Chapter 14 Flashcards
accounting
comprehensive system for collecting, analyzing, and communicating financial information
bookkeeping
recording of accounting transactions
accounting information system (AIS)
organized procedure for identifying, measuring, recording, and retaining financial information for use in accounting statements and management reports
controller
person who manages all of a firm’s accounting activities (chief accounting officer)
financial accounting
field of accounting concerned with external users of a company’s financial information
managerial (management) accounting
field of accounting that serves internal users of a company’s financial information
certified public accountant (CPA)
accountant licensed by the state and offering services to the public
audit
systematic examination of a company’s accounting system to determine whether its financial reports reliably represent its operations
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
accounting guidelines that govern the content and form of financial reports
tax services
assistance provided by CPAs for tax preparation and tax planning
management advisory services
assistance provided by CPA firms in areas such as financial planning, information systems design, and other areas of concern for client firms
core competencies for accounting
the combination of skills, technology, and knowledge that will be necessary for the future CPA
private accounting
salaried accountant hired by a business to carry out its day-to-day financial activities
management accountant
private accountant who provides financial services to support managers in various business activities within a firm
certified management accountant (CMA)
professional designation awarded by the institute of Management Accountants in recognition of management accounting qualifications
forensic accounting
the practice of accounting for legal purposes
certified fraud examiner (CFE)
professional designation administered by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners in recognition of qualifications for a specialty area within forensic accounting
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SARBOX)
enactment of federal regulations to restore public trust in accounting practices by imposing new requirements on financial activities in publicly traded corporations
accounting equation
assets = liabilities + owners’ equity; used by accountants to balance data for the firm’s financial transactions at various points in the year
asset
any economic resource expected to benefit a firm or an individual who owns it
liability
debt owned by a firm to an outside organization or individual
owners’ equity
amount of money that owners would receive if they sold all of a firm’s assets and paid all of its liabilities