What is accounting? Flashcards
What is accounting?
The scoring system for business.
What two basic activities does it consist of?
Recording and reporting.
What is recording?
Writing down the effects of a business’s transactions, or “bookkeeping”.
What is reporting?
Process of preparing financial statements.
Which financial statements do businesses prepare? (4)
- Statement of comprehensive income
- Statement of financial position
- Statement of changes in equity
- Statement of cash flows
What objectives might a business have?
To serve customers, take care of employees, protect the environment, contribute to communities etc
What is the defining objective of business?
To make the owner(s) wealthier.
List the four decisions a business can make (4)
- Financing decision
- Investing decision
- Operating decision
- Distribution decision
Who are the financial statements for? (4)
- Existing investors
- Potential investors
- Lenders
- Other creditors
What objective do these stakeholders care most about?
Making the owner(s) wealthier
What is another term for the owners wealth?
Equity
How is equity measured?
Equity = Assets - Liabilities
How can the accounting equation be rearranged?
Assets = Equity + Liabilities
Define Equity
The owner’s wealth in the business/ the owner’s claim on the business
What is an entity?
Entity = Legal organisation
What is the entity concept?
the owner’s personal transactions are not recorded or reported by the business
What are the exceptions to the entity concept?
The financing decision and distribution decision
What is capital?
the net flow of investment transaction into a business.
What is another word for “stock”?
Inventory
What does it mean to purchase on “credit”?
It means you owe the supplier, over time, in the form of a liability known as: “trade payables”.
Define income
An increase in equity not due to a transaction with the owner(s).
Define expense
A decrease in equity not due to a transaction with the owner(s).
Define profit or loss
Income less expenses or a net change in equity not due to transactions with the owner(s).
Define Net asset value
Assets minus liabilities and therefore equity