Usually a person without a four-year or five-year accounting degree employed to record routine financial transactions for smaller companies.
Usually a person without a four-year or five-year accounting degree employed to record routine financial transactions for smaller companies.
A section of a publicly traded corporation’s annual report to the SEC (Form 10-K). This section contains extensive information from management about the corporation’s financial condition and its operations.
The general guidelines and principles, standards and detailed rules, plus industry practices that exist for financial reporting. Often referred to by its acronymn GAAP. To learn more, see Explanation of Accounting...
The standards, rules, guidelines, and industry-specific requirements for financial reporting. To learn more about accounting principles, see our Accounting Principles Outline.
In some countries turnover refers to sales. Turnover is also associated with some financial ratios such as the inventory turnover ratio, the accounts receivable turnover ratio, and asset turnover ratio.
An official pronouncement by the Financial Accounting Standards Board that involves a previously issued FASB Standard. FASB Interpretations are part of the generally accepted accounting principles.
This financial statistic is the net income of a corporation after income tax (less any preferred dividends) divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the same period of time.
The ratio of current assets to current liabilities. This ratio is an indicator of a company’s ability to meet its current obligations. To learn more, see Explanation of Financial Ratios.
The depreciation computed for financial reporting purposes—as opposed to income tax depreciation. To learn more, see Explanation of Depreciation.
Using debt in order to control more assets. Also known as financial leverage.
This ratio relates the costs in inventory to the cost of the goods sold. To learn more about this ratio, see Explanation of Financial Ratios.
In financial accounting this term refers to the amount of debt excluding interest. Payments on mortgage loans usually require monthly payments of principal and interest.
Bonds and other debt securities that a company intends to hold until the securities mature. In addition to intent, the company must have the financial ability to be able to hold them until they mature.
In financial accounting this term often refers to the accounting guidelines or principles of conservatism and materiality.
One of the first efforts begun in the 1970s by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to articulate and organize into a cohesive framework all of the accounting rules that had been developed in the past. It was hoped...
A sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation organized for the purpose of earning profits and enhancing the financial position of the owners.
What is EBITDA? EBITDA is the acronym for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Take our Financial Ratios Exam. Join PRO to Track Progress Mark the Question as Read Must-Watch Video Learn How...
The result of dividing a corporation’s net income by the average amount of common stockholders’ equity during the time interval when the net income was earned. To learn more about this ratio, see Explanation...
A financial ratio that expresses the income statement effect from employing an asset as a percentage of the asset’s cost on the balance sheet.
Also known as the acid test ratio. This ratio compares the amount of cash + marketable securities + accounts receivable to the amount of current liabilities. To learn more, see Explanation of Financial Ratios.
to the company’s weak financial position it would normally have to pay a high interest rate if it were able to borrow money. In this example, the promissory note does not show an explicit interest cost. However, due...
Our Explanation of Stockholders' Equity covers the unique terminology for a corporation's paid-in capital, retained earnings, treasury stock, and accumulated other comprehensive income. Included are cash dividends, stock...
Our Explanation of Stockholders' Equity covers the unique terminology for a corporation's paid-in capital, retained earnings, treasury stock, and accumulated other comprehensive income. Included are cash dividends, stock...
is a __________-account to accounts receivable. 9. The percentage of receivables approach to estimating bad debts expense focuses on the amounts to be reported on this financial statement: __________ __________. 10. The...
This indicates (on average) how many days of credit sales have not yet been collected. If the credit terms are net 30 days, you would expect this to be at least 30 days. To learn more, see Explanation of Financial...
Officers of a corporation are appointed by the board of directors to execute the policies that have been established by the board of directors. The officers include the chief executive officer (CEO), the chief operations...
This group preceded the current Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The APB members served in a part-time capacity to determine the accounting standards from 1962 to 1973. The accounting rules established by the...
A measurement of financial performance of a company’s operating division that is not responsible for its financing and income taxes. The calculation is likely to be 1) the division’s operating income before...
The acronym for Institute of Management Accountants, an international organization dedicated to enhancing management accounting and financial management. It offers various programs and networking opportunities. IMA also...
Where can I find an illustration of a common size balance sheet? You will find an illustration of a common size balance sheet under AccountingCoach.com’s Explanation of Financial Ratios. The common size balance sheet...
This is the period of time that it will be economically feasible to use an asset. Useful life is used in computing depreciation on an asset, instead of using the physical life. For example, a computer might physically...
Usually referred to as the SEC. The U.S. government agency which has regulatory power over the U.S. stock exchanges and the reporting requirements of the corporations whose stock is traded on those stock exchanges. The...
A professional certification awarded to an accountant who has successfully completed the CMA Exam and has achieved the required work experience. The certified management accountant is recognized as a person with a strong...
The field of study within accounting that is devoted to information needed by the management of the company (as opposed to financial accounting to external parties). Topics covered in managerial accounting include cost...
Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity. For a corporation the equation is Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders’ Equity. For a nonprofit organization the accounting equation is Assets = Liabilities + Net Assets....
See Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 121. Under this standard if the undiscounted future cash flows from the asset (including sale amount) are less than its carrying amount, a loss is recognized. The amount...
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