Accounting Principles Flashcards
What is GAAP?
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
What are the 10 principles of GAAP?
Regularity
Consistency
Sincerity
Continuity
Materiality
Periodically
Permanence
Prudence
Non-compensation
Utmost Good Faith
What is the benefit/purpose of GAAP?
To improve the clarity of the communication of financial information
What are the International Accounting Standards?
The older accounting standards that were replaced by the IFRS in 2001
What is the IFRS?
International Financial Reporting Standards
Why were IFRS introduced to replace IAS?
To improve the quality, consistency, and comparability of financial reporting globally.Goal was to make it easier to compare businesses around the world
Wanted to increase transparency and trust in global reporting
What is IFRs 16?
Effective from 1st January 2019
Requires lessee to recognise assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months
IFRS 16 sets out principles for an IFRS reporter to recognise, measure, present and disclose leases
What is the objective of IFRS 16?
The objective of IFRS 16 is to provide a faithful representation of lease transactions by requiring lessees to recognise most leases on balance sheet. This improves transparency, comparability, and understanding of a company’s financial commitments
What is the result of IFRS 16 accounting reporting?
IFRS 16 affects lessees’ financial reporting by bringing most leases onto the balance sheet
- can result in increase in assets, liabilities and net debt
Provides transparency on companies lease assets and liabilities.
What governs the format of company accounts?
The Companies Act 2006
What is included in company accounts, as laid out in the Companies Act 2006?
Cover page
Information and contents
Directors report
Accountants report
Statutory profit and loss account
Balance sheet
What is a profit and loss account?
A summary of the business income and expenditure transactions on an annual basis
Gives overall profit/loss figures
What is taxation?
The amount of money or percentage that is owed to HMRC based on company profit?
What is directors remunerations in a profit and loss account?
How directors are paid for their services - fees, salary, or dividends
How is gross profit calculated?
Turnover minus cost of sales
What can be determined from gross profit?
Not a lot by itself but when compared to previous years you can get an idea of where the company is heading
What is depreciation?
A reduction in the value of an asset over time - for example due to wear
What is amortisation?
A reduction in value of an intangible asset over time eg spreading out loan payments or a licence for software lasting only a number of years
What are financial statements?
Statements used to measure the performance of a company, plan for the future & record incomings and outgoings
What are financial statements?
Statements used to measure the performance of a company, plan for the future & record incomings and outgoings
What are the key financial statements that companies provide?
Company accounts
Management accounts
Profit & loss accounts
Balance sheets
Cash flow statements
What is the difference between management and company/financial accounts?
MGMT accounts are running totals that are kept for internal purposes. Unaudited
Company accounts are statutory documents under the Companies Act 2006 - Audited
What governs the format of company accounts?
Companies act 2006
What is included in company accounts, as laid out in the Companies Act 2006?
Cover Page
Information and Contents Page
Directors report
Accountants report
Statutory profit & loss account
Balance sheet
Notes to the accounts
Detailed profit & loss account