Introduction
In an economic market place, business financial performance is essential to survival. Regardless of the organization’s composition and type, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, financial statements provide the necessary feedback concerning the firm’s performance. Although there are different types of financial statements, the basic and most common ones are the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. The information provided on these formal records are of great importance to business managers, owners, and investors. Additionally, depending on the business, these financial statements can be much more complex in comparison to other organizations’ statements. The following paragraphs will discuss the purpose and major components of these three financial statements.
Income Statement The purpose of the income statement is to determine the organization’s income, expenses, and profits. The statement identifies all three major areas relative to a time period. One of the major income statement expenses is cost of goods sold, also referred to as COGS (Business Encyclopedia, 2015). This expense is associated with manufacturing or producing goods and delivery of services. Additionally, cost of goods sold is described as the overall cost associated with buying a raw good and making it a finished good. Operating expenses for selling is a second major expense on the income statement. These expenses are associated with selling such as
Financial statements (also known as pro-forma statements) have a forecast balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows. Financial statements are used to summarize the different events projected for the future. They are very important in the planning process. The balance sheet is what this research is concerned about. Financial statements are evaluated for performance, for example organizations with multiple divisions compare the performance of the divisions using financial statements. Secondly they help plan for the future.
In accounting there is much to be learned, about the financial aspects of a business. In the past five weeks I have learned the importance of financial reports and how they relate to the success of an establishment. These reports may include balance sheets and income statements, which help accountants and the public grasp the overall financial condition of a company. The information in these reports is really significant to, managers, owners, employees, and investors. Managers of a business can take and deduce financial
Fraser, L. M., & Ormiston, A. (201). Understanding financial statements (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
When you’re looking at the income statement, you can get information about profitability for a particular period. This is also called the profit and loss statement. The income statement is composed of both income and expenses. This statement can be used to deduct expenses from income and report either a net profit or net loss for that period. This statement will deduct all expenses from income and then report your net profit or net loss for that period. This will allow the business owner to determine if the business is bringing in a good amount of revenue to make a profit. The cash flow statement shows the movement in cash and balance over period. The cash flow can vary depending on the operating activities, investing and financing activities. This statement provides one business owner with insight to the company’s liquidity which is vital to the growth of the business. Reinvesting in business is very important, looking at the statement of retained earnings will tell a business owner how much were reinvested in the company. After profitable period, every big business has to give some of its profits to stockholders, and keep the rest amount as retained earnings. Out of all statements, retaining statement is important to companies that sells stocks to the public. This statement can also provide you with assets and liabilities information. These informations can be used to assess the financial health of your business. The results of a balance sheet will help the business owners to show the risk of liquidity and credit. Looking at these information you can measure trends and relationships to show where in the areas you can improve. These can also be compared to similar companies to show how the business measures up to leading competitors (Ali, 2010). In summary, the financial statements can provide a business owner
The purpose of this paper is to define accounting, and identify the four basic financial statements. The paper also explains how the different financial statements are interrelated to each other and why they are useful to managers, investors, creditors, and employees.
Understanding the finances of a company is important but knowing the significance of the financial statements is crucial to the operations as well. Reviewing the statement of financial position, operating statement and statement of cash flows serve as a guidance to management and executives on the day-to-day activities of an organization (Finkler et al., 2013). For example, the statement of financial position (balance sheet) shows the assets and
Financial Statements are very important part when running any type of organization. Looking at the statements it provides a very good view in how to understand an organization financially. The balance sheet has three key points: assets, liabilities, and a net assets. When summing the liabilities and net assets should always sum equally to the total assets. Investors will use this type of information in order to determine an organization’s financial conditions. When using the balance sheets it lets the person have a quick review of what the assets, liabilities, and net assets in were they are distributed within the time fame. A single step income statements uses revenues, expenses, and the net income and using the multi-step income statements provide information on how the operating and the non-operating system work. The community hospital had there up and downs between the year 2012
Among the tools required for every business to survive and thrive, the ability to maintain a regular self-examination holds an indispensable place. The size of the business in question is almost of no consequence, only the potential complexity of the self-examination changes. A prime tool for such self-examinations is the family of related financial reporting that has become nearly universal in western businesses: the income statement, the balance sheet, and the statement of cash flows. This trio of reports enables management and owners to carefully examine the holdings and liabilities of their business so they may make
The “financial statements are formal reports providing information on a company's financial position, cash inflows and outflows, and the results of operations” (Hermanson, p.22). There are four main components that make up a financial statement. The four parts are, balance sheet, income statements, cash flow and, statement of owner’s equity. The balance sheets role is to define the company’s assets liabilities and revenue of the business. The income statement shows the income within the company. Cash flow reviews the position of the company by cash payments and receipts. Lastly, the statement of owner’s equity shows the amount of earnings, stock and other capitals of people in the company. (Hermanson, p.34-35).
Accountants, business owners, investors, creditors and employees use four basic financial statements of an organization to determine the financial well-being and future earnings potential of that organization. Financial statements are a key tool in seeing and understanding the past, present and future condition of an organization. What are these financial statements and what do they mean to the reader? Do the financial statements mean something completely different to an investor, creditor, and employee?
This essay will begin to look at the main financial statements used by decision makers in businesses today. This essay will go into detail about the income statement and statement of financial position and whether these two statements provide decision makers with their financial information adequately. This essay will also include the various advantages and disadvantages of each financial statement as well as describing whom the decision makers are and why financial statements are important to them. A conclusion will be present at the end of this essay to demonstrate an overall view of whether financial statements are beneficial to decision makers.
Financial Statements show the affects of business transactions on the group. The different kinds of financial statements are not differentiated from the others but are related to one another closely as illustrated in the following diagram. Relationship with Financial Position and Statement of Comprehensive Income should be considered to acquire the cash flow as cash flow has a close relationship with Comprehensive Income and Financial Position. The understanding of both comprehensive income and financial position is important in preparing the cash flow
Financial statements have several key components and specific criteria into them to relay the detailed information for auditors and management. A deeper look into financial statements and the many concepts surrounding them are needed to explain in more detail. It’s also important to recognize the Auditor’s opinion letter, balance sheet, operating statement, statement of changes in net assets, and statement of cash flows and footnotes of their involvement in the process. Relevant accounting articles are a useful supplement to financial statements and how they enhance concepts in the financial statement. The meaningful uses of financial statements for health care organizations are the epitome of current and future success of financial health.
The Income Statement - is necessary to calculate the profit generated by the company during a year or a quarter. It is also called profit and loss statement. Company’s gross profit can be identified by subtracting cost of goods sold from sales. To find net operating income (earnings before interest and taxes)
Based on the financial ratios given, this section will compare and contrast the financial strengths of Company X and Company Y in order to suggest Tringale Ltd to take decision regarding which of the above companies to chose for investment. This section provides comments on financial performance areas based on the data given, and presents report to the Board of Directors of Tringale Ltd by recommending which of the two investment opportunities is better.