What is the basic purpose of accounting to provide quantitative financial information?

The term accounting is very common, especially during tax season.

But before we dive into the importance of accounting in business, let’s cover the basics – what is accounting?

Accounting refers to the systematic and detailed recording of financial transactions of a business. There are many types, from accounting for small businesses, government, forensic, and management accounting, to accounting for corporations.

Why Is Accounting Important?

Accounting plays a vital role in running a business because it helps you track income and expenditures, ensure statutory compliance, and provide investors, management, and government with quantitative financial information which can be used in making business decisions.

There are three key financial statements generated by your records.

• The income statement provides you with information about the profit and loss
• The balance sheet gives you a clear picture on the financial position of your business on a particular date.
• The cash flow statement is a bridge between the income statement and balance sheet and reports the cash generated and spent during a specific period of time.

It is critical you keep your financial records clean and up to date if you want to keep your business afloat. Here are just a few of the reasons why it is important for your business, big or small!

It Helps in Evaluating the Performance of Business

Your financial records reflect the results of operations as well as the financial position of your small business or corporation. In other words, they help you understand what’s going on with your business financially. Not only will clean and up to date records help you keep track of expenses, gross margin, and possible debt, but it will help you compare your current data with the previous accounting records and allocate your budget appropriately.

It Ensures Statutory Compliance

Laws and regulations vary from state to state, but proper accounting systems and processes will help you ensure statutory compliance when it comes to your business.

The accounting function will ensure that liabilities such as sales tax, VAT, income tax, and pension funds, to name a few, are appropriately addressed.

It Helps to Create Budget and Future Projections

Budgeting and future projections can make or break a business, and your financial records will play a crucial role when it comes to it.

Business trends and projections are based on historical financial data to keep your operations profitable. This financial data is most appropriate when provided by well-structured accounting processes.

It Helps in Filing Financial Statements

Businesses are required to file their financial statements with the Registrar of Companies. Listed entities are required to file them with stock exchanges, as well as for direct and indirect tax filing purposes. Needless to say, accounting plays a critical role in all these scenarios.

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Financial accounting is the process by which an organization's revenue, receivables and expenses are collected, measured, recorded and finally reported into a financial statement. This process is designed to accurately reflect business activity; help companies meet legal, fiscal and statutory requirements; present financial accounts to business owners; allow for in-depth financial analysis; and facilitate efficient resource allocation. The main purpose of financial accounting is to allow third parties to assess the value of a company.

Across financial accounting, companies have two basic ways that they can structure their business’s accounting policy. Publicly traded companies must use the accrual accounting method which is standardized under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The accrual method reports revenues as they are accrued as opposed to when they are received and expenses are reported as they are incurred rather than when they are paid. Many private companies also use GAAP but they are not required to do so. Private companies also have the option to use the cash accounting method.

The Purpose of Financial Statements

In a practical sense, the main objective of financial accounting is to accurately prepare an organization's financial accounts for a specific period, otherwise known as financial statements. The three primary financial statements are the income statement, the balance sheet and the statement of cash flows.

A company’s financial statements serve several purposes. They provide important information to shareholders and loan creditors, which can help to improve investment interest. The financial statements are used internally by management to manage both the current operations and future activities of the firm. The financial statements also provide information for all types of investors to prepare an analysis using trends, ratios and industry comparisons.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is an industry-leading organization in the area of financial accounting. They have over 431,000 members worldwide. The AICPA is a leading source for research and alerts on topics of interest in the accounting profession. The AICPA is also responsible for developing and grading the Uniform CPA Exam.

In 1973, the AICPA released a study entitled "The Objectives of Financial Statements" which was conducted by the Trueblood Committee. The study was pivotal for the accounting industry with objectives adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The basis of the AICPA’s 1973 study reported that financial statements were primarily useful for helping multiple parties make financial decisions. The study was also released the same year that the FASB was created, which replaced the work of the AICPA in developing accounting standards for the accounting industry. Today financial accounting standards and objectives can be found through the FASB’s website.

Financial Reporting Standards

In the United States, financial reporting standards are set forth by the FASB and required under GAAP for publicly traded companies. The FASB is contracted out by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to control the approved methods and applications of financial accounting. Following these reporting standards makes it easier for individuals to understand the financial statements of various companies, as they are presented in the same manner and therefore easier to follow.

Financial accounting is normally performed by those individuals who have studied the methods, concepts, history, and laws related to its practice. In the U.S., these individuals are referred to as certified public accountants (CPA). The SEC requires that public companies annually report their financial statements and that this reporting is done by an impartial third party, which is where CPAs come in to play. This ensures that the financial statements have been properly created under all required policies.

What is the basic purpose of accounting to provide quantitative financial information about economic activities?

What are the purposes of accounting in providing quantitative information?

What is the basic purpose of accounting is to provide qualitative?

Is it true that the basic objective of accounting is to provide quantitative financial information about an entity that is useful in making rational economic decision?