INTRODUCTION. One fundamental difference between Government, not-for-profit and private, for-profit entities; the private entity is more concerned with making a profit, while government agencies are focused on achieving outcomes (Granof & Wardlow, 2011, pg. 2). This essential difference depicts what information is required when reporting to stakeholders; financial data provided by a not-for-profit entity could depict a profit deficit, however all objectives may have been achieved. Poister advocates that performance measurement bridges that information gap by assessing outcomes (2003, pg. XV). Nevertheless, unlike the double-entry accounting system, performance measures do not have specific standards; allowing each government body to …show more content…
The Auditor General is not employed by the NSW Audit Office, however the role acts in a similar position to the Audit Office, as a chief-executive officer would within a for-profit company. The auditor general hires officers, determines employment conditions, enters into agreements regarding industrial matters and can delegate auditor general’s tasks to any staff member of the Audit Office (Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, No 15). Although the major role of the auditor general is to audit the government sectors, the performance of the auditor general and audit office is also scrutinised by external auditors (Audit Office of NSW, 2016b). FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE NSW AUDIT OFFICE. Financial ratios are used in many companies because they can indicate economic and financial success or failure; and provide information and guidance to decision makers. These ratios are generally broken down into 4 types; profitability, liquidity, efficiency and leverage. (Silvia, 2011, pg. 237). One ratio of each type has been calculated in table 1 below, comparing annual reports of two companies within the same industry; the NSW Audit Office (a not-for-profit entity) and KPMG (UK) (a for-profit company). Tennent (2008, pg. 210) maintains that financial ratios used for determining performance of small local business, are just as valid for large international companies. However as outlined below, this theory may
According to our text, “Not-for-profit organizations lack a residual ownership claim and the organization’s purpose is something other than to provide goods and services at a profit.” “Because significant resources are provided to governments and not-for-profit organizations, financial reporting by these organizations is important.” (Page 2).
4. How useful are financial ratios in evaluating the current performance of each of the two
The defining distinction is that for profit businesses focus on generating a profit every year, whereas government entities and not-for-profit organizations focus on improving and enhancing the quality of life in their communities.
This paper examines financial ratio analysis by defining, the three groups of stakeholders that use financial ratios, the five different kinds of ratios used and their applications, the analytical tools used in analysis, and finally financial ratio analysis limitations and benefits.
In this case the concentration is on “Company Performance Measurement”, using the “Ratios”, before we answer to the question, we have to focus a bit on the “Financial Ratios”
The aim of this paper is to analyse the financial position of Melbourne IT limited through the use of financial ratios, based on the annual report for the periods December 2012 and 2013. Financial ratios are useful since they measure a company’s performance and give an overview of the financial situation. Ratios are also used to analyse trends and to compare a firms financial figures to other competitors within the same industry.
The audit committee is responsible for the following. It is responsible for reviewing the financial statements, for reviewing the company's compliance and control systems, for monitoring the effectiveness of the internal audit function, assessing the independence and objectivity of the external auditors, and ensuring the employees have the opportunity to raise concerns about matters of financial reporting. The audit committee supports the Board. Ultimately, because the audit committee is comprised of members of the Board, they are elected by the shareholders. Should the shareholders decide, they can replace these members at the annual meetings.
Before beginning an analysis of a company it is necessary to have a complete set of financial statements, preferably for the pas few years so that historical trends can be obtained. Ratios are a way for anyone to get an idea of the financial performance of a company by using the information contained in the financial statements. Ratios are grouped into four basic categories, liquidity, activity, profitability, and financial leverage. This document will use a variety of these ratios to analyze the firm, Sample Company, as of December 31,2000.
The auditor’s responsibilities are to audit annual financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting, and reports from the 10-Q quarterly reports. The auditor must also advice on new accounting pronouncements, and consolidating financial statements. (Intel Proxy Statement 2011, 48)
The calculation of ratios is the calculation technique for analyzing a company’s financial performance that divides or standardize one accounting measure by another economically relevant measure. Financial ratios can be used as a tool to demonstrate financial statement users for making valid comparisons of firm operating performance, over time for the same firm and between comparable companies. External investors are mostly interested in gaining insights about a firm’s profitability, asset management, liquidity, and solvency.
The financial data of company does not tell us the entire position of an organisation and its performance over the year or certain period of time for comparative purposes. Therefore, the use of ratios
Forensic accountant’s role in investigations is to provide police and district attorneys with assistance. According to financialaccounting.com, accountants assist with the protection and recovery of assets, and coordinate people such as private investigators, forensic document examiners, and consulting engineers. Accountants also provide valuable insight into course of action for the chief investigators.
Firms and Companies include ‘Ratios’ in their external report to which it can be referred as ‘highlights’. Only with the help of ratios the financial statements are meaningful. It is therefore, not surprising that ratio analysis feature are prominently in the literature on financial management. According to Mcleary (1992) ratio means “an expression of a relationship between any two figures or groups of figures in the financial statements of an undertaking”.
Ratio analysis is the fundamental indicator of company’s performances for so many years; it is also can be seen as the very first step to measure a company’s performance along with its financial position. Moreover, ratio analysis has been researched and developed for many years, Bliss had presented the first coherent system of ratios, and he also stated that ratios are “indicator of the status of fundamental relationship within the business” Horrigan (1968). However there are some arguments on whether the ratio analysis is useful or not since to conduct these analyses will be costly to the company, also there are several limitations on how these ratios work. Therefore, the usefulness and the limitation of ratio analysis will be discussed further in this essay, with the use of easyJet’s annual report as examples.
The internal auditor have a several roles in the company which is the first one the audit committee need to discharge and restrict the governance responsibilities and the