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Bringing you up to speed with financial accounting in very simple and understandable terms
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- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Financial accounting complex terms simplified into general and basic english.
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COMPREHENSIVE NOTES THAT EXPLAIN THEFUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
RELATED MODULES. IT IS SIMPLIFIED AND IT GIVES
PRACTICAL EXAMPLES AS WELL AS CASE STUDIES
WHICH ARE THERE TO AID YOU IN YOUR
UNDERSTANDING
AUTHOR: MILTON
CONTACTS: +27698866058
WE ALSO PROVIDE PRIVATE TUTORIALS ON
FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING AT ALL
LEVELS. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AUDITING AS WELL
Objectives and Components of Financial Statements in
Relation to Financial Accounting Standards
Objectives of Financial Statements
Financial statements are the primary means of communicating financial information about an
entity to a variety of users, including investors, creditors, management, and the public. The
primary objectives of financial statements are:
1. To provide information about the financial position of an entity at a specific
point in time. This is achieved primarily through the balance sheet.
2. To provide information about the financial performance of an entity for a
specific period. The income statement and cash flow statement fulfill this objective.
3. To provide information about the changes in financial position of an entity
during a specific period. The cash flow statement is primarily used for this purpose.
4. To provide information about the entity’s cash flows. This is the core objective of
the cash flow statement.
Components of Financial Statements
,The primary components of financial statements are:
Balance Sheet: A snapshot of an entity's financial position at a specific point in time,
showing assets, liabilities, and equity.
Income Statement: Summarizes an entity's revenues, expenses, and net income or
loss over a specific period.
Cash Flow Statement: Provides information about an entity's cash inflows and
outflows during a specific period.
Statement of Changes in Equity: Reconciles the beginning and ending balances of
equity, including contributions by owners, distributions to owners, and comprehensive
income.
Financial Accounting Standards and Their Application
Financial accounting standards provide a framework for preparing and presenting financial
statements. These standards ensure consistency, comparability, and reliability of financial
information. Some of the key standards include:
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP): The accounting standards
used in the United States.
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): The global accounting
standards adopted by many countries.
Application of Standards to Financial Statements
To illustrate how financial accounting standards are applied to financial statements, let's
consider the following example:
Case Study: Inventory Valuation
Inventory is a significant asset for many businesses. The valuation of inventory directly
impacts the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
GAAP and IFRS provide specific guidance on inventory valuation methods, such as
FIFO (First-In, First-Out), LIFO (Last-In, First-Out), and Weighted Average Cost.
, The choice of inventory valuation method can significantly affect the cost of goods
sold, gross profit, and net income.
For example, in a period of rising prices, FIFO will generally result in a higher ending
inventory and lower cost of goods sold compared to LIFO.
Impact on Financial Statements:
Balance Sheet: The inventory value will be different under FIFO and LIFO, affecting
the current assets and total assets.
Income Statement: Cost of goods sold and gross profit will be different, impacting
net income.
Cash Flow Statement: The operating activities section will be affected due to
differences in inventory levels and cost of goods sold.
Additional Considerations
Disclosure Requirements: Financial accounting standards require companies to
disclose additional information about accounting policies, estimates, and significant
events.
Comparability: Financial statements should be comparable across different periods
and companies to enable meaningful analysis.
Materiality: Only information that is likely to influence economic decisions of users
should be disclosed.
By understanding the objectives and components of financial statements and applying
relevant financial accounting standards, users can make informed decisions based on the
information presented.
Would you like to delve deeper into a specific financial statement, accounting standard,
or industry-specific application?
Let's Dive Deeper into Financial Statements
Which area would you like to explore?
Here are some options:
Specific Financial Statement
Balance Sheet: Delve into asset, liability, and equity classifications, valuation
methods, and how it relates to other financial statements.
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