To include in the cost of an asset. For example, the interest incurred by a company when it constructs its own building is added to the cost of the building’s components. This is referred to as capitalizing the...
To include in the cost of an asset. For example, the interest incurred by a company when it constructs its own building is added to the cost of the building’s components. This is referred to as capitalizing the...
The date a corporation pays a dividend to its shareholders. On this date the accounting entry will be a debit to Dividends Payable and a credit to Cash.
To eliminate debt such as a company’s repurchase or retirement of its outstanding bonds.
A term used in cost accounting to arrive at the cost per unit. The term is associated with the units that are not completed at the end of an accounting period. For example, if 500 units are completed as far as materials,...
In accounting this refers to the multiplication of quantity times price, or number of units times price or cost per unit.
This ratio indicates the percentage of each sales dollar that is available to cover a company’s fixed expenses and profit. The ratio is calculated by dividing the contribution margin (sales minus all variable...
A series of equal amounts occurring at the end of each equal time interval. Also known as an annuity in arrears. An example is the monthly payments on a loan. Another example is the semiannual interest on a bond.
More formally known as the Uniform CPA Examination. This rigorous, 14-hour, computer-based exam consists of questions developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The exam is in English only and...
Assets such as Cash, Temporary Investments, and Accounts Receivable.
The dollar amount associated with the goods in a company’s inventory. Initially the cost per unit is the cost to get the inventory items in place and ready for use. However, under certain circumstances the cost may...
See pass-through contributions.
The percentage resulting from dividing dividends per share by earnings per share.
R & D costs. These are costs incurred to develop new products or processes that may or may not result in commercially viable items. The general rule is that research and development costs are to be expensed...
Some examples of intangible assets include copyrights, patents, goodwill, trade names, trademarks, mail lists, etc. These assets will be reported at cost (or lower) on the balance sheet after property, plant and...
The products in a manufacturer’s inventory that are completed and are awaiting to be sold. You might view this account as containing the cost of the products in the finished goods warehouse. A manufacturer must...
See budgetary slack.
Factors that are used to convert future cash flows to their present value.
The party owning an asset and receiving rent from another party (the lessee).
Amounts spent for property, plant and equipment.
A word that means to add a column of numbers as in “Foot the amounts listed in column A.” Also see crossfoot.
A mathematical tool to optimize profits (contribution margin) given a limited amount of inputs and other constraints.
Also known as freight-out or as delivery expense. This is an operating expense further classified as a selling expense. It results when merchandise is sold with terms of FOB destination.
See direct labor rate variance.
A detailed plan with dollar amounts. Examples of budgets used in business include the cash budget, sales budget, production budget, department budgets, the master budget, and the capital expenditures budget. Some budgets...
See time period assumption.
A general ledger account containing the correct total amount without containing the details. For example, Accounts Receivable could be a control account in the general ledger. Each day the total of the day’s credit...
See direct labor efficiency variance.
An amount that is expensed immediately. For example, routine repair costs on equipment are revenue expenditures because they are charged directly to an income statement account such as Repairs and Maintenance Expense.
See paid-in capital in excess of par value – common stock.
A balance sheet with classifications (groupings or categories) such as current assets, property plant and equipment, current liabilities, long term liabilities, etc. To learn more, see Explanation of Balance Sheet.
A special or specialized journal to record sales of merchandise to customers. In a manual system this saves a significant amount of recording time. In today’s computerized environment, sales are recorded...
The allocation of the cost of a plant asset to expense in an accelerated manner. This means that the amount of depreciation in the earlier years of an asset’s life is greater than the straight-line amount, but will...
The terms which indicate when payment is due for sales made on account (or credit). For example, the credit terms might be 2/10, net 30. This means the amount is due in 30 days; however, if the amount is paid in 10 days...
Corporations whose stock is traded on stock exchanges. Also referred to as publicly-traded corporations.
The general ledger account Cash that reports currency, coins, undeposited checks, and the checking accounts of a company. (Could also be a reference to a customer required to pay cash for purchases.)
A selling expense account shown on the income statement in order to match this expense to the related sales.
A temporary holding place for amounts that need further analysis.
Goods or services provided instead of money.
An asset account in a bank’s general ledger that indicates the amount at which the bank is reporting or carrying its investments.
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