4.01 Accounting and Finance

What is Accounting?

• Method of reporting financial activity of a business

• Financial transactions recorded in an orderly fashion

Accounting Equation

Assets =Liabilities +

Owner’s

Equity

AssetsAnything of

Value owned by the

Business

Cash / Accounts Receivable Office

Equipment

Building / Real Estate

Company Cars

Office Furniture

Office Supplies

LiabilitiesMoney owed by

the business

Accounts Payable

Mortgage Payable Office Supply

Store Utilities Corporation

Taxes Due

Financial Statements• Financial Statements

• Written reports that describe the financial health of a company; prepared regularly on quarterly and annual basis.

Balance SheetIncome StatementStatement of Change in Owner’s

Equity

Financial Statements, cont.• Balance Sheet

• Reports assets, liabilities, and owner’s equity on a certain date

• Assets• Anything of value

that is owned by the business.

• Liabilities• Money owed by

the business (debts, accounts payable)

• Owner’s Equity• Net worth of the

business

Financial Statements, cont.• Income Statement

• Financial Statement of a business that reports the revenue, expenses and the net income (loss) of a business for the fiscal period.

• Revenue• Amount of money

that a company earns

• Expenses• Costs of maintaining

and operating a business.

• Income/Profit• Results when a

business’s income is greater than its expenses.

• Loss• Results when a

business’s expenses are greater than its income.

• Fiscal Period• Specific period of

time covered by an accounting statement or report (1 month or year)

Financial Statements, cont.• Statement of

Change in Owner’s Equity • Financial Statement

of a business that reports the changes that have occurred in the owner’s equity account during the fiscal period.

Accounting Activitiesrelated to orderly record-keeping of financial information • Recording daily

transactions

• Preparing financial statements

• Paying bills

• Preparing payroll checks

• Preparing tax forms

• Auditing financial records• Examining financial

records for accuracy and compliance with regulations

• Reconciling the checkbook• Bringing the checkbook

into agreement with bank statement

• What are other accounting activities?

Banking Activitiesoccur in banks, credit unions and savings and loans

• Accepting deposits and processing withdrawals

• Preparing money orders and cashiers checks

• Opening new accounts for customers

• Processing loan applications

• What are other banking activities?

Finance Activitiesare related to investments and managing finances • Analyzing budgets• Buying and selling

stock and other securities

• Consulting with businesses on financial matters

• Counseling investors• Selling insurance

• Managing the finances for the entire company

• What are other finance activities?

Finance Careers• Financial Manager

• Top level professional who may have final responsibility for aspects of a business’ financial activity

• Accountant• Professional who

produces and examines financial records, prepares financial reports and tax returns; may give budget, tax or investment advice to company/customer

Finance Careers, cont.• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

• Accountants who meet specific educational requirements and pass a national examination

• Auditor• Professional whose work involves checking on

the accuracy of work completed by bookkeepers and accountants

• Bank Teller• Bank employee who handles deposits,

withdrawals, selling travelers check, accepting loan payments, preparing money orders

Check your understanding!

1. ASSETS = LIABILITIES + OWNER’S EQUITY.

a. Payroll Recordb. Budgetc. Accounting Equation

2. Money owed by the business (debts, accounts payable)

a. Revenueb. Liabilitiesc. Assets

3. Anything of of value that is owned by the businessa. Revenue

b. Loss

c. Assets

4. Net worth of the businessa. Liabilities

b. Owner’s Equity

c. Revenue

Check your understanding!1. ASSETS = LIABILITIES + OWNER’S EQUITY.

a. Payroll Recordb. Budgetc. Accounting Equation

2. Money owed by the business (debts, accounts payable)a. Revenueb. Liabilitiesc. Assets

3. Anything of value that is owned by the businessa. Revenueb. Lossc. Assets

4. Net worth of the businessd. Liabilitiese. Owner’s Equityf. Revenue

4.01 Accounting Careers

What do Accountants do?

• Track companies’ expenses• Prepare, analyze and verify financial

documents• Look for ways to run businesses

more efficiently• Keep public records• Make sure taxes are paid properly

Public Accountants

• Perform audits• Prepare taxes for

corporations, government agencies, nonprofits and individuals

Management Accountants

Management accountants are members of the executive team who • Record and analyze information

about budgets, costs and assets• Support strategic planning or

product development• Write financial reports for

stockholders, creditors or government agencies.

Government Accountants

• Maintain and examine government records

• Audit private businesses or individuals on the government's behalf

Internal Auditors

• Are fiscal “police officers”• Verify the accuracy of an

organization's financial records• Look for waste,

mismanagement and fraud.

Job Outlook in Accounting

• CPA accountants will continue to be in high demand, especially as states increase the education and experience requirements for the certification.

• Certified Management Accountants and those with MBAs will also fare well.

Job Outlook in Accounting

• Having a specialty, such as information systems, government regulation or international business, will help you land a job.

• Those without a degree or certification and those vying for the upper-most echelons of accounting will find keen competition for jobs.

Education Requirements• A bachelor's degree is

the minimum requirement, and to advance, you'll need additional certification or graduate-level education.

• Those in the accounting field can earn the Certified Public Accountant designation by meeting experience and educational requirements and passing an exam.