Chapter 6 - Measuring & Reporting Cash Flows Flashcards
What is the definition of cash and cash equivalents?
- Cash: notes and coins in hand and deposits an banks and other institutions that are accessible to the business on demand
- Cash equivalents: short-term, highly liquid investment (can readily be converted to known amounts of cash), without significant risk of changes in value.
What is the standard layout of the cash flow statement?
- Cash flows from operating activities. Normal day-to-day trading activities. Interest paid is displayed here most commonly.
- Cash flows form investing activities. Relate to acquisition/disposal of non-current assets.
- Cash flows from financing activities. Relates to the long-term financing of the business. Dividends appear here in Sweden.
- Net increase/decrease: The total when the three categories are added together.
What is the typical direction of cash flows in the three categories?
- Operating activities: positive
- Investing activities: negative, non-current assets wear out/become obsolete and need to be replaced
- Financing activities: depends on current strategy. Expanding = positive
How does the direct method derive cash flows from operating activities?
The cash records for the period are analysed, to identify all payments and receipts that relate to operating activities.
How does the indirect method derive cash flows from operating activities?
The information from the income statement is used as a starting point. From the profit figure, there are two adjustments that are made.
- Adjustment 1: handles non-cash flow related items and items not related to operating activities, such as depreciation and realised gains.
- Adjustment 2: handles changes in working capital (trade payable, trade receivable, inventory). Current assets/liabilities related to operations.
What does the cash flow statement tell us?
How the business has generated cash during a period and how that cash was used.