Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of accounting?
The process of identifying, measuring, and communicating financial information about an entity to allow users of the info to make informed judgements and decisions
Tell me about the conceptual framework
A statement of principles that that provide generally accepted guidance for the development of new reporting practices and for challenging and evaluating the existing practices.
They have existed since 1980s
Most widely applicable framework is the framework for the Preparation of Financial Statements issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
What is the IASB’s framework?
- The objectives of general purpose financial reporting
- Qualitative characteristics of useful financial info
- Financial statements and the reporting entity
- The elements of financial statements
- Recognition and derecognition
- Measurement
- Presentation and disclosure
- Concepts of capital and capital insurance
What is the process for accounting?
Input -> process -> output
Tell me about internal reporting
Reporting to those who are managing the business on a day to day business
Managers - management accounting
Tell me about external reporting
Reporting to those who are not part of the day to day running of the business
Government, shareholders, society, clients
Financial accounting
What is the main difference between internal and external reporting?
Access to information
Sole trader
Enter into a business alone
May borrow from the bank
Legally, business and owner are two separate entities (can sue business or can sue owner)
Unlimited liability
Partnership
No limit on the number of members but at least 2 people
Partnership is a separate economic entity
Limited liability (cannot get personal belongings, can only get what has been invested)
Joint/several liability
Limited company
Must register the company under Companies Act
Limited liability (personal wealth is safe)
Board of directors elected, they make the decisions for a salary in return
Minimum capital requirement is £2
Private limited company is Ltd
Public limited company is PLC
Sole trader - Who will accounting info be needed for and why?
Government for tax collecting purposes
The bank for the purpose of lending money to the business
A person intending to buy the business when existing owner retires
Partnership - Who will accounting info be needed for and why?
Partners - to ensure they are receiving a fair share of partnership profit
The Inland Revenue - collecting taxes
Banks - provide finance
Other people who may be invited to join the partnership
Limited liability company- Who will accounting info be needed for and why?
Must make accounting info available to the public (annual financial statements)
Management information needs
Need info on performance and position
Past and future
Frequency of reporting is at least monthly
Employee information needs
Ability to pay wages and continuity of employment
Issue associated with the working environment
Lenders information needs
Assess the economic stability and company vulnerability
Suppliers/trade creditors information needs
Credit worthiness of their customers
Customers/trade debtors information needs
Continuity of supply
Governments and their agencies information needs
Governmental planning
National statistics
Tax
Regulation of utilities
Public interest information needs
Impact on local community
Environmental concerns
Agency theory
Describes the agency problem which comes from the separation of owners and managers
Managers need to be held accountable for their own decisions
Resolved by manages having to provide info regularly to owners so decisions and behaviour can monitored/assessed.
General purpose report
Finance accountant won’t make a different report for each user so creates a general one
Management accountant will make reports on specific needs of the manager