Basic Accounting Flashcards
What are three important distinctions made in accounting?
Income and disbursements, assets and liabilities, receivables and payables
What is the purpose of a chart of accounts?
Organizing how a business handles money as it comes in and goes out
What are purchase orders used for in businesses?
Monitoring expenses
Why is accounting and bookkeeping important to business management? Give several reasons.
Practical reasons include financial decision making, tracking expenses, managing cash flow, and ensuring compliance
Fill in the blank: Money flows out of a business through _______.
accounts payable
What are the steps in making a purchase-order system work?
Identify needs, create order, approve order, receive goods, pay invoice
Distinguish between assets and liabilities.
Assets are resources owned by a business; liabilities are obligations owed by a business
What are the purposes and uses of the general ledger?
Recording all financial transactions, summarizing accounts, and providing financial statements
Give examples of ways site managers contribute to the financial health of properties they manage.
Budgeting, monitoring expenses, optimizing revenue, and maintaining accurate financial records
Who were the leaders in refining bookkeeping before the 1400s?
The Venetians
The Venetians were known for their advanced financial practices and understanding of money management.
What was a common practice among many merchants before the 1400s regarding their financial records?
Many merchants never balanced their books and some did not even keep books
This reflects a lack of formal financial management among less serious merchants.
What major financial divisions were created to help manage a business?
Income and disbursements, profit and loss, red ink and black ink
These divisions helped merchants better understand their financial status.
Who published the rules for double-entry bookkeeping in 1494?
Fra Luca Pacioli
His publication was significant in organizing financial records.
What is double-entry bookkeeping?
A method for separating and organizing cash inflows, cash outflows, accounts payable, and accounts receivable
This system helps track financial transactions accurately.
What was the name of Fra Luca Pacioli’s large book about mathematics?
The Summa
This book included his rules for bookkeeping and had a lasting impact on business practices.
What was the impact of Fra Luca Pacioli’s teachings on business practices?
His book had a tremendous impact on business practices
It standardized accounting methods and improved financial management.
According to Alfred W. Crosby, what is the effect of frequent accounting?
It makes for lasting friendships
Good bookkeeping fosters trust and reliability in business relationships.
Fill in the blank: Good bookkeeping allows the merchant to discern _______.
profits and losses
This understanding is crucial for effective business management.
True or False: Before the 1400s, all merchants kept detailed financial records.
False
Many merchants did not keep books or balance their accounts.
What is the importance of controlling finances in management?
It is vital for maintaining good partnerships and working relationships among employees, owners, and managers.
Frequent financial reporting builds trust in business relationships.
What can learning an organization’s profits and losses improve?
Management decision making about day-to-day challenges.
Understanding financial performance leads to better operational decisions.
How does understanding financial concepts benefit a company?
It leads to better forecasting, planning, and decisions about future opportunities.
Financial literacy is crucial for strategic planning.
Who is Fra Luca Pacioli?
An influential figure in the history of bookkeeping and accounting.
He is often referred to as the ‘father of accounting.’
What is cash?
Money in the form of banknotes, coins, or negotiable paper, including checks.
Cash is the most liquid form of asset.