Chapter 1 - Introduction to Accounting Flashcards
‘CHAPTER 1 PART 1 - The purpose of accounting information
CHAPTER 1 PART 1 - The purpose of accounting information
Define Accounting (1)
Accounting is a way of recording, analysing and summarising the transactions of an entity (a term we shall use to describe any business organisation)
How many types of business entity are there? Name them all (3)
There are three main types of profit-focused business entity:
1) Sole traders
2) Partnerships
3) Limited liability companies (LTD)
Describe a Sole Trader business entity (4) + Example (1)
- Work for themselves
- Legally one and the same as their business
-Unlimited liability - If they are sued they are personally responsible can potentially lose any personal and business assets (e.g their home)
- Can have employees
Example: Plumber, Local Shopkeeper, Hairdresser
Describe a Partnerships business entity (4) + Example (1)
Partnership can take one of two forms:
1) a general partnership (like two or more sole traders) - joint and several liability
2) a Limited Liability Partnership LLP (more like a company). -
1) For general partnerships - Two or more people own the business (they share the risk and reward together)
- If they are sued they are personally responsible can potentially lose any personal and business assets (e.g their home) - doesn’t matter which owner gets sued
2) For Limited Liability Partnership LLP - owners can maximum lose only what they have invested into the business
- Partnerships are not considered further in Accounting.
Example: Accountancy, medical or legal practic
Describe a Limited liability companies (LTD) business entity (4)
- Known as incorporating
- Managed and directed by shareholders/members/owners
- If the company is sued any personal assets are safe
- Owners can maximum lose only what they have invested into the business
- Limit liability of owners
- The owners (shareholders) of a limited liability company are only responsible for the amount to be paid for their shares
Is a Limited liability companies private or public? (1)
LTD can be private or public (PLC) - both limited companies
Ltd - only friends and family can buy shares
Plc - open to the public to open buy the shares
What is the business entity concept? Who does it affect? (1)
Business entity concept - accounts are always produced from POV of business separate from business owner for all 3
The business entity concept states that the business is separate from the owner(s) of the business. Therefore the accounting records for even the simplest business, the sole trader, must be kept separate from the personal affairs of the owner or owners
Why do businesses need to produce accounting information in the form of financial statements?
Simple answer = Needs to provide enough information to help people make economic decisions
According to the IFRS Foundation’s Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting, the objective of financial reporting is to ‘provide information about the reporting entity that is useful to existing and potential investors, lenders and other creditors in making decisions relating to providing resources to the entity
What is a financial statement? (1) What is it comprised of? (6)
- Prepared under IFRS Accounting Standards
1. statement of financial position
2. a statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income
3. a statement of changes in equity
4. a statement of cash flows
5. notes
6. and in certain circumstances a revised statement of financial position from an earlier period.
Who would use a financial statement? (11)
- Managers/Directors
- Owners of the company (shareholders)
- Lenders
- Other creditors
- Trade contacts
- HMRC = HM Revenue and Customs
- Employees
- Financial analysts and advisors
- Government Agencies
- Public
- Regulatory bodies
What does IFRS stand for? (1) What is it? (1)
IFRS = international Financial Reporting Standards
Are a set of accounting rules for how information should be gathered and presented in financial reports
Who is the primary user group of financial statements? (1) What do they need to assess? (2)
- Existing and potential investors, lenders and other creditors
Accounting policies and principles are made around this group
When making decisions, the primary users need to assess:
* The economic resources of an entity (eg, its cash and other assets), claims against the entity (eg, its liabilities) and changes in those resources and claims.
* How efficiently and effectively the entity’s management have discharged their responsibilities relating to the management of the entity’s resources.
Will they buy (invest) or sell (divest)
What does the timing and certainty of cash flows determine whether a business can do? (4)
Cash is important to businesses. An entity needs to be able to use its resources to generate cash and use that cash to settle its claims. The timing and certainty of cash flows determines whether the business can:
* pay its employees and suppliers
* meet interest payments
* repay loans
* pay something to its owners
Why would Managers/Directors find a financial statement useful? (5)
- As they supervisor the day-to-day they need info about company’s present and future financial situation ables them mange the business and are decisions regarding pricing, output, employment and financing.
-Might be responsible for meeting ESG (environmental, social and governance) targets, will need info on these measures and know how the company is performing against them - They do not rely on financial statements as they can have access to internal business info through the cost and management accounting system
- Therefore, instead of being thought of as users of the financial statements, management are primarily responsible for the preparation and presentation of the financial statements
- The CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK does not identify managers as primary users of a financial statute but instead as being responsible for the preparation and presentation
What does ESG stand for? (2)
Environmental, social and governance (ESG)
Frequently used terminology in corporate and investment communities. It approaches sustainability related issues through a corporate lens and considers the impact of these risks on business and enterprise value
Why would Owners/Shareholders find a financial statement useful? (5)
- Want to assess management performance
- Their capital is at risk as they have invested and they want to know what is the risk and what is the return
- Should they buy, hold or sell shares. They want to know how profitable and sustainable the company’s operations are and how much profit is available for distribution to the shareholders through a dividend
- May consider ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues - as can impact value. Dependencies could include, for example, climate risks, resource availability, worker health, diversity, regulatory risks and consumer expectations
- Want to know how is the entity’s policies and practices impact to the environment and society e.g. policies on worker rights, human rights issues within its supply chains, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water usage
How can ESG information in a financial statement affect Lenders? (1)
- Lenders include financial and non-financial conditions that the business should meet, if not met the terms can be changed or withdrawn
- More ESG (environmental, social and governance) conditions are now being included. For example emission levels, which directly link to the interest rate on the loan. The higher the emissions, the higher the interest rate
Why would Lenders find a financial statement useful? (3)
- e.g. Banks
- Banks allows entity to operate In overdrafts or provide longer term loan finance , they need top ensure they will keep up the loan payments
- Lenders include financial and non-financial conditions that the business should meet, if not met the terms can be changed or withdrawn
- More ESG (environmental, social and governance) conditions are now being included. For example emission levels, which directly link to the interest rate on the loan. The higher the emissions, the higher the interest rate
- A bank may receive more information outside of the financial statement they might demand a cash flow forecast as a pre-condition of granting an overdraft
Why would Other Creditors/Suppliers find a financial statement useful? (3)
- Other creditors/suppliers provide goods and services on credit and customers who purchase goods or services
- They want to know can they pay the debts
- They usually care more short term about entity compared to lenders unless they are dependent upon the continuation of the entity as a major customer
- Suppliers are also interested in the company’s corporate values such as its fair trade policies, how it treats its employees and its environmental practices
Why would Trade Contacts find a financial statement useful? (1)
Trade contacts, which includes suppliers/creditors, and customers need to know that the company is a secure source of supply, so that repeat purchases and after-sales care will be available
Why would HMRC find a financial statement useful? (2)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) want to know about business profits in order to assess the company’s tax liabilities
HMRC will receive information outside of the financial statement to make tax assessments
Why would an Employee find a financial statement useful? (4)
- Assess job security
- Assess career opportunities
- Assess the entity’s ability to provide remuneration, retirement benefits and employment opportunities
- Assess if they want to be part of the organisation and consider issues such as the ethical stance of the company and pay equality between genders
Why would a Financial Analyst/Advisor find a financial statement useful? (1)
- Use the info for their clients to help advise investor, credit agencies or even journalists (who may need info for they reading public)
Why would Government agencies find a financial statement useful? (3)
- Interested in the efficient allocation of resources and therefore in the activities of enterprises
- May require info in order to provide a basis for national statistics
- They may want to assess how entities are implementing mandatory reporting requirements to disclose information, for example the disclosure requirements of the Task Force on Climate- related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
What is the TCFD? (2)
The Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
requires most UK companies to disclose information on the climate-related risks and opportunities that they face.
You are not required to understand the requirements of the TCFD in Accounting but, should be aware that it is an important area of change.
Why would the Public find a financial statement useful? (2)
- Public are having more influences on what is included in a financial statement
- Review entities ethical and social disclosures
- e.g. may be concerned with the levels of pollution generated by the entity
Why would the Regulatory Bodies find a financial statement useful? (2)
Regulatory bodies such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which regulates the financial services industry, require information to ensure compliance with regulations and the law
Who would prepare a financial statement? (2)
As managers do not rely on financial statements as they can have access to internal business info through the cost and management accounting system they are primarily responsible for the preparation and presentation of the financial statements
The CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK does not identify managers as primary users of a financial statute but instead as being responsible for the preparation and presentation
Who may require more information outside of a financial statement? (2)
In addition to the financial statements, additional accounting information is often prepared for the benefit of other stakeholders to satisfy their specific information needs:
* HMRC will receive information to make tax assessments
* A bank might demand a cash flow forecast as a pre-condition of granting an overdraft
Who needs to be prepare financial statement? (3)
- Business entity’s
1) Sole traders
2) Partnerships
3) Limited liability companies (LTD) - Charities and clubs
- Government (public sector) organisations
What is the Conceptual Framework? (2) Who does it say is responsible for THE preparation of a financial statement? (1)
The Conceptual Framework sets out the concepts that underlie the preparation and presentation of financial statements.
Conceptual Framework states that if financial information is to be useful, it must be relevant and faithfully represent what it purports to represent.
The CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK does not identify managers as primary users of a financial statement but instead as being responsible for the preparation and presentation
CHAPTER 1 PART 2 - The regulation of accounting
CHAPTER 1 PART 2 - The regulation of accounting
What must all UK companies comply with? (1)
In the UK, all companies must comply with the provisions of the Companies Act