Chapter 1 Flashcards
Who uses financial accounting? (5)
1) shareholders
2) creditors
3) managers and directors
4) financial analysts
5) other users
Shareholder
owners of a corporation that own stock; rely on financial statements to evaluate performance
Sole proprietorship company
Single owner who manages daily operations (small family business)
Partnership company
Two or more owners of a company (lawyer, CPA)
Limited liability company (LLC)
New business; similar to a corporation but more flexibility
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ
Issue stock via organized exchanges
Separation of ownership
Sell stock to raise capital, CEO owns less
Accounting
Process of recording, summarizing, and analyzing financial transactions
Creditors- how do they use financial statements
Companies borrow from banks/lenders; interested in borrower’s ability to repay; determine loan terms, loan amount, interest rate, collateral
Suppliers- how do they use financial statements
Financial information establishes credit terms and commitment to relationships
Managers and directors- - how do they use financial statements
Often have incentives tied to financial reports; board of directors- publicly traded companies are required to have them, elected by shareholders; leverage other company reports to make decisions
Financial analysts- how do they use financial statements
Decision makers rely on analysts; dissemination of financial information to identify/assess risk, forecast performance, establish price, make investor decisions
Others- how do they use financial statements
Prospective employees- learn about companies; labor unions- assess health prior to negotiating; customers- ability to deliver products/services
Costs of disclosure
Costs of accountants, costs imposed by competitors- learn about products/strategies to reduce competitive advantage; raise investor expectations; political cost of regulation/taxation
Benefits of disclosure
Lowers financing and operating costs, bank uses info to determine interest
What are the 4 business activities as part of accounting?
1) planning activities
2) investing activities
2) financing activities
3) operating activities
How are planning activities influenced by accounting?
Company goal/strategy creates value for owners; strategic plan reviews market conditions, competition, opportunities, and threats
How are investing activities influenced by accounting?
Acquiring/disposing resources needed to sell; companies have a different mix of assets depending on business model (online only vs brick/mortar); also will vary if assets are short term or long term
How are financing activities influenced by accounting?
Methods company uses to fund investments
Financial management
Planning of resource needs/financing resources
What are the sources of financing activities?
1) equity (owner) financing
2) liability- creditor (or debt) financing
Equity (owner) financing
Funds contributed by owners with income retained in the company; does not impose repayment obligation
Liability- creditor (debt) financing
Funds by non-owners; company must pay in future- legal obligation to pay back
What is the accounting equation?
Investing=financing
investing assets= liabilities (financing)+equity (owner financing)