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The Fundamental Accounting Equation
A Simple Balance Sheet and Income Statement
Debits and Credit Transaction Posting Rules
8b. Another Cash Transaction Posting Example
Accounts Payable and Wage Withholding
Prepaid Expenses and Deferred Revenue
Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold
The Lower of Cost or Market Rule
Financial Statement Preparation
16. The Reliability of Financial Statements
Relative Measures of Economic Performance
Financial accounting consists of the rules and procedures used to measure the economic performance and condition of a business firm. The most widely used rules are Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Generally Accepted Accounting Principles were not handed down to the accounting profession from God through some Old Testament prophet. Rather, the accounting profession has delegated to a series of committees the responsibility for promulgating specific rules. Currently, the responsibility falls to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
Because of the growth of international business an international board called the International Accounting Standards Board(IASB) has gained increased influence in setting accounting standards. Through the auspices of the IASB there has been a movement to have one set of accounting standards that will apply in all countries. This has been a controversial project as some of the international standards being promulgated diverge from principles established in the United States.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a regulatory agency of the federal government that can also set accounting principles for companies whose shares trade on various stock exchanges. Historically, the SEC has not intervened in setting accounting rules, but has left the task largely to the FASB. Occasionally, even the Congress has attempted to intervene in setting accounting rules.
Any company that is listed on a stock exchange has to prepare its financial statements in conformity with GAAP. Independent Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) must be hired to audit these accounting records and financial statements to insure that these statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP. These principles acquire their leverage through these auditing requirements. Failure to provide financial statements in accordance with GAAP would jeopardize the credibility of a firm’s financial statements and adversely affect the price of company stock.
Generally, non-publicly traded private businesses have no legal obligation to follow GAAP in preparing financial accounting reports. Non-publicly traded companies sometimes are required to use these principles by banks or other lenders who require access to periodic financial reports. Sometimes these lenders require that CPAs audit these financial statements. Small firms often use GAAP rules for generating financial statements on a voluntary basis because these rules provide the best framework for developing useful information about economic performance and condition.
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