Financial Accounting Flashcards
What is accounting defined as?
Process of identifying, measuring & communicating economic information about and entity t a variety of users for decision-making purposes
What is a business transaction?
An event that affects the financial position of an entity & can be reliably measured & recorded
What are the four stages of the accounting process?
Identifying, measuring, communication & decision making
What occurs during the Identifying stage of the accounting process
Identify transactions that affect the entity’s financial position. Must be able to reliably measure & record.
What occurs during the measuring stage of the accounting process
Analysis, recording & classification of business transactions
What occurs during the communication stage of the accounting process
information is communicated through various reports such as a statement of profit & loss, statement of financial position & cash flow
What occurs during the decision making stage of the accounting process
information used by external & internal users to make a decision
Define Asset
A resource controlled by an entity as a result of past events & from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity
What are the 3 essential characteristics of an asset?
- It is a present economic resource
- The resource is controlled by the entity
- The resource is a result of a past event
How do entities get assets?
Funded by owners money, or through loan funds
Define current assets
Cash & other assets that are expected to be converted to cash or be used in an entity within 12 months or one operation cycle.
What are the 3 categories of current assets?
- Inventory
- Bank/cash
- Accounts Receiveable
Define Accounts receivable
Balance of money owed to the business by customers for purchase on credit
What are the two subcategories of inventory?
- Stock, being things that we will sell
- Consumable stores, things that will be used within the company, such as coffee
Define non-current assets
Assets that are not expected to be consumed or sold within one year or one operating cycle.
What are the three categories of Non-current assets?
- Tangible asset
- Intangible asset
- Natural resources
What are common examples of non-current assets?
Property, plant, equipment, vehicles, furniture & fixtures
Define Tangible assets
Assets with a physical form. Usually depreciated over a period of planned use. Land Buildings, machinery etc
Define intangible assets
Assets that lack a physical form but offer economic value. e.g intellectual property such as trademarks
Define Liabilities
A present obligation of an entity arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the entity resources
What are the three essential characteristics of a liability?
- It is a present obligation
- The obligation is to transfer an economic resource
- The obligation is a result of past events
Define “present obligation” in reference to liability
The entity has no realistic alternative to settling the obligation.
E.g involved in a court case to settle a dispute, no liability exists until a judgement is handed down
Define “transfer” in reference to liability
Must have the potential to require an entity to transfer economic resources to another party
e.g accounts payable require a future sacrifice of economic benefits
Define current liability
Obligations that can reasonably be expected to be paid within 12 months or an operating cycle