Finance Flashcards
strategic role of financial management
is concerned with planning, monitoring and controlling the allocation of the business’s finances to achieve its goals and objectives, and ultimately profit maximisation.
strategic plan
a plan that encompasses the strategies that a business will use to achieve its long-term goals
financial resources
those resources in a business that have a monetary or money value
profitability
the excess of revenue or income over expenses or costs
growth
the ability of the business to increase its size in the longer term
efficiency
the ability of a business to minimise its costs and manage its assets so that maximum profit is achieved with the lowest possible level of assets
liquidity
the extent to which a business can meet its financial commitments in the short term (less than 12 months)
solvency
the extent to which the business can meet its financial commitments in the longer term (more than 12 months)
gearing
the proportion of debt (external finance) and the proportion of equity (internal finance) that is used to finance the activities of a business. Gearing ratios determine the firm’s solvency.
interdependence
the mutual dependence that the key business functions have on one another
financial decision making
requires relevant information to be identified, collected and analysed to determine an appropriate course of action
internal finance
funds generated from inside the business; for example, profits can be retained to finance expansion
external finance
funds provided by sources outside the business, including banks, other financial institutions, government, suppliers or financial intermediaries
debt finance
relates to the short-term and long-term borrowing from external sources by a business
overdraft
when a bank allows a business or individual to overdraw their account up to an agreed limit and for a specified time, to help overcome a temporary cash shortfall
factoring
the selling of accounts receivable for a discounted price to a finance or factoring company
mortgage
a loan secured by the property of the borrower (business)
debenture
a promise issued by a company to repay a loan for a fixed rate of interest and for a fixed period of time
unsecured note
a loan from investors for a set period of time. Unsecured notes are not secured against the business’s assets
leasing
the payment of money for the use of equipment that is owned by another party
equity
as an external source of funds, refers to the finance raised by a company through inviting new owners
dividend
a distribution of a company’s profits (either yearly or half-yearly) to shareholders, calculated as a number of cents per share
financial institutions
financial institutions collect funds and invest them in financial assets. They provide financial services and focus on dealing with financial transactions such as investments, loans and deposits
banks
receive savings as deposits from individuals, governments + businesses and in turn make investments + loans to borrowers
investment banks
provide services in both borrowing and lending to the business sector
finance companies
non-bank institutions that specialise in smaller commercial finance. Funds are raised through debentures (not deposits)
superannuation
a scheme set up by the federal government, which requires all employers to make a financial contribution to a fund that will provide benefits to an employee when they retire
life insurance companies
provide cover and a lump sum payment in the event of death
unit trusts
take funds from a large number of small investors and invest them in
specific types of financial assets
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
the primary stock exchange group in Australia
primary market
deals with the new issue of debt instruments by the borrower of funds
secondary market
deals with the purchase and sale of existing securities
global economic outlook
the projected changes to the level of economic growth throughout the world