios which can impact companies attractiveness to investors
- provides transparency on companies lease assets and liabilities
What governs the format of company accounts?
Companies Act 2006
What is included in company accounts as laid out in Companies Act 2006?
- cover page
- information and contents
- directors report
- accountants report
- profit and loss account
- balance sheet
Profit and Loss Account
- gives summary of business income and expenditure transactions on annual basis
- shows overall profit / loss figure at the bottom
Taxation
The amount of money owed to HMRC based on company profit
Directors Remuneration
How directors are paid for their services (salary, fees or dividends)
Gross Profit
Turnover - cost of sales
What can be determined from Gross Profit?
- not a lot in isolation
- can compare to previous year to see what direction the company is heading in
Depreciation
Reduction in value of asset over time
- EG due to wear and tear
Amortisation
Reduction in value of intangible asset over time
- EG spreading out loan payment over time
Depreciation v Amortisation
Depreciation - fixed assets
Amortisation - intangible assets
Balance Sheet
Statement of businesses financial position showing assets and liabilities at given date (usually financial YE)
Only statement that applies to single point in time in business’ calendar year
What are assets on the balance sheet?
What the company owns
EG cash, property, other investments
What are the two types of asset?
Fixed asset - land, factory
Current asset - stock, cash in bank
What are liabilities on balance sheet?
What a company owes to others
EG overdrafts, loans, borrowings
What are the two types of liability?
Long term - not due to be repaid in next year
Current - due to be repaid within the year
What can be concluded from the balance sheet?
- whether company is solvent
- how likely it is the company will still be in business in a year
Liquidity Ratio
Financial ratio used to determine company’s ability to pay its short term debt
Current Assets dived by Current Liabilities
How is the liquidity ratio interpreted?
- figure of 1 means company can exactly pay off current liabilities
- figure less than 1 means unable to pay off current liabilities
Net Asset Value
Total Assets - Total Liabilities
- simple way to establish company worth
- frequently shown as NAV per share
Three parts of balance sheet
- Assets
- Liabilities
- Ownership Equity (what remains after doing Assets - Liabilities. AKA Net Worth or Net Asset Value)
What is the difference between Assets and Liabilities known as?
- Equity
- Net Asset Value
- Net Worth
- Capital
Cash Flow Statement
Financial statement that summaries movement of cash into and out of a company