Preview

Introduction, Review of Accounting Process and Financial Statements

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2050 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Introduction, Review of Accounting Process and Financial Statements
Introduction, Review of Accounting Process and Financial Statements

Abstract
This paper explains different types of accounting phrases and how they directly affect the accounting field. Phrases which are included and defined in the paper are Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Contra-Asset Accounts, Historical Cost, Accrual Basis vs. Cash Basis Accounting, and Accounting Standards Codification. Definitions and examples of these terms are included as well as explanations of how they are important to financial statements. The financial statements of Samsung, Lockheed Martin and RTL Group will also be examined. Their financial data will be dissected in order to understand their success and highlight their operating activities. Important facts about each organization will be displayed and details on researching information on each company’s many locations will be revealed.

Introduction, Review of Accounting Process and Financial Statements

There are many different terms that are important to the field of accounting. Some of the terms are used to understand financial statements, while others are used to define different types of financial standings and explain accounting principles. All of the terms are important to the field and offer support to investors and organizations alike in understanding financial concepts and practices. These practices are put to use and are frequently evaluated by financial specialists and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Investopedia.com explains Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as “The common set of accounting principles, standards and procedures that companies use to compile their financial statements. They are a combination of authoritative standards and the commonly accepted ways of recording and reporting accounting information.” Essentially, they are a set of procedures and guidelines developed to ensure everyone prepares and interprets accounting reports and financial statements the



References: " FASB Accounting Standards Codification ." Welcome to the AICPA . N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2011.. " RTL Group - Investors - Annual report ." RTL Group - the leading European entertainment network . N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2011.. "Accrual Based Accounting, Cash vs. Accrual, Business Advantages." Money, Personal Finance, Business, Careers, Life Skills: Lessons, Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. . "Annual Report - Financial Information - Investor Relations - About Samsung - Samsung." SAMSUNG. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. . "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) Definition." Investopedia.com - Your Source For Investing Education . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. . "What is historical cost? | AccountingCoach.com Q&A." Accounting Questions and Answers | Accounting Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. . "Contra asset account Definition." InvestorWords.com - Investing Glossary. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. . "Annual Reports | Lockheed Martin." Lockheed Martin - We never forget who we 're working for. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. .

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hsm/260

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages

    GAAP- (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) Is rules that govern the way that accountants do the financial reports. http://www.investorwords.com/2141/GAAP.html…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    ACC 290 wk 1

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This written essay will discuss the four basic financial statements used in accounting. It will describe the purpose of the four financial statements. How these statements would be useful to internal users, such as managers, and employees. How the external users, such as investors, and creditors would find these statements useful.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Financial statements provide documentation of a company’s financial history for a set timeframe. One of the financial statement used by investors, creditors, and mangers is the balance sheet. The second statement used by accountant’s income statement, which is also important to shareholders. The third statement is the retained earnings statement, and the fourth financial statement is the statement of cash flows. Each financial statement has a different purpose and shows different aspects of the company’s finances. However, these financial statements are integrated and work together to provide shareholders financial information. This paper will defines the four financial statements while explaining the financial statement most suitable for either an investor, creditor, or management.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    GAAP: is a standard of methods that accountants and others use to prepare their financials.…

    • 474 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hcs 350

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Generally accepted accounting principles or the GAAP are considered to be the main structure for the guidelines of financial accounting. The GAAP also can be considered to be the authority for all the accounting standards. These accounting standards include standards such as, the rules and regulations that the organizations accountant has to follow when coping and summarizing the transactions while preparing the financial statements. Any third parties that may be involved with the reporting must trust that the information being given is without irregularity and without debate. The generally accepted accounting principles are guidelines that have been developed precisely to make sure that financial statements are prepared and presented in a certain way. Organizations that deal with any type of financial data must follow the GAAP standards; this is so that external creditors can view the financial statements without difficulty.…

    • 1086 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Understanding what is happening financially in the company insights provides the financial information system of accounting. One must have knowledge of numbers when working in accounting. The three basic activities in accounting are identifies, records, and communicates. The four financial statements are income statements, retained earnings statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flow. Internal and external users are the groups that review financial information (Weygandt, 2008). The preparation of financial statements, are in an uncomplicated layout, easy to understand. Reporting financial statement accurately is important because if there is an error this can cause complications for the company or organization.…

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Acct 557

    • 6881 Words
    • 28 Pages

    This course provides a framework for financial accounting concepts and practices used by internal and external users in businesses. Topics presented include the accounting cycle, financial reporting, financial statements analysis, ratio calculation and interpretation, and management decision making based on financial results.…

    • 6881 Words
    • 28 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    can be described as a social process which reflects political actions of various interested user groups as well as a product of research and logic.**…

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    accounting

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages

    (A) An expression about whether financial statements conform with generally accepted accounting principles. – 8 Auditors opinion…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basically are the guidelines that one should follow when trying to establish proper financial documents and reports. With these guidelines to follow, it was easier to maintain the financial reporting’s for all fields, including healthcare. The generally accepted accounting principles were held in the highest regard. The…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities None Course Description Accounting for Management Decisions provides postgraduate, non-accounting students with an understanding of the role of accounting as a system of information gathering and reporting that plays an important role in business decision-making. This course is specifically designed for students with little or no prior knowledge in accounting. Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development The major learning outcomes for this course is that you should have enhanced your understanding of and developed your ability to use financial, non financial and management accounting concepts and terminology in business decision-making. Successful completion of this course means that you are expected to be able to: Use accounting in business decision-making Explain the 3 financial reports Apply major types of financial ratio analysis Use major techniques of Financial & Management accounting Understand contemporary management accounting systems…

    • 2381 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    PUsh Down Accounting

    • 10054 Words
    • 41 Pages

    help a user of GAAP understand how and why GAAP is changing and when the…

    • 10054 Words
    • 41 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Cited: Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Conceptual Framework: Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts No. 8, Financial Accounting Foundation, September 2010.…

    • 3145 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Accounting statement and records are a periodic summary of account activity within a period and the documentations involved in the preparation of it (Thomas and Ward, 2012: 4). They are done based on a set of rules developed from the basic accounting concepts. First, the concept of a "true and fair view" is to ensure that an accurate financial statement is required. It suggests that accounts should meet both the legal requirement and social expectation in communication with shareholders and other stakeholders (Flint, 1982: 29). The accruals and going concern concepts are the fundamental principles for the preparation of a financial statement with “true and fair view”. However, a coin has two sides. In this essay, the advantages and disadvantages of the accruals and going concern concepts will be discussed. The reasons why these concepts are difficult to apply will be given. The conflicts between these two fundamental concepts with other concepts will then be further investigated…

    • 1443 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    References: Barron 's Educational Series, Inc. (eds) 2005, Dictionary of Accounting Terms, viewed 15th April 2013,…

    • 1720 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays