Accounting Principles and Procedures

Question 1

What are the three financial statements that all companies must provide?

Answer 1

1. Balance sheet
2. Profit and loss accounts
3. Cash flow

Question 2

What are the different purposes of management and financial accounts?

Answer 2

Management accounts are for internal use only, where as financial accounts are required by law and are audited.

Question 3

Who can prepare audited accounts?

Answer 3

Chartered or certified accountants.

Question 4

What is the difference between a balance sheet and a profit and loss account?

Answer 4

A profit and loss account shows income and expenditure for a period of time, typically a financial year, whereas a balance sheet is a statement of the business’ financial position showing its assets and liabilities at a given date.

Question 5

Where would you expect to find a company’s liabilities in their accounts

Answer 5

Balance Statement / Statement of financial position

Question 6

Where would you expect to find details of a company’s expenditure over the accounting period?

Answer 6

Profit and loss / Income statement

Question 7

What do your company accounts include?

Answer 7

• Chairman’s Statement
• Independent auditors report
• Income statement (profit and loss account)
• Statement of financial position (balance sheet)
• Corporate governance report
• Remuneration report
• Other statutory information

Question 8

Why is it important to understand accounts?

Answer 8

It is important I understand accounting principles in order to understand my department’s performance, and producing forecasts of expected turnover for the upcoming quarter and year.
Also I am aware it is important for assessing covenant strength and for the profits method of valuation.

Question 9

How would you assess a company’s covenant strength?

Answer 9

I could use the Dun and Bradstreet company check which analyses company accounts and carries out wider investigations into a company’s performance and reputation.

Question 10

What are the main different types of fee structure you have used?

Answer 10

• Percentage fee based on value of asset bought or sold
• Fixed fee
• Hourly rate

Question 11

How have CBRE performed this year?

Answer 11

CBRE UK half year revenue was $3.3 billion, an increase of 4%, with profits of $412.5 million

Question 12

What is your company’s strategy?

Answer 12

The current strategy is to grow through acquisition of smaller businesses in order to diversify our service offering, promote technology and increase our presence in key geographical areas. Telford would be a recent example.

Question 13

What are the underlying principles of accounting?

Answer 13

Transparency and honesty.

Question 14

What are the applicable accounting standards in the UK?

Answer 14

International Financial Reporting Standards (2015)
UK GAAP has to accord with IFRS which has different ways of reporting the information
IFRS 16 requires the full cost of leases to be outlined

Question 15

What are the main types of ratio analysis used to assess a company’s financial strength?

Answer 15

• Liquidity – the ability of the company to pay its way (solvency). More companies fail due to cash flow than any other reason.
• Investment/shareholders – information to enable decisions to be made on the extent of the risk and the earning potential of a business investment.
• Gearing – information on the relationship between the exposure of the business to loans as opposed to share capital.
• Profitability – how effective the company is at generating profits given sales and/or its capital assets.
• Financial – the rate at which the company sells its stock and the efficiency with which it uses its assets.

Question 16

What types of taxation are there?

Answer 16

1. Stamp Duty Land Tax – residential stamp duty is charged on incremental bands, whilst non residential is charged on transactions over £150,000 - at 4% for transactions over £500,000
2. VAT – a tax on services and goods; a company has to register for VAT if their annual turnover is over £82k in a 12 month period; if a property is elected for VAT the landlord can recoup VAT paid on services or works to that property; new build properties are zero rated for VAT so any VAT paid can be claimed back
3. ATED – Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings; bought int o tax properties held by offshore companies

Question 17

What is the difference between IAS and UK GAAP

Answer 17

The only conflict between IFRS and the UK GAAP in accounting treatments of financial statements is that IFRS is a principle based standard whereas UK GAAP is rule based standard. Be aware that UK GAAP only applies to entities not subject to EU requirements and is not an alternative to IFRS.

Question 18

Does the RICS have any guidance on money laundering?

Answer 18

RICS professional standards and guidance, global - countering bribery and corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing - February 2019

Question 19

What is the difference between IAS and IFRS?

Answer 19

International Accounting Standard (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) are the same. The difference between them is that IAS represents old accounting standard, such as IAS 17 Leases . While, IFRS represents new accounting standard, such as IFRS 16 Leases.