Accounting Principles and Procedures (Level 1) Flashcards
Why should you keep accounts?
Track
Monitor profit/loss
Business planning
Submit financial statements to companies house
Company’s Act 2006 – year end accounts submitted as limited companys
Difference between management and company accounts?
Management accounts – internally
Company accounts ; required by law and audited by chartered accountant
What is meant by gross and net?
Gross = total
Net = minus tax
What is a balance sheet?
Statement showing business financial positon
Assets and liabilities
Assets: cash, property, debtors
Liabilities: borrowings, loans, creditors
What is a profit and loss account (income statement)
Summary of business income and expenditure
prepared on annual basis
Demonstrate how revenue is transformed into net income
What is a cash flow statement?
Actual receipts and expenditure and includes VAT
Can reveal shortfalls in cash balance
Review helps ensure businesses can afford to pay suppliers
Struggling companies should review cash flow daily
Healthier companies review weekly or monthly
What is meant by depreciation in relation to an asset?
Systematic reduction in recorded cost of fixed asset. E.g. IT equipment
What is the difference between a Sole Trader, Partnership, Limited and LLP
Sole trader = person exclusive owner of business to keep all profits
Partnership =two or more indivuduals who operate and manage.
Limited = liability limited to capital they originally invested. If insolvent, personal assets protected. Not offered to general public
Limited Liability Partnership = some or all partners have limited liabilities. One partner not responsible for another partners negligence.
How would you assess a contractors financial accounts?
Request contractors company accounts for last 3 years
. Include profit and loss statement
. balance sheet
. cash flow statement
Assess contractor is profitable
Calculate liquidity ratio – assets v liabilities – to asses if they can cover contract losses
Caveat advice given to client and recommend chartered accountant to review
What are Dun and Bradsheet?
Reports to provide scorings and ratings to help identifying credit score
Financial strength derived from net worth
Risk indicator
Limitations: historic and look at past performance, not future
Profit may be declining in recent years
Main types of ratio analysis to assess company financial strength?
Liquidity – assets/liabilities
Leverage – net debt/equity
Profitability
Gross Margin – gross profit/net sales
Why do chartered surveyors need to be able to understand company accounts?
Companies business accounts
Covenant strength
Assessing competition
What is insider trading?
Trading of public stock by individuals with access to non-public information
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)?
HMRC scheme – minimise tax evasion from subcontractors
What is a balance sheet?
Financial statement of company’s assets, liabilities, equity
What does a balance sheet tell you?
How much owns (assets) and owes (liabilities)
What is a profit and loss account?
Compares revenue to expenditure and liabilities
What is include in a profit and loss account?
Revenue, expenditure, liabilities
Are profit and loss accounts current?
No, retrospective
What happens if company’s liabilities are greater than its assets?
Likelihood will go into administration
What does the term liabilities mean?
Outstanding cost, yet to be paid
What does the term assets mean to you?
A) Owned assets with value attached
How can you analyse company accounts/
A) Liquidity
B) Profitability
C) Leverage
What is corporation tax?
A) Tax levied on company profits
What does corporation tax apply to ?
A) All limited companies
What profits do companies pay corporation tax on?
A) Trading profits
What is VAT
A) Value added tax on goods and services
B) Charged on companies with turnover over £82k
What are capital allowances?
A) Tax relief on certain items bought for business (tools, IT etc)
Who can claim capital allowances?
A) Limited companies
B) Sole traders