Processes of Financial Management Flashcards

1
Q

What are the steps of financial planning

A
  1. Determing financial needs
  2. Developing budgets
  3. Maintaining record systems
  4. Identifying financial risks
  5. Establsihing financial controls
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What forms basis of financial plan

A

Situtational analysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where does data for analysis come from

A

The financial statements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What determines a business’s financial needs

A
  • Size of the business
  • Current phase of the business cycle
  • Future plans for growth and development
  • Capacity to source finance – debt and/or equity
  • Management skills for assessing financial needs and planning
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a budget

A

A plan predicting revenue an expense of a business for a future time period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does a budget provide

A

Information in quantitative terms about requirements to achieve a particular purpose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How does a budget act as a control measure

A

Allows businesses to compare planned performance against actual performance and taking corrective action when needed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are three types of budgets

A
  • Operating
  • Project
  • Financial
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a operating budget

A

Budget concerned with main activities of a business such as sales

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a project budget concerned with

A
  • Capital expenditure and R&D
  • Includes information on purpose of asset purchase and revenue generated from purchase
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a financial budget

A
  • Relates to financial data of the business
  • Predictions of operating and project budgets are included in the budgeted financial statements
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Example of a budgeted income statement

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are record systems mean

A

The mechanisms that ensure data is recorded & the information provided is accurate, reliable, efficient & accessible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Example of record systems

A

Paper based journals or electronic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What do record systems store

A

Data such as sales, expenses, assets, liabilities and customer, supplier and product information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a financial risk

A

The risk that a financial decision will result in a financial loss

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

If a business cannot meet its financial commitments what will it become

A

Insolvent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the steps to minimise risk

A
  • Profit generated must be sufficient to cover cost of debt as well as increasing profits to justify the risk taken by the business owner.
  • Consideration must also be given to the liquidity of a business’s assets à there must be sufficient liquid assets (cash) to cover interest and principal repayments
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are financial controls

A

Financial controls are the policies and procedures that ensure the plans of a business will be achieved in the most efficient way.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are exmaples of policies and procedures that ensure business plans are achieved in most efficient way

A
  • Clear authorisation for tasks in the business
  • Separation of duties
  • Control of cash
  • Protection of assets
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Examples of controls

A
  • Budgets
  • Cash flow statements
  • Income statements
  • Balance sheets
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is debt finance

A

Debt finance relates to the short term and long term borrowing from external sources by a business

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is equity finance

A

Equity finance relates to the internal sources of finance in the busines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are advantages of debt financing

A
  • Will not dilute current ownership of the business
  • Funds are readily available and can be acquired at short notice
  • Increased funds should lead to increased earning and profit
  • Flexible payments and types of debt are available
  • Interest payments are tax deductible
  • Profits are not shared with lender of loan
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are advanatges of equity financing

A
  • Capital does not have to be repaid with interest within a set time
  • Owners receive returns through both dividend repayments and increase Ii share value
  • Flexibility in timing and amount of dividend payments
  • Cheaper than other sources of finance as interest does not have to be paid
  • Greater potential for growth as owners has a vested interest in success of business
  • Low gearing (debt/equity)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are cost disadvantages of debt financing

A
  • Initial establishment costs and ongoing fees and charges
  • Interest has to be paid on funds borrowed
  • Repayments often fixed and inflexible
  • Security is required by the business
  • Amount must be repaid within a set-period
  • Creditors have first claim to any money should business go bankrupt
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What are cost disadvantages of equity financing

A
  • Increases number of owners, reducing level of control and increasing the sharing of profit and time taken to make decisions
  • Longer term it is more expensive than debt à dividends paid to shareholders expect higher ROI
  • Long expensive process to obtain funds this way
  • Ownership is diluted
  • Equity funding is not tax deductible
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are risk disadvanatges of debt financing

A
  • Increased risk since interest, bank charges and govt charges may increase
  • Cash flow difficulties may develop causing the business to have difficulties repaying the loan
  • If loan is secured, defaulting on loan may lead to loss of asset

The debt `to equity ratio (gearing/leverage) may increase, affecting the solvency and long-term stability of business

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What are risk disadvantages of equity financing

A
  • Central control of ownership is reduced, causing a loss of control in decision-making
  • Equity holders have voting rights
  • High demand for dividend payments to shareholders may reduce level of retained profits
  • The business is more open to takeover if a business buys a majority shareholding in the business
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What does matching the terms and sources of finance to business purpose

A
  • Businesses must find the source of finance that is most appropriate to fund activities (such as: purchase new equipment, purchase inventory, build new premises, buying a new factory or vehicles) which are required to achieve their financial objectives (e.g. profit growth, increased market share)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What does terms of finance involve

A
  • Short term finance must match short term purpose of finance (e.g. temporary management of cash flow shortfall should be financed by bank overdraft) and
  • Long-term finance should be obtained for long term purposes (e.g. expansion of the business overseas or buying a property)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Why should costs of each source of finance be determined

A

Because the required rate of return that can be expected from the use of the finance (e.g. machine purchase etc), should be balanced against the costs of each source of finance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How does business structure effect source of finance

A

It Influences decisions about finance

small businesses have fewer opportunities for equity capital for example, than larger businesses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Why should flexibility of funding source be considered

A

Businesses often require flexibility so that if they have excess funds, borrowings can be paid off more quickly Bank overdrafts for example provide greater flexibility than debentures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What costs of finance should be considered

A

Set-up costs and interest rates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is the main way the availablity of finance is determined for businesses

A
  • The higher the credit rating (track record in meeting its financial commitments), the greater number of available sources of finance (banks more willing to supply finance)
  • The lower the credit rating, the more limited sources of finance available to a business
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What impacts a businesses level of control over sources of finance

A

Conditions such as security and other restrictions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

How does equity financing effect level of control for buisnesses

A

Further share issue dilutes ownership for existing owners/shareholders and hence voting rights

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What are the main financial controls

A
  • Cash-flow statements
  • Income statement
  • Balance sheet
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What is cash flow

A

The difference between cash inflows (money going into business) and cash outflows (money leaving business)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What does a cash-flow statement record

A

Cash flow statement specifically records the movement of cash receipts and cash payments that result from transactions over a given time, for example a month

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

A cash flow statement shows whether a business can…

A
  • generate a favourable cash flow
  • pay its financial commitments as they fall due (e.g. interest and repayments of borrowings, accounts payable)
  • have sufficient funds for future expansion
  • pay drawings to owners or dividends to shareholders
  • obtain finance from external sources when needed.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What are the three main categories activities are divided into

A
  • Operating
  • Investing
  • Financing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What are operating activities in a cash flow statement

A

Cash inflows and outflows relating to the main activity of the business

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

What are investing activities in a cash flow statement

A

Cash inflows and outflows relating to purchase and sale of non-current assets and investments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

What are financing activities in a cash flow statement

A
  • Cash inflows and outflows relating to the borrowing activities of the business. Borrowing inflows relate to equity or debt.
  • Cash outflows relate to the repayments of debt and cash drawings of the owner or payments of dividends
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What is another word for income statement

A

Profit and loss statement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What does a income statement outline

A

The level of revenue, cost of goods sold (COGS) and operating expenses and calculates whether a business has made a profit or loss over a particular period of time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

What does an income statement help businesses understand

A

Changes in profit and expenses during reported period of time and can be compared with other businesses and industry standards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What is sales revenue

A

Money generated from all goods sold

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

What does cost of goods sold refer to

A

The business expenses directly tied to the production and sale of a company’s goods and services à represent expenses directly incurred when a transaction takes place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

What is equation for COGS

A

COGS = (opening stock + purchases) – closing stock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

What are examples of COGS

A

Labour directly tied to production, Direct materials, needed for the production of goods and services, taxes on the production facilities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

What are expenses

A

The total operating costs of the business

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

What do operating expenses refer to

A
  • expenditures that are not directly tied to the production of goods or services
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

What are examples of operating expenses

A

Rent, Utilities, Office supplies, Legal costs, Sales and marketing, Insurance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

What is gross profit

A

The profit a company makes after deducting the costs associated with making and selling its products

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

What is gross profit equation

A

Gross profit = sale revenue – COGS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

What does gross profit assess

A

A company’s efficiency at using its labour and supplies in producing goods or services and mainly considers variable costs such as labour and materials. Net profit = gross profit – expense

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

What does net profit represent

A

How much money a company has after all expenses are paid, including operating expenses, taxes, interest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

What is net profit equation

A

Net profit = gross profit – expenses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

Where does net profit fit in a income statement

A

The last line

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

What does a balance sheet convey

A

The financial position of a business at a particular point in time (usually June 30)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

What does a balance sheet show

A

The short- and long-term assets and short- and long-term liabilities and the equity (net worth) of the business

65
Q

What is balance sheet based upon

A

The accounting equation

66
Q

What does balance sheet assess

A

The level of liquidity, gearing and solvency

67
Q

What are intangible assets

A

Assets that are not physical such as goodwill, they are usually harder to measure

68
Q

What are current assets

A

Short-term assets that can be changed into cash within a year

69
Q

Examples of short term assets

A

Cash at bank, inventory, accounts receivables

70
Q

What are accounts receivable

A

Amounts owed to the business by people

71
Q

What are non-current assets

A

Assets that are expected to provide economic benefits to the firm for more than 12 months

72
Q

What is total assets

A

Current assets + non-current assets

73
Q

What are current liabilities

A

Short-term debts that must be repaid within a year

74
Q

What are accounts payable

A
  • Amount business owes to people
  • Usually repaid within 30-60 days
75
Q

What are non-current liabilities

A

Debts to be repaid over periods greater than a year

76
Q

What are total liabilities

A

Current liabilities + non-current liabilities

77
Q

What is Owners equity

A
  • The funds contributed by the owner(s) as well as retained profits and represents the business’s net worth (also referred to as capital)
78
Q

What is accounting equation

A

Assets = Liabilities + Owners’ equity

79
Q

How is balance sheet influenced by accounting equation

A

Balance sheets can be rearranged to represent different forms of accounting equation

80
Q

How can balance sheet represent different versions of the accounting equation

A

Can either show:

  • Assets = Liabilities + Owners equity
  • OE = Assets - Liabilities
  • Liabilities = Assets - OE
81
Q

What form of accounting equation does this show

A

Assets = liabilities + owners’ equity

82
Q

How does balance sheet link cash flow and income statement

A
  • Retained profits comes from income statement
  • Cash has come from cash flow statement
83
Q

What are financial ratios

A

Calculations that help managers examine the performance of the business and whether it is meeting its financial objectives

84
Q

What do ratios allow for

A

Comparisons to be made over time, with the previous year’s performance, with industry averages and competitors

85
Q

What does analysis require

A

Interpretation

86
Q

What does interpretation allow a business to do

A

Allows business to identify trends, make predictions and assists future planning

87
Q

What are all the ratios

A
  • current ratio
  • debt to equity ratio
  • gross profit ratio, net profit ratio, return on owners’ equity
  • expense ratio, accounts receivable turnover ratio
88
Q

What ratio shows liquidity

A

Current ratio

89
Q

What ratio shows gearing

A

debt to equity ratio

90
Q

What ratios show profitability

A
  • gross profit ratio
  • net profit ratio
  • return on owners’ equity
91
Q

What ratios show efficiency

A
  • Expense ratio
  • Accounts receivable turnover ratio
92
Q

What does current ratio convey

A

Businesses ability to pay pack its short-term debts or current liabilities

93
Q

What is current ratio also known as

A

Working capital ratio

94
Q

What does current ratio measure

A

Measures a business’s ability to pay back their current liabilities with their current assets

95
Q

What is current ratio formula

A

Current assets/Current liabilties

96
Q

What is suggeested current ratio level

A

2:1

97
Q

What do gearing ratios determined

A

The firm’s solvency — that is, its ability to meet its financial commitments in the longer term

98
Q

What is gearing

A

The proportion of debt (external finance) and the proportion of equity (internal finance) that is used to finance the activities of a business

99
Q

What is debt to equity ratio formula

A

Total liabilities/Total equity

100
Q

Who are interested in gearing ratio

A

Potential investors and creditors

101
Q

What must a business consider when determining the level of gearing

A
  • ROI
  • Cost of debt
  • Size/stability of businesses earning capacity
  • Liquidity
  • Purposes of debt
102
Q

What does it mean if a busines is highly geared

A
  • Highly geared businesses have a bigger the risk of becoming insolvent however there is also potential for greater profits
103
Q

What is preferred ratio for smal businesses

A

Aorund 60%

104
Q

What is profitability

A

Profitability is the earning performance of the business and indicates its capacity to use its resources to maximise profits

105
Q

What are the profit ratios

A
  • Gross profit ratio
  • Net profit ratio
  • Return on equity (ROI) ratio
106
Q

What is gross profit

A

The difference between sales revenue and the direct cost of goods sold. à it represents the amount of sales that is available to meet expenses resulting in net profit

107
Q

What is gross profit ratio formula

A

Gross profit/Sales

108
Q

What does gross profit ratio measure

A

Measures what percentage of each dollar of sales is gross profit, it indicates the mark-up on the goods

109
Q

What is net profit formula

A

Net profit = gross profit - expenses

110
Q

What does net profit represnent for owners and shareholders

A

ROI

111
Q

What is net profit ratio

A

Net profit/Sales

112
Q

What does net profit ratio measure

A

What percentage of each dollar of sales is net profit, it takes into account operating expenses

113
Q

What is return on equity ratio formula

A

Net profit/Total equity

114
Q

What does return on equity ratio show

A

How effective the funds contributed by the owners have been in generating profit, and hence a return on their investment

115
Q

What does a higher ratio represent

A

A better return for the owner

116
Q

What ratios show effiency

A
  • Expense ratio
  • Accounts recivebale turnover ratio
117
Q

What does maximised efficiency lead to

A

Maximised profits

118
Q

What is expense ratio formula

A

Total expenses/Sales

119
Q

What does expense ratio showRe

A

Relationship between sales and the expenses the business has incurred in making those sales

120
Q

What can expense ratio be used for

A

Indicate the amount of sales that are allocated to individual expenses, such as selling, administration, cost of goods sold and financial expenses.

121
Q

What must managers do if expense ratio is too high

A

Managers must consider looking at monitoring and controlling their expenses

122
Q
A
123
Q

What is accounts receivable turnover ratio formula

A

Sales/Accounts receivable

124
Q

What does Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio measure

A

The effectiveness of a firm’s credit policy and how efficiently it collects its debts along with how many times the accounts receivable balance is converted into cash or how quickly debtors pay their accounts

125
Q

How do you find how many days it takes a business to convert its accounts receivable balance into cash

A

Do 365 divided by accounts receivable turnover ratio

126
Q

What is formula for the average length of time it takes to convert the balance into cash

A

365/(Sales/Accounts receivable)

127
Q

In what ways are ratios compared

A
  • Over different time periods
  • Against common standards/benchmarks
  • With similar businesses
128
Q

What does comparing over different time periods involve

A

Businesses could compare ratios with their results from previous years

129
Q

What does comparitive ratio analysis allow businesses to do

A

Gain meaning from analysis of ratio calculations

130
Q

What does it mean for a business to compare against common standards

A

Involves comparing with standards such as industry standards and helps assess financial state of business

131
Q

Who provides industry benchmarks

A

ATO

132
Q

What does comparison with similar businesses involve

A

Involves comparison with businesses in the same industry and of the same size

133
Q

What are issues that cause limitations of financial reports

A
  • Normalised earnings
  • Capitalising expenses
  • Valuing assets
  • Timing issues
  • Debt repayments
  • Notes to the financial statements
134
Q

What are normalised earnings

A

Normalised earnings are earnings on the balance sheet that are adjusted to remove unusual one-off events

135
Q

Whats an exmaple of a normalised earning

A
  • Example of this would be where accounting business sold a block of land it owned in the CBD of a large yet à proceeds of sale would be substantial and might give unrealistic picture of profit for that business for that year à to normalise this event proceeds of sale would be removed from financial report for that year
136
Q

What are other situtaions aside from asset sale which may lead to normalised earnings

A
  • Inflation
  • Economic cycles
137
Q

What does it mean to capitalise an expense

A

To capitalise an expense is to change the expense from a ‘one-off’ operating expense into a capital item which can then be depreciated over time.

138
Q

What does it mean if a business is able to capitalise an expense

A

Operating expense now becomes asset

139
Q

What are impacts of capitalising expenses

A
  • Operating expenses will reduce and therefore profit will increase
  • Assets of business will increase
  • Change in liabilities of business
140
Q

Whats an example of capitalising expenses

A

An example might be including the legal costs and stamp duty in acquiring a large property as part of the asset value on the balance sheet to overstate this value

141
Q

How does capitalisng expenses effect financial reports

A
  • This distorts the financial reports of the business. By changing the expense into a capital item (asset), the business can claim depreciation of the capital item as a tax deduction over a number of years.
142
Q

What does historical costs mean in relation to valuing assets

A

Values assets as equal to the cost of the asset at the time of purchase (the advantage of this is that it is easy to verify).

143
Q

How is using historical costs a limitation of finacial reporting

A

If an asset is valued at its historical cost it may not reflect the true present-day value and the balance sheet will not accurately represent the true worth of the business’s assets

144
Q

How can depreciation of assets act as a limitaton

A

Because there are several methods that a business is allowed to choose from and can potentially overstate or understate assets in the balance sheet and net profit in the income statement

145
Q

How does the value of intangibles act as a limit of financial report

A

Not physical assets so it is difficult to determine their real value and various interpretations can be placed on their value as stated on the balance sheet

146
Q

What limits businesses valuing intangibles too inaccurately

A
  • Limited by Australia’s adoption of Intl Accounting Standards
  • Accounting standards established by Australian Accounting Standards Board AASB which has responsibilities under Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth)
147
Q

What are timing issues in relation to limitations of financial reports

A

Accountants and/or business owners may at times delay or fast track revenue items to suit their particular financial need (can be referred to as cash-based accounting meaning businesses record transaction when cash is received)

148
Q

What is the matching principle as an accounting concept

A

Match expenses incurred for the accounting period in which the revenue to which those expenses relate, is earned (accrual accounting).

149
Q

How may debt repayments act as a limit of financial reports

A
  • The recording of debt repayments on financial reports can be used to distort the ‘reality’ of the business’s status and this may be done to provide a more favourable overview of the business at that point in time
  • e.g. The business may renegotiate their debt repayments, therefore interest payments may increase or decrease for a particular financial statement period therefore affecting the net profit.
150
Q

How can notes to financial statements impprove their transparency

A
  • Report the details and additional information that are left out of the main reporting documents; for example, the accounting methodologies used
  • Done mainly to make the financial documents clearer and it is important to read these to gain full understanding of financial statements
151
Q

What legislation lays out the obligations of businesses in terms of how they must operate and record their finance

A

Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)

152
Q

What are the main areas in which ethical issues arise in relation to financial report

A
  • Audits
  • Misuse of funds
  • Record keeping
153
Q

What is an audit

A

An audit is an independent examination of financial information

154
Q

What type of audit are public businesses legally required to undertake under the corporations act 2001

A

External audit done by a certified public accountant (CPA)

155
Q

Whats an exmaple of misuse of funds

A

Exorbitant salaries of directors could be argued to be unethical.

156
Q

Which companies must declare their salaries to ensure transparency

A

Public companies

157
Q

What are the three ethical issues of record keeping

A
  • Cash payments
  • Inappropriate cut off periods
  • Shifting revenues and expenses globally
158
Q

How could a business improve its accounts recievable turnover

A
  • Implementing discounts for early payment which would encourage a business’s customers to pay before the due date