Qualities of useful information
relevance
faithful representation
enhancing qualities of useful info
comparability
consistency
a company uses the same acct. pronciples and methods form year to year
verifiability
able to prove its free form error
timeliness
info must be available to decision makers in time to influence decisions
understandability
presented in a clear and concise manner so users can interpret it
assumptions in financial reporting
measurment principles
**FASB says that most things must follow the cost principle
*fair value is only used when assets are actively traded (ex: investments)
full disclosure principle
requires that companies disclose all events that would make a difference to financial statement users.
constraints in financial reporting
*if item doesnt make a difference, company doesnt have to report it
-cost constraint – providig info is costly – weigh cost companies wil incurr by providing it against the benefit the financial users will gain from having the info available
intracompany comparisons
comparing the same company over 2 years
industry-average comparisons
based on average ratios for particular industries
intercompany comparisons
based on comparisons with a competitor within the same industry
source document
evidence of a transaction (sales slip, check, bill, cash register tape, etc.)
steps in recording process
benefits of general journal:
trial balance
but DOES NOT proves everything has been recorded or that it is correct
revenue recognition principle
companies recognize revenue in the accounting period in which it is earned (service is provided, sale is made)
expense recognition principle (matching principle)
efforts (expenses) must be matched with revenues
accrual basis accting
transactions that change a company’s financial statements are recorded in the periods in which the events occur - even if cash was not exchanged
cash basis accting
companies record revenue when cash is recieved