Financial Accounting and Analysis
Financial Accounting and Analysis
Evolution of Accounting:
Accounting has a long history that dates back thousands of years. It has evolved over
time due to changes in economic systems, business practices, and the needs of
stakeholders. Key milestones in the evolution of accounting include:
1. Ancient Accounting: Accounting practices can be traced back to ancient
civilizations, such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Rome. These early accounting
systems focused on recording transactions, primarily for tax purposes.
2. Double-Entry Bookkeeping: In the 15th century, the development of double-
entry bookkeeping by Luca Pacioli brought significant advancements to
accounting. This system introduced the concept of recording transactions in
dual aspects (debit and credit) and laid the foundation for modern accounting
practices.
3. Industrial Revolution and Business Expansion: The Industrial Revolution in the
18th and 19th centuries led to the growth of large-scale businesses and
increased demand for accounting systems to manage complex financial
transactions and provide financial information to stakeholders.
4. Standardization and Professionalization: In the 20th century, accounting
began to be standardized and professionalized. Accounting bodies, such as the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), established accounting
principles and standards to ensure consistency and comparability of financial
reporting.
Users of Accounting:
Accounting information serves the needs of various users, including:
1. External Users: External users include investors, shareholders, creditors,
financial analysts, regulatory authorities, and the general public. They rely on
financial statements to assess the financial performance, stability, and
profitability of an organization and make investment or lending decisions.
2. Internal Users: Internal users are individuals within the organization who use
accounting information for decision-making and management purposes. They
include managers, executives, and employees who need financial data for
budgeting, planning, cost control, performance evaluation, and strategic
decision-making.
3. Tax Authorities: Tax authorities use accounting information to verify the
accuracy and compliance of tax reporting by individuals and businesses. They
assess taxes based on the financial data provided in tax returns.
4. Government Agencies: Government agencies may use accounting information
for regulatory purposes, economic planning, policy-making, and to assess the
financial health of industries and the overall economy.
B. Here are some basic accounting
terminologies
1. Assets: Assets are economic resources owned or controlled by a business that
have future value. They can include cash, accounts receivable, inventory,
property, plant, and equipment.
2. Liabilities: Liabilities are obligations or debts owed by a business to external
parties. They can include accounts payable, loans, and accrued expenses.
3. Equity: Equity represents the ownership interest in a business. It is the residual
interest after deducting liabilities from assets and can include share capital,
retained earnings, and reserves.
4. Revenue: Revenue is the income generated by a business from its normal
operations, such as sales of goods or services. It increases the equity of a
business.
5. Expenses: Expenses are the costs incurred by a business in its operations to
generate revenue. They decrease the equity of a business and can include
salaries, rent, utilities, and supplies.
6. Accounts Payable: Accounts payable is the amount owed by a business to its
suppliers or creditors for goods or services purchased on credit.
7. Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable is the amount owed to a business by
its customers for goods or services sold on credit.
8. Cash Flow: Cash flow refers to the movement of money into and out of a
business. Positive cash flow means that more cash is coming into the business
than going out, while negative cash flow indicates the opposite.
9. Depreciation: Depreciation is the allocation of the cost of an asset over its
useful life. It recognizes the gradual reduction in value or usefulness of an
asset due to wear and tear, obsolescence, or other factors.
10. Profit: Profit is the excess of revenue over expenses. It represents the financial
gain earned by a business.
11. Loss: Loss is the excess of expenses over revenue. It represents a financial
deficit incurred by a business.
12. Balance Sheet: A balance sheet is a financial statement that shows the assets,
liabilities, and equity of a business at a specific point in time. It provides a
snapshot of the financial position of a business.
13. Income Statement: An income statement, also known as a profit and loss
statement, shows the revenues, expenses, and resulting profit or loss of a
business over a specific period. It provides information about the profitability
of a business.
14. Cash Flow Statement: A cash flow statement reports the cash inflows and
outflows from operating, investing, and financing activities of a business over
a specific period. It shows how cash is generated and used by a business.
15. General Ledger: A general ledger is a central repository that contains all the
accounts and transactions of a business. It provides a complete record of the
financial activities of a business.
These are just a few basic accounting terminologies, and there are many more
specific terms and concepts used in accounting.
C. Principles of Accounting
1. Accrual Principle: The accrual principle states that accounting transactions
should be recorded when they occur, regardless of when the cash is
exchanged. This principle ensures that revenues and expenses are recognized
in the period in which they are earned or incurred, providing a more accurate
representation of financial performance.
2. Going Concern Principle: The going concern principle assumes that a business
will continue its operations indefinitely. It implies that financial statements are
prepared under the assumption that the business will remain in operation for
the foreseeable future, allowing for the proper valuation of assets and
liabilities.
3. Consistency Principle: The consistency principle requires businesses to apply
the same accounting methods and principles consistently over time.
Consistency enhances comparability and allows users of financial statements
to make meaningful comparisons across different periods.
4. Materiality Principle: The materiality principle states that financial information
should be presented and disclosed in a manner that is material or significant
to users. Materiality is determined based on the size, nature, and potential
impact of an item on decision-making.
5. Historical Cost Principle: The historical cost principle states that assets should
be recorded at their original acquisition cost, regardless of their current
market value. This principle provides objectivity and verifiability to financial
statements.
Accounting Concepts and Conventions:
1. Entity Concept: The entity concept recognizes that a business is a separate and
distinct entity from its owners or stakeholders. It ensures that business
transactions and financial information are recorded and reported separately
from personal transactions of the business owner(s).
2. Money Measurement Concept: The money measurement concept implies that
only transactions that can be expressed in monetary terms are recorded in
accounting. Non-financial information, such as employee satisfaction or brand
reputation, is not captured in financial statements.
3. Cost Concept: The cost concept states that assets are recorded at their
historical cost and not their current market value. It provides a reliable and
objective basis for valuing assets.
4. Dual Aspect Concept: The dual aspect concept states that every transaction
has two aspects—an equal debit and credit. This concept ensures that the
accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity) remains in balance.
5. Matching Concept: The matching concept requires that expenses be
recognized in the same period as the revenues they help generate. It ensures
that expenses are matched against the revenues they contribute to, providing
a more accurate determination of profitability.
6. Conservatism Convention: The conservatism convention suggests that when
faced with uncertainty, accountants should exercise caution and conservatism
in recognizing gains and revenues. This convention aims to avoid overstating
financial performance and assets.
7. Full Disclosure Principle: The full disclosure principle requires businesses to
disclose all relevant and material information in their financial statements and
accompanying notes. It ensures that users have complete and transparent
information for decision-making.
These principles, concepts, and conventions provide a framework for recording,
presenting, and interpreting financial information, ensuring consistency, reliability,
and relevance in accounting practices.
D.
Accounting Equation, Deprecation Accounting
Unit 2. Mechanics of Accounting
Trial Balance:
Once all the journal entries have been posted to the general ledger, a trial balance
can be prepared. The trial balance is a list of all the general ledger accounts and their
respective debit and credit balances. It is used to verify the accuracy of the posting
process and ensure that debits equal credits. Here’s how to prepare a trial balance:
1. List the Accounts: Write down the names of all the accounts in the general
ledger. Include both the asset and liability accounts, as well as equity, revenue,
and expense accounts.
2. Determine the Balances: For each account, write down the debit balance in the
debit column and the credit balance in the credit column. If an account has no
balance, leave the respective column blank.
3. Calculate the Totals: Add up the debit and credit columns separately to
calculate the total debits and total credits.
4. Verify Equality: Compare the total debits and total credits. If they are equal, the
trial balance is in balance, indicating that the posting process has been done
correctly. If they don’t match, there may be an error in the posting, and further
investigation is needed to identify and correct the error.
The trial balance is an important tool in the accounting process as it helps detect any
imbalances or errors in the posting process. It serves as the basis for preparing
financial statements and analyzing the financial position of a business.
Unit 3
A. Presentation of Financial Statement
Presentation of Financial Statement
The presentation of financial statements refers to the arrangement and structure of
the information in financial statements to provide meaningful and understandable
information to users. The primary financial statements that are typically presented
are the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, and statement of
changes in equity. Here are the key elements and considerations for the presentation
of financial statements:
1. Balance Sheet:
• Assets: Assets are presented in order of liquidity, with the most liquid
assets listed first. Common categories include current assets, non-
current assets, and intangible assets.
• Liabilities: Liabilities are typically presented in order of maturity, with
the most immediate liabilities listed first. Categories include current
liabilities and long-term liabilities.
• Equity: Equity is presented after liabilities, and it includes various
components such as share capital, retained earnings, and other
reserves.
2. Income Statement:
• Revenue: Revenues are listed first, followed by the cost of goods sold
(COGS) or cost of services provided. The difference between revenue
and COGS gives the gross profit.
• Operating Expenses: Operating expenses, such as selling and
administrative expenses, are presented next, followed by any non-
operating income or expenses.
• Net Income/Loss: The net income or loss is calculated by deducting the
total expenses from the gross profit and adding or deducting non-
operating items.
3. Statement of Cash Flows:
• Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Cash flows from operating
activities are presented using the direct method or indirect method,
detailing the cash receipts and payments related to day-to-day
operations.
• Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Cash flows from investing activities
include cash flows related to the purchase or sale of assets,
investments, or other long-term investments.
• Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Cash flows from financing
activities involve cash flows related to equity transactions, borrowing,
and debt repayments.
4. Statement of Changes in Equity:
• Beginning Equity: The statement begins with the opening balance of
equity from the previous period.
• Changes in Equity: It shows the details of changes in equity during the
period, including share issuances, dividends, net income, and other
comprehensive income.
• Ending Equity: The statement concludes with the closing balance of
equity at the end of the period.
In addition to the specific presentation of each financial statement, it is important to
consider the use of clear headings, subheadings, and proper formatting to enhance
readability. The financial statements should also include appropriate notes and
disclosures to provide additional information and context to the users. These notes
may include explanations of accounting policies, contingencies, related-party
transactions, and other relevant information.
Overall, the presentation of financial statements aims to provide relevant, reliable,
and understandable information to users, allowing them to make informed decisions
about the financial performance and position of the entity.
Profitability Ratios:
1. Gross Profit Margin: This ratio measures the profitability of a company’s core
operations by comparing gross profit to net sales. It indicates the efficiency of
the company in managing production costs and pricing its products.
Gross Profit Margin = (Net Sales – Cost of Goods Sold) / Net Sales
2. Operating Profit Margin: This ratio evaluates a company’s profitability from its
core operations, excluding interest and taxes. It measures how well the
company generates profit from its sales before considering non-operating
expenses.
Operating Profit Margin = Operating Profit / Net Sales
3. Net Profit Margin: Net profit margin assesses a company’s profitability after
accounting for all expenses, including taxes and interest. It indicates the
portion of revenue that translates into net income.
Net Profit Margin = Net Income / Net Sales
4. Return on Assets (ROA): ROA measures how effectively a company utilizes its
assets to generate profits. It indicates the efficiency of asset management and
the company’s ability to generate income relative to its total assets.
ROA = Net Income / Average Total Assets
5. Return on Equity (ROE): ROE evaluates the return on the shareholders’ equity
investment. It indicates the profitability of the company relative to the
shareholders’ investment.
ROE = Net Income / Average Shareholders’ Equity
Activity Ratios:
1. Inventory Turnover: This ratio measures the number of times a company’s
inventory is sold and replaced during a specific period. It assesses the
efficiency of inventory management and the ability to sell products.
Inventory Turnover = Cost of Goods Sold / Average Inventory
2. Accounts Receivable Turnover: This ratio evaluates how efficiently a company
collects its accounts receivable. It measures the number of times the accounts
receivable balance is collected and replaced during a specific period.
Accounts Receivable Turnover = Net Credit Sales / Average Accounts
Receivable
3. Asset Turnover: Asset turnover measures the efficiency of a company in
utilizing its assets to generate sales. It indicates how well a company generates
revenue from its total assets.
Asset Turnover = Net Sales / Average Total Assets
Liquidity Ratios:
1. Current Ratio: The current ratio measures a company’s ability to cover its
short-term obligations with its short-term assets. It assesses the company’s
liquidity and short-term solvency.
Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities
2. Quick Ratio (Acid-Test Ratio): The quick ratio is a more stringent measure of
liquidity that excludes inventory from current assets. It focuses on the
company’s ability to meet short-term obligations without relying on inventory
sales.
Quick Ratio = (Current Assets – Inventory) / Current Liabilities
3. Cash Ratio: The cash ratio measures a company’s ability to cover its short-term
obligations with its cash and cash equivalents. It provides a more conservative
assessment of liquidity.
Cash Ratio = Cash and Cash Equivalents / Current Liabilities
These ratios provide valuable insights into a company’s profitability, operational
efficiency, and liquidity. However, it’s important to compare these ratios with industry
benchmarks and analyze trends over time for a comprehensive assessment of a
company’s financial performance.