Chapter 1 Flashcards
Balance sheet definition
A financial statement that reports the assets
and claims to those assets at a specific point in time
Basic accounting equation
Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders’ Equity
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
An individual who has met certain criteria and is thus allowed to perform audits of corporations
Common Stock definition
Term used to describe the total amount paid
in by stockholders for the shares they purchase
Corporation definition
A business organized as a separate legal
entity owned by stockholders. (
Dividends definition
Payments of cash from a corporation to its
stockholders.
Expenses definition
The cost of assets consumed or services used in
the process of generating revenues
Income statement definition
A financial statement that reports
a company’s revenues and expenses and resulting net
income or net loss for a specific period of time
Liabilities definition
Amounts owed to creditors in the form of debts
and other obligations.
Management discussion and analysis (MD&A) definition
A section of the annual report that presents management’s views
on the company’s ability to pay near-term obligations,
its ability to fund operations and expansion, and its
results of operations
Net Income definition
The amount by which revenues exceed expenses.
Net loss definition
The amount by which expenses exceed revenues.
Notes to the Financial Statement definition
Notes clarify information presented in the financial statements and provide
additional detail.
Partnership definition
A business owned by two or more persons associated as partners. (
Retained Earnings definition
The amount of net income retained in
the corporation.
Retained Earnings Statement definition
A financial statement that
summarizes the amounts and causes of changes
in retained earnings for a specific time period.
Revenue definition
The increase in assets or decrease in liabilities
resulting from the sale of goods or the performance of
services in the normal course of business
Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) definition
Regulations passed by Congress
to reduce unethical corporate behavior.
Sole proprietorship definition
A business owned by one person
Statement of Cash Flows definition
A financial statement that provides
financial information about the cash receipts and cash
payments of a business for a specific period of time.
Stockholder’s Equity definition
The owners’ claim to assets
Auditor’s Report definition
A report prepared by an independent
outside auditor stating the auditor’s opinion as to the
fairness of the presentation of the financial position and
results of operations and their conformance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Assets definition
Resources owned by a business.
Annual Report definition
A report prepared by corporate management
that presents financial information including financial
statements, a management discussion and analysis section,
notes, and an independent auditor’s report.
Accounting definition
The information system that identifies, records,
and communicates the economic events of an organization to interested users.
Example of sole proprietorship types of businesses
barber shops, law offices, and auto repair shops are
often sole proprietorships, as are farms and small retail stores.
Example of partnership types of businesses
Retail and service-type businesses, including professional
practices (lawyers, doctors, architects, and certified public accountants)
All benefits of a Sole Proprietorship
- Simple to establish
- Owner-controlled
- Tax benefits
All benefits of a partnership
- Simple to establish
- Shared control
- Tax benefits
- Broader skills and resources
All benefits of a corporation
- No personal liability
- Easier to raise funds
- Easier to transfer ownership
Goal of hybrid business organization
combine the tax advantages of partnerships
with the limited liability of corporations
Examples of Hybrid Business Organizations
S corporations and Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs)
Corporations outnumber partnerships and sole proprietorships by what factor?
5x
Types of users of financial information
- Internal
2. External
Example of Internal users
finance directors, marketing managers, human
resource directors, and company officers
Internal users definition
managers who plan, organize, and
run a business
Example of external users
- Investors
- Creditors
- Labor Unions
- Customers
- Regulatory Agencies
- Taxing Authorities
Year SOX was passed
2002
What type of companies does SOX apply to?
Publicly traded companies
What does SOX do?
- Require a system of internal controls
- Corporate executives and boards of directors must certify and enforce the controls
- Independent outside auditors attest to the internal controls
- Created the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (P C A O B)
What are the 3 steps in resolving an ethical dilemma?
- Recognize an ethical situation and the ethical issues involved.
- Identify and analyze the principal elements in the situation.
- Identify the alternatives, and weigh the impact of each alternative on various stakeholders.
Which business type(s) is easier to raise funds?
Corporation
Which business type(s) is easy to establish?
Sole proprietorship and partnership