Week 2 - Reporting financial performance Flashcards
What does a statement of profit or loss / income statement (SPL) do?
Measures the financial performance of the business over period of time (revenues and expenses)
What are the three measures of profit in an SPL?
- Gross profit
- Operating profit
- Net profit
Formula for Profit (or loss) for the period
Profit (or loss) = total revenue for the period - total expenses incurred in generating that revenue
What is the difference between cost of sales and operating costs?
- Cost of sales are the costs that can be directly associated with the sale of a particular good
- Operating costs are costs to the business that are not costs of sales, but still relate to the business operation
How does a statement of financial position and SPL link? (3)
- If a firm was to make a profit or loss the accounts need to show that the owner’s wealth has increased/decreased to this
- Equity section of a statement of financial position shows the ownership interest in a company
- The net profit or loss is added to this section under retained earnings
Total equity equation
Total equity = share capital + retained earnings
Accounting equation
Assets = equity + sales revenue - expenses + liabilities
What is accrual accounting?
It occurs when the organisation records transactions that change a compnay’s financial statements in the period in which the transactions occur
How is net profit/profit for the period determined? (2)
- Companies recognise revenues when they perform the services not when the cash is received
- Recording expenses when they are incurred and not when paid
Characteristics of revenue (3)
- Measure inflow of economic benefits arising from ordinary operations of the business
- Result from business activities entered into for the purpose of earning income
- Benefits will result in increase in assets or decrease in liabilities
Examples of revenue (4)
- Sales
- Fees for services
- Interest received
- Subscriptions
What is the prudence convention/concept? (2)
- It focuses on being more conservative in the preparation of accounts
- this may involve: understating profits/revenues/assets and overstating costs/liabilities
Impact of accounting issues (4)
- Can lead to employees losing jobs
- Massive losses in shareholder value
- Losing of auditor accreditation
- Pension holders could lose their pension funds
Revenue recognition principle
Revenue is recognised in the accounting period in which the performance obligation is satisfied
Revenue recognition criteria (3)
- The amount of revenue must be able to be measured accurately reliably
- It is probable that economic benefit will be received
- Ownership and control of the items should pass to the buyer in the case of sale of goods