ACCOUNTING BASICS - QUICK GUIDE

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ACCOUNTING - OVERVIEW
Accounting is a business language. We can use this language to communicate financial
transactions and their results. Accounting is a comprehensive system to collect, analyze, and
communicate financial information.
The origin of accounting is as old as money. In early days, the number of transactions were very
small, so every concerned person could keep the record of transactions during a specific period of
time. Twenty-three centuries ago, an Indian scholar named Kautilya alias Chanakya introduced
the accounting concepts in his book Arthashastra. In his book, he described the art of proper
account keeping and methods of checking accounts. Gradually, the field of accounting has
undergone remarkable changes in compliance with the changes happening in the business
scenario of the world.
A book-keeper may record financial transactions according to certain accounting principles and
standards and as prescribed by an accountant depending upon the size, nature, volume, and other
constraints of a particular organization.
With the help of accounting process, we can determine the profit or loss of the business on a
specific date. It also helps us analyze the past performance and plan the future courses of action.

Definition of Accounting
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountant has defined Financial Accounting as:
the art of recording, classifying and summarizing in a significant manner and in
terms of money, transactions and events which in part at least of a financial character
and interpreting the results thereof.

Objectives and Scope of Accounting

Let us go through the main objectives of Accounting:
To keep systematic records - Accounting is done to keep systematic record of financial
transactions. The primary objective of accounting is to help us collect financial data and to
record it systematically to derive correct and useful results of financial statements.
To ascertain profitability - With the help of accounting, we can evaluate the profits and
losses incurred during a specific accounting period. With the help of a Trading and Profit &
Loss Account, we can easily determine the profit or loss of a firm.
To ascertain the financial position of the business - A balance sheet or a statement of
affairs indicates the financial position of a company as on a particular date. A properly drawn
balance sheet gives us an indication of the class and value of assets, the nature and value of
liability, and also the capital position of the firm. With the help of that, we can easily ascertain
the soundness of any business entity.
To assist in decision-making - To take decisions for the future, one requires accurate
financial statements. One of the main objectives of accounting is to take right decisions at
right time. Thus, accounting gives you the platform to plan for the future with the help of past
records.
To fulfill compliance of Law - Business entities such as companies, trusts, and societies
are being run and governed according to different legislative acts. Similarly, different
taxation laws directindirecttax are also applicable to every business house. Everyone has to
keep and maintain different types of accounts and records as prescribed by corresponding
laws of the land. Accounting helps in running a business in compliance with the law.

ACCOUNTING - PROCESS
Accounting cycle refers to the specific tasks involved in completing an accounting process. The
length of an accounting cycle can be monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annually. It may vary from
organization to organization but the process remains the same.

Accounting Process
The following table lists down the steps followed in an accounting process -

Collecting and Analyzing

Accounting Documents

It is a very important step in which you examine the source

documents and analyze them. For example, cash, bank, sales,
and purchase related documents. This is a continuous process
throughout the accounting period.

Posting in Journal

On the basis of the above documents, you pass journal entries

using double entry system in which debit and credit balance
remains equal. This process is repeated throughout the
accounting period.

Posting in Ledger Accounts

Debit and credit balance of all the above accounts affected

through journal entries are posted in ledger accounts. A ledger
is simply a collection of all accounts. Usually, this is also a
continuous process for the whole accounting period.

Preparation of Trial
Balance

As the name suggests, trial balance is a summary of all the

balances of ledger accounts irrespective of whether they carry
debit balance or credit balance. Since we follow double entry
system of accounts, the total of all the debit and credit balance
as appeared in trial balance remains equal. Usually, you need
to prepare trial balance at the end of the said accounting
period.

Posting of Adjustment
Entries

In this step, the adjustment entries are first passed through the
journal, followed by posting in ledger accounts, and finally in
the trial balance. Since in most of the cases, we used accrual
basis of accounting to find out the correct value of revenue,
expenses, assets and liabilities accounts, we need to do these
adjustment entries. This process is performed at the end of
each accounting period.

Adjusted Trial Balance

Taking into account the above adjustment entries, we create

adjusted trial balance. Adjusted trial balance is a platform to
prepare the financial statements of a company.

Preparation of Financial
Statements

Financial statements are the set of statements like Income and

Expenditure Account or Trading and Profit & Loss Account,
Cash Flow Statement, Fund Flow Statement, Balance Sheet or
Statement of Affairs Account. With the help of trial balance, we
put all the information into financial statements. Financial
statements clearly show the financial health of a firm by
depicting its profits or losses.

Post-Closing Entries

All the different accounts of revenue and expenditure of the

firm are transferred to the Trading and Profit & Loss account.
With the result of these entries, the balance of all the accounts
of income and expenditure accounts come to NIL. The net
balance of these entries represents the profit or loss of the
company, which is finally transferred to the owners equity or
capital.

Post-Closing Trial Balance

Post-closing Trial Balance represents the balances of Asset,

Liabilities & Capital account. These balances are transferred to
next financial year as an opening balance.

ACCOUNTING - BASIC CONCEPTS

The first two accounting concepts, namely, Business Entity Concept and Money Measurement
Concept are the fundamental concepts of accounting. Let us go through each one of them briefly:

Business Entity Concept

According to this concept, the business and the owner of the business are two different entities. In
other words, I and my business are separate.
For example, Mr A starts a new business in the name and style of M/s Independent Trading
Company and introduced a capital of Rs 2,00,000 in cash. It means the cash balance of M/s
Independent Trading Company will increase by a sum of Rs 2,00,000/-. At the same time, the
liability of M/s Independent Trading Company in the form of capital will also increase. It means M/s
Independent Trading Company is liable to pay Rs 2,00,000 to Mr A.

Money Measurement Concept

According to this concept, we can book only those transactions in our accounting record which
can be measured in monetary terms.

Example

Determine and book the value of stock of the following items:

Shirts
Pants

Rs 5,000/Rs 7,500/-

Coats
Jackets

500 pieces
1000 pieces

Value of Stock = ?

Here, if we want to book the value of stock in our accounting record, we need the value of coats
and jackets in terms of money. Now if we conclude that the values of coats and jackets are Rs
2,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively, then we can easily book the value of stock as Rs 29,500
asaresultof5000 + 7500 + 2000 + 15000 in our books. We need to keep quantitative records separately.

Going Concern Concept

Our accounting is based on the assumption that a business unit is a going concern. We record all
the financial transaction of a business in keeping this point of view in our mind that a business unit
is a going concern; not a gone concern. Otherwise, the banker will not provide loans, the supplier
will not supply goods or services, the employees will not work properly, and the method of
recording the transaction will change altogether.
For example, a business unit makes investments in the form of fixed assets and we book only
depreciation of the assets in our profit & loss account; not the difference of acquisition cost of
assets less net realizable value of the assets. The reason is simple; we assume that we will use
these assets and earn profit in the future while using them. Similarly, we treat deferred revenue
expenditure and prepaid expenditure. The concept of going concern does not work in the following
cases:
If a unit is declared sick unusedorunusableunit.
When a company is going to liquidate and a liquidator is appointed for the same.
When a business unit is passing through severe financial crisis and going to wind up.

Cost Concept
It is a very important concept based on the Going Concern Concept. We book the value of assets
on the cost basis, not on the net realizable value or market value of the assets based on the
assumption that a business unit is a going concern. No doubt, we reduce the value of assets
providing depreciation to assets, but we ignore the market value of the assets.
The cost concept stops any kind of manipulation while taking into account the net realizable value
or the market value. On the downside, this concept ignores the effect of inflation in the market,
which can sometimes be very steep. Still, the cost concept is widely and universally accepted on
the basis of which we do the accounting of a business unit.

Dual Aspect Concept

There must be a double entry to complete any financial transaction, means debit should be always
equal to credit. Hence, every financial transaction has its dual aspect:
we get some benefit, and
we pay some benefit.
For example, if we buy some stock, then it will have two effects:
the value of stock will increase getbenefitforthesameamount, and
it will increase our liability in the form of creditors.
Transaction
Purchase of Stock for Rs 25,000

Effect

Purchase of Stock for Rs 25,000

Stock will increase by Rs 25,000 Increaseindebitbalance

Cash will decrease by Rs 25,000 Decreaseindebitbalance
or
Creditor will increase by Rs 25,000 Increaseincreditbalance

Accounting Period Concept

The life of a business unit is indefinite as per the going concern concept. To determine the profit or
loss of a firm, and to ascertain its financial position, profit & loss accounts and balance sheets are
prepared at regular intervals of time, usually at the end of each year. This one-year cycle is known
as the accounting period. The purpose of having an accounting period is to take corrective
measures keeping in view the past performances, to nullify the effect of seasonal changes, to pay
taxes, etc.
Based on this concept, revenue expenditure and capital expenditure are segregated. Revenues
expenditure are debited to the profit & loss account to ascertain correct profit or loss during a
particular accounting period. Capital expenditure comes in the category of those expenses, the
benefit of which will be utilized in the next coming accounting periods as well.
Accounting period helps us ascertain correct position of the firm at regular intervals of time, i.e., at
the end of each accounting period.

Matching Concept
Matching concept is based on the accounting period concept. The expenditures of a firm for a
particular accounting period are to be matched with the revenue of the same accounting period to
ascertain accurate profit or loss of the firm for the same period. This practice of matching is widely
accepted all over the world. Let us take an example to understand the Matching Concept clearly.
The following data is received from M/s Globe Enterprises during the period 01-04-2012 to 31-032013:
S.No.

Particulars

Amount

Sale of 1,000 Electric Bulbs @ Rs 10 per bulb on cash basis.

10,000.00

Sale of 200 Electric Bulb @ Rs. 10 per bulb on credit to M/s Atul Traders.

2,000.00

Sale of 450 Tube light @ Rs.100 per piece on Cash basis.

45,000.00

Purchases made from XZY Ltd.

40,000.00

Cash paid to M/s XYZ Ltd.

38,000.00

Freight Charges paid on purchases

1,500.00

Electricity Expenses of shop paid

5,000.00

Bill for March-13 for Electricity still outstanding to be paid next year.

1,000.00

Based on the above data, the profit or loss of the firm is calculated as follows:
Particulars

Amount

Sale
Bulb

12,000.00

Total

Tube

45,000.00

57,000.00

Less Purchases

40,000.00

Freight Charges

5,000.00

Electricity Expenses

1,500.00

Outstanding Expenses

1,000.00

Net Profit

47,500.00
9,500.00

In the above example, to match expenditures and revenues during the same accounting period,
we added the credit purchase as well as the outstanding expenses of this accounting year to
ascertain the correct profit for the accounting period 01-04-2012 to 31-03-2013.
It means the collection of cash and payment in cash is ignored while calculating the profit or loss
of the year.

Accrual Concept
As stated above in the matching concept, the revenue generated in the accounting period is
considered and the expenditure related to the accounting period is also considered. Based on the
accrual concept of accounting, if we sell some items or we rendered some service, then that
becomes our point of revenue generation irrespective of whether we received cash or not. The
same concept is applicable in case of expenses. All the expenses paid in cash or payable are
considered and the advance payment of expenses, if any, is deducted.
Most of the professionals use cash basis of accounting. It means, the cash received in a particular
accounting period and the expenses paid cash in the same accounting period is the basis of their
accounting. For them, the income of their firm depends upon the collection of revenue in cash.
Similar practice is followed for expenditures. It is convenient for them and on the same basis, they
pay their Taxes.

Objective Evidence Concept

According to the Objective Evidence concept, every financial entry should be supported by some
objective evidence. Purchase should be supported by purchase bills, sale with sale bills, cash
payment of expenditure with cash memos, and payment to creditors with cash receipts and bank
statements. Similarly, stock should be checked by physical verification and the value of it should
be verified with purchase bills. In the absence of these, the accounting result will not be
trustworthy, chances of manipulation in accounting records will be high, and no one will be able to
rely on such financial statements.

ACCOUNTING - CONVENTIONS
We will discuss the accounting conventions in this section.

Convention of Consistency
To compare the results of different years, it is necessary that accounting rules, principles,
conventions and accounting concepts for similar transactions are followed consistently and
continuously. Reliability of financial statements may be lost, if frequent changes are observed in
accounting treatment. For example, if a firm chooses cost or market price whichever is lower
method for stock valuation and written down value method for depreciation to fixed assets, it
should be followed consistently and continuously.
Consistency also states that if a change becomes necessary, the change and its effects on profit or
loss and on the financial position of the company should be clearly mentioned.

Convention of Disclosure

The Companies Act, 1956, prescribed a format in which financial statements must be prepared.
Every company that fall under this category has to follow this practice. Various provisions are
made by the Companies Act to prepare these financial statements. The purpose of these
provisions is to disclose all essential information so that the view of financial statements should be
true and fair. However, the term disclosure does not mean all information. It means disclosure of
information that is significance to the users of these financial statements, such as investors, owner,
and creditors.

Convention of Materiality
If the disclosure or non-disclosure of an information might influence the decision of the users of
financial statements, then that information should be disclosed.
For better understanding, please refer to General Instruction for preparation of Statement of Profit
and Loss in revised scheduled VI to the Companies Act, 1956:
A company shall disclose by way of notes additional information regarding any item of
income or expenditure which exceeds 1% of the revenue from operations or Rs 1,00,000
whichever is higher.
A Company shall disclose in Notes to Accounts, share in the company held by each
shareholder holding more than 5% share specifying the number of share held.

Conservation or Prudence
It is a policy of playing safe. For future events, profits are not anticipated, but provisions for losses
are provided as a policy of conservatism. Under this policy, provisions are made for doubtful debts
as well as contingent liability; but we do not consider any anticipatory gain.
For example, If A purchases 1000 items @ Rs 80 per item and sells 900 items out of them @ Rs 100
per item when the market value of stock is i Rs 90 and in condition ii Rs 70 per item, then the profit
from the above transactions can be calculated as follows:
Particulars

Conditioni

Conditionii

Sale Value A 900x100

90,000.00

90,000.00

Purchases

80,000.00

80,000.00

Less - Closing Stock

8,000.00

7,000.00

Cost of Goods Sold B

72,000.00

73,000.00

ProfitA B

18,000.00

17,000.00

Less - Cost of Goods Sold

In the above example, the method for valuation of stock is Cost or market price whichever is
lower.
The prudence however does not permit creation of hidden reserve by understating the profits or
by overstating the losses.

ACCOUNTING - CLASSIFICATION OF ACCOUNTS

It is necessary to know the classification of accounts and their treatment in double entry system of
accounts. Broadly, the accounts are classified into three categories:
Personal accounts
Real accounts
Tangible accounts

Intangible accounts
Let us go through them each of them one by one.

Personal Accounts
Personal accounts may be further classified into three categories:

Natural Personal Account

An account related to any individual like David, George, Ram, or Shyam is called as a Natural
Personal Account.

Artificial Personal Account

An account related to any artificial person like M/s ABC Ltd, M/s General Trading, M/s Reliance
Industries, etc., is called as an Artificial Personal Account.

Representative Personal Account

Representative personal account represents a group of account. If there are a number of accounts
of similar nature, it is better to group them like salary payable account, rent payable account,
insurance prepaid account, interest receivable account, capital account and drawing account, etc.

Real Accounts
Every Business has some assets and every asset has an account. Thus, asset account is called a
real account. There are two type of assets:
Tangible assets are touchable assets such as plant, machinery, furniture, stock, cash, etc.
Intangible assets are non-touchable assets such as goodwill, patent, copyrights, etc.
Accounting treatment for both type of assets is same.

Nominal Accounts
Since this account does not represent any tangible asset, it is called nominal or fictitious account.
All kinds of expense account, loss account, gain account or income accounts come under the
category of nominal account. For example, rent account, salary account, electricity expenses
account, interest income account, etc.

ACCOUNTING - SYSTEMS
There are two systems of accounting followed Single Entry System
Double Entry System

Single Entry System

Single entry system is an incomplete system of accounting, followed by small businessmen, where
the number of transactions is very less. In this system of accounting, only personal accounts are
opened and maintained by a business owner. Sometimes subsidiary books are maintained and
sometimes not. Since real and nominal accounts are not opened by the business owner,
preparation of profit & loss account and balance sheet is not possible to ascertain the correct
position of profit or loss or financial position of business entity.

Double Entry System

Double entry system of accounts is a scientific system of accounts followed all over the world
without any dispute. It is an old system of accounting. It was developed by Luco Pacioli of Italy in
1494. Under the double entry system of account, every entry has its dual aspects of debit and
credit. It means, assets of the business always equal to liabilities of the business.

Assets = Liabilities
If we give something, we also get something in return and vice versa.

Rules of Debit and Credit under Double Entry System of Accounts

The following rules of debit and credit are called the golden rules of accounts:
Classification of accounts
Personal Accounts

Rules

Effect
Debit=Credit

Receiver is Debit
Giver is Credit

Real Accounts

What Comes In Debit

Debit=Credit

What Goes Out Credit

Nominal Accounts

Debit=Credit

Expenses are Debit

Incomes are Credit

Example
Mr A starts a business regarding which we have the following data:
Introduces Capital in cash

Rs

50,000

Purchases Cash

Rs

20,000

Purchases Credit from Mr B

Rs

25,000

Freight charges paid in cash

Rs

1,000

Goods sold to Mr C on credit

Rs

15,000

Cash Sale

Rs

30,000

Purchased computer

Rs

10,000

Commission Income

Rs

8,000

Journal entries for above items would be done as S.No.

1

Journal Entries

Classification

Rule

Cash A/c Dr. 50,000

Real A/c

Debit what comes in;

50,000

Personal A/c

Credit the giverOwner

Goods Purchase A/c Dr. 20,000

Real A/c

Debit what comes in;

20,000

Real A/c

Credit what goes out

Goods Purchase A/c Dr. 25,000

Real A/c

Debit what comes in;

25,000

Personal A/c

Credit the giver

Freight A/c Dr. 1,000

Nominal A/c

Debit all expenses

1,000

Real A/c

Credit what goes out

C A/c Dr. 15,000

Personal A/c

Debit the receiver

15,000

Real Account

Credit what goes out

Cash A/c Dr. 30,000

Real A/c

Debit what comes in;

30,000

Real A/c

Credit what goes out

Computer A/c Dr. 10,000

Real A/c

Debit what comes in;

10,000

Real A/c

Credit what goes out

Cash A/c Dr. 8,000

Real A/c

Debit what comes in;

8,000

Nominal A/c

Credit all incomes

It is very clear from the above example how the rules of debit and credit work. It is also clear that
every entry has its dual aspect. In any case, debit will always be equal to credit in double entry
accounting system.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING - JOURNAL

The process of recording a transaction in a journal is called journalizing the
transactions.
---Meigs and Meigs and Johnson
Journal is a book that is maintained on a daily basis for recording all the financial entries of the
day. Passing the entries is called journal entry. Journal entries are passed according to rules of
debit and credit of double entry system.

1
Date
xx-xx-xx

Particulars
... ... ... ... A/c

L.F.
Dr.

xx

4
Debit
xxxx

5
Amount
Credit

To ... ... ... ... A/c

xx

xxxx

. . . . . . Narration. . . . . .

Column 1: It represents the date of transaction.

Column 2: Line 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . represents the name of account to be debited.
Line 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . represents the name of account to be credited.
Line 3 for narration of transaction.
Column 3: Ledger Folio L. F. represents the page number of ledger account on which we post
these entries.
Column 4 : Amounts to be debited.
Column 5 : Amounts to be credited.

Notes
If there are multiple transactions in a day, the total amount of all the transaction through a
single journal entry may pass with total amount.
If debit or credit entry is same and the corresponding entry is different, we may post a
combined entry for the same. It is called compound entry regardless of how many debit
or credit entries are contained in compound journal entry. For example,

Date

Particulars

Xxxx

L.F.

Amount
Debit
Credit

... ... ... ... A/c

Dr.

xx

xx

... ... ... ... A/c

Dr.

xx

xx

To ... ... ... ... A/c

xx

xxxx

Narration. . . . . . . . . . . .

Analysis and Treatment of Transactions

Let us go through the nature of transactions and their treatment in our books of accounts. The
following accounting entries are commonly used in every business and they come under the
category of routine journal entries.
S.No.

Transaction Nature

Capital

Analysis and Treatment

Capital account is personal account. Whenever the owner
introduces capital in the form of cash, goods or assets, the
entry will be as here under:
Cash/Goods/Asset A/c
To Capital A/c

Dr.

xx
xx

Beingcash/goods/assetsintroducedascapital
2

Drawing Account

Drawing account is also a capital account. Whenever the owner

of the business withdraws money for his personal use, it is
called drawing. The balance of Drawing account is transferred
to the capital account at the end of the accounting year.
Drawing A/c

Dr.

xx

To Cash A/c

xx

Beingwithdrawalofcashforpersonaluse

Notes:
1. Introduction of capital as well as withdrawal of capital may occur any time during the
accounting year.
2. In addition to cash, there may be other expenses of the owner/proprietor which may pay
directly on his behalf debating his account. For example, payment of his insurance, taxes, rent,
electricity or personal phone bills.
3. Business account and personal account of proprietor are different as owner of the business
and business, both are separate entities.
3

Trade Discount

Trade discount is allowed by seller to buyer directly on their

sales invoice. Buyer in this case are usually whole-sellers,
traders or manufacturers, who further sell this material to their
customers or use the material in their manufacturing process.
Rate of discount may vary from customer to customer.
Treatment - No need to pass any journal entry in this case.
The sale is booked on the net of trade discount. Similarly, if we
get trade discount from our supplier, we book our purchase at
the net of trade discount.

Cash Discount

Cash discount is also allowed by seller to his buyer; still it does

not come in the category of trade discount. Cash discount is a
sort of scheme to inspire their debtors to release their due
payment in time. For example, a seller may allow 5% cash
discount, if he gets payment within a week against the time
limit of 45 days.
Treatment - If A allowed a discount of 5% to B, then
In the books of A:
Cash A/c

Dr.

xx

Discount A/c

Dr.

xx

To B A/c

Being5

xxxx

In the books of B:
A A/c

Dr.

xxxx

To Discount A/c

xx

To B A/c

xx

BeingpaymentofRsxxmadetoAandgettingadiscountof5
Note - In the above case, discount is a loss to A and income to
B.
5

Bad Debts

Part of credit sale which is unrecovered from debtors due to

some reason like insolvency, dishonesty, etc. are called bad
debts of the company. Bad debts are loss to the company.
Treatment:
1 To book bad debts
Bad Debts A/c

Dr.

xx

To Debtor A/c

xx

Beinglossonaccountofbaddebts
2 To recover bad debts
Cash A/c

Dr.

xx

To bad debts recovery A/c

xx

Beingrecoveryofbaddebts
6

Expenses on
purchase of Goods

There are a few types of expenses incurred on the purchases

of goods like inward freight, octroi, cartage, unloading charges,
etc.
Treatment:
Inward freight/Cartage/Octroi A/c
To Cash A/c

Dr.

xx
xx

Beingfreightchargespaidonpurchaseofgoods
7

Expenses on Sale of
Goods

Expenses are also incurred while selling products to customers

such as freight outward, insurance charges, etc.
Treatment:

Dr.

Freight outward/Insurance Expenses A/c

To Cash A/c

xx
xx

Beingfreightchargespaidonsaleofgoods
8

Expenses on Purchase
of Assets

Sometimes we need to pay expenses on the purchase of fixed

assets like transportation charges, installation charges, etc.
Treatment:
Expenses incurred on purchases of fixed asset are added in the
value of fixed assets and could not be treated like expenses on
purchases of goods:
Fixed Asset A/c
To Cash A/c

Dr.

xx

Dr.

xx

Expensesincurredonpurchaseofasset
9

Payment of Expenses

Treatment:
Expenses A/c

Dr.

xx

To Cash A/c

xx

Beingexpensesincurred
10

Outstanding Expenses

Sometimes expenses remain outstanding at the end of the

financial year, but due to the accrual basis of accounting, we
need to book those expenses which are due for payment and
to be paid in the next accounting year. For example, the salary
due on the last day of the accounting year to be paid in the
next year.
Treatment:
Salary A/c
To salary outstanding A/c

Dr.

xx
xx

Beingsalaryforthemonthof. . . . . . . . . due
11

Prepaid Expenses

Sometimes we pay expenses in advance such as insurance

paid three months before the closing of the accounting year.
Since insurance is usually paid for the whole year, in this case,
the insurance for nine months is treated as prepaid insurance.
Similarly, rent for the first month of next accounting year may
be paid in advance.

Treatment:
Dr.

Prepaid Expenses A/c

xx

To Expenses/Cash A/c

xx

Beingprepaidexpensesformonthpaid
Note: Expenses account is replaced with the respective head
of expense account.
12

Income Received

Treatment:
Cash/Debtor A/c

Dr.

xx

To Income A/c

xx

BeingIncomereceivedincash
Note: Income account will be replaced with the respective
head of Income account.
13

Banking Transactions

1 Cheque deposited in bank

Cheque received from party is deposited in bank, Cheque
direct deposit by party in our bank account, payment made by
party through NEFT or RTGS, or cash directly deposited by
party in our bank account. The entry remains same in all the
above cases.
Bank A/c

Dr.

xx

To Debtor A/c

xx

2 Payment made to party through cheque

Cheque issued to party or directly deposited in his bank
account, or payment made through either by NEFT, RTGS, or
cash directly deposited in his bank account. Entry remains
same in all the above cases except in the case of cash
deposited in his bank account.
Debtor A/c

Dr.

xx

To Bank A/c

xx

Beingpaymentmadethrough. . . . .
If we deposit cash in his bank account, entry will be as follows:
Debtor A/c

Dr.

xx

To Cash A/c

xx

Beingpaymentmadethrough. . . . .
3 Cash withdrawn for office Expenses
Cash A/c

Dr.

xx

To Bank A/c

xx

Beingcashwithdrawnfrombankforofficeuse
4 Cash deposited with Bank
Cash A/c

Dr.

xx

To Cash A/c

xx

Beingcashwithdrawnfrombankforofficeuse
Note: The above entries No. 3 & 4 are called contra entries.
5 Bank charge debited by bank
Sometimes banks debit from our account against some
charges for service provided by them. For example, cheque
book issuing charges, demand draft issuing charges, Bank
interest, etc.
Bank Commission/Charges A/c

Dr.

xx

To bank A/c

xx

Bankcharges/commission/interestdebitedbybank
14

Interest on Capital

Interest on capital, introduced by sole proprietor or partners of

the firm: This entry is passed on the last date of the accounting
year as follows:
Interest on capital A/c

Dr.

xx

To Capital A/c

xx

Being interest @..... on capital provide

15

Payment on behalf of
others

Some expenses may be on behalf of our debtors or creditors.

Debtors/Creditors A/c
To Cash/Expenses A/c

Dr.

xx
xx

Being expenses debited to party, paid on his behalf

16

Advance received
against supply of
goods/services

Sometimes the customers pay an advance amount for the

supply of goods/services, which need to be adjusted later:
Bank/Cash A/c

Dr.

xx

To Advance from Customers A/c

xx

Being advance received from xxxxxxxx

17

Advance paid against

supply of
goods/services

As above, we may also pay an advance amount to our supplier

against supply of goods/services:
Advance against supply of goods A/c

Dr.

xx

To Cash/Bank A/c

xx

Being advance paid against supply of goods/services

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING - LEDGER

Now let us try to understand how a journal works. With the help of journal entries, we book each
and every financial transaction of the organization chronically without considering how many
times the same type of entry has been repeated in that particular accounting year or period.
Journal entries in any organization may vary from hundreds to millions depending upon the size
and structure of the organization. With the help of a journal, each of the transactions might be
recorded; however, we can conclude nothing from a journal. Let us consider the following cases.
Suppose we want to know:
the total sale value or purchase value
the total of any particular income or expenses
the total of amount payable to any particular creditor or receivable from a debtor
In such cases, it might be a tedious job for any bookkeeper or accountant. Hence, the next step is
ledger accounts.
The ledger helps us in summarizing journal entries of same nature at single place. For example, if
we pass 100 times a journal entry for sale, we can create a sales account only once and post all
the sales transaction in that ledger account date-wise. Hence, an unlimited number of journal
entries can be summarized in a few ledger accounts. Transferring journal entries into a ledger
account is called posting.

Ruling of Account in Ledger Account

Let us see various formats of ledger accounts:

Format-1
In the books of M/s. ABC Company

Ledger account of M/s XYZ LTD.

Dr.
Date

Particulars

xxxx

Cr.
F

Amount

Date

Particulars

Amount

To Balance b/d

xxx

Xxxx

By Balance b/d

xxx

xxxx

To Name of the debit

account

xxx

Xxxx

By Name of Credit
account

xxx

xxxx

To Balance c/d

xx

xxxx

By Balance c/d

xx

Total Rs.

xxxx

Total Rs.

xxxx

Format-2
Nowadays, the handwritten books are being replaced by computerized accounts. The companies
majorly use a six-column format to maintain ledger accounts of their customers. It looks as follows:
In the books of M/s. ABC Bank Ltd.
Ledger account of M/s XYZ Ltd.
Amount
Date

Particulars

LF

Debit

Credit

Balance
Dr. /
Cr.

Amount

Format-1 is used for academic purpose. Hence, this format is useful to learn the basics and
principles of accounting.
Format-2 is used by banking and financial organization as well as well as by most of the business
organizations.

Important Points Regarding Ledger

Each side of a journal entry is posted in the same side of the ledger. It means the debit entry
of a journal is posted in the debit side and vice-a-versa.
Balance c/d refers to the balance carried down and balance b/d refers to the balance
brought down.
After posting in ledger, balancing of ledger is done. In the column named Total, the figure
comes on the basis of whichever is higher. Means, if the total of debit side is Rs 10,000
and the total of credit is Rs 5,000, we write Rs 10,000 in the column named Total of both, the
debit and the credit side.
The difference of both sides in this case, it is Rs 5,000 is written in the last row of the credit
side as balance c/d. This balance is called the debit balance of account or vice-a-versa.
All expenses and assets represent debit balance.
All the income and liabilities represent credit balance including capital account.
Debit balance of personal account represents Amount Receivable. This comes under the
category of assets. For example debtors.
Credit balance of personal accounts signifies Amount Payable. This comes under
liabilities side and represents that we need to pay this amount which is credited due to

goods, service, loan, or advance received.

Debit side of real account means stock in hand or any kind of assets. Credit balance of Real
account is not possible.
Debit balance of nominal account means expenses of organization.
Credit balance of nominal accounts means income earned.
Debit balance of cash book means cash in hand.
Debit side of Bank book means balance at bank.
Credit balance of Bank book indicates Bank Overdraft.
Debit and credit balances of nominal account (Expenses and income will be nil, because
these balances get transferred to trading, and profit & loss account to arrive at profit and loss
of the company.
Balances of real and personal account appear in balance sheet of the company and to be
carried forward to next accounting years.

Illustration
Journalize the following transactions and post them in to ledger account:
S.No.

Transactions

Amount

Commenced business and introduced cash

Goods purchased for cash

Goods purchased from Mr.Abdul

Freight charges paid on purchases

Computer purchased-cash

Freight charges paid on purchases of computer

Sale made to Mr.Ram

Rent paid

12,000.00

Salary paid

15,000.00

10

Cash received from Mr.Ram

11

Cash deposited in bank

75,000.00

12

Office Expenses paid

25,000.00

400,000.00
50,000.00
135,000.00
1,500.00
35,000.00
500.00
200,000.00

150,000.00

Journal Entries
S.No.

Particulars

L.F.

Amount
Debit

Cash A/c Dr.

To Capital A/c
Being capital introduced

**

Credit

4,00,000
4,00,000

Purchase A/c Dr.

**

5,00,000
5,00,000

To Cash A/c
Being cash purchase made
3

Purchase A/c Dr.

**

135,000
1,35,000

To Abdhul A/c
Being goods purchase from Abdhul
4

Inward Freight Charges A/c Dr.

**

1,500
1,500

To Cash A/c
Being freight charges Paid
5

Computer A/c Dr.

**

35,000
35,000

To Cash A/c
Being computer purchased on cash
6

Computer A/c Dr.

**

500
500

To Cash A/c
Being freight charges on computer paid
7

Ram A/c Dr.

**

2,00,000
2,00,000

To Sale A/c
Being sold to Mr. Ram
8

Rent A/c Dr.

**

12,000
12,000

To Cash A/c
Being rent paid
9

Salary A/c Dr.

**

15,000
15,000

To Cash A/c
Being salary paid
10

Cash A/c Dr.

To Ram A/c

**

1,50,000
1,50,000

Being cash Received from Mr. Ram

11

**

Bank A/c Dr.

75,000
75,000

To Cash A/c
Being cash deposited in Bank
12

**

Office Expenses A/c Dr.

25,000
25,000

To Cash A/c
Being office expenses paid

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING - SUBSIDIARY BOOKS

Cash Book
Cash book is a record of all the transactions related to cash. Examples include: expenses paid in
cash, revenue collected in cash, payments made to creditors, payments received from debtors,
cash deposited in bank, withdrawn of cash for office use, etc.
In double column cash book, a discount column is included on both debit and credit sides to record
the discount allowed to customers and the discount received from creditors respectively.
In triple column cash book, one more column of bank is included to record all the transactions
relating to bank.
Note: In modern accounting, simple cash book is the most popular way to record cash
transactions. The double column cash book or three column cash book is practically for academic
purpose. A separate bank book is used to record all the banking transactions as they are more
than cash transactions. These days, cash is used just to meet petty and routine expenditures of an
organization. In most of the organizations, the salaries of employees are paid by bank transfer.
Note: Cash book always shows debit balance, cash in hand, and a part of current assets.

Single Column Cash Book

Cash book is just like a ledger account. There is no need to open a separate cash account in the
ledger. The balance of cash book is directly posted to the trial balance. Since cash account is a
real account, ruling is followed, i.e. what comes in debit, and what goes out credit. All the
received cash is posted in the debit side and all payments and expenses are posted in the credit
side of the cash book.

Format
CASH BOOK Single Column
Dr.
Date

Cr.
Particulars

L.F.

Amount

Date

Particulars

L.F.

Amount

Double Column Cash Book

Here, we have an additional Discount column on each side of the cash book. The debit side
column of discount represents the discount to debtors of the company and the credit side of

discount column means the discount received from our suppliers or creditors while making
payments.
The total of discount column of debit side of cash book is posted in the ledger account of
Discount Allowed to Customers account as To Total As Per Cash Book. Similarly, credit
column of cash book is posted in ledger account of Discount Received as By total of cash
book.

Format
CASH BOOK Single Column
Dr.
Date

Cr.
Particulars

L.F.

Discount

Amount

Date

Particulars

L.F.

Discount

Amount

Triple Column Cash Book

When one more column of Bank is added in both sides of the double column cash book to post all
banking transactions, it is called triple column cash book. All banking transactions are routed
through this cash book and there is no need to open a separate bank account in ledger.

Petty Cash Book

In any organization, there may be many petty transactions incurring for which payments have to
be done. Therefore, cash is kept with an employee, who deals with it and makes regular payments
out of it. To make it simple and secure, mostly a constant balance is kept with that employee.
Suppose cashier pays Rs 5,000 to Mr A, who will pay day-to-day organization expenses out of it.
Suppose Mr A spend Rs 4,200 out of it in a day, the main cashier pays Rs 4,200, so his balance of
petty cash book will be again Rs 5,000. It is very useful system of accounting, as it saves the time of
the main cashier and provides better control.
We will soon discuss about Analytical or Columnar Petty Cash Book which is most commonly
used in most of the organizations.

Format
PETTY CASH BOOK
Amount
Recieved

C.B.F

Date

Particulars

Amount
Paid

Stationery &
Printing

Cartage

Loading

Postage

L.F.

Purchase Book
Purchase book is prepared to record all the credit purchases of an organization. Purchase book is
not a purchase ledger.

Format
PURCHASE BOOK
Date

Particulars

Sale Book

Inward Invoice No.

L.F.

Amount

The features of a sale book are same as a purchase book, except for the fact that it records all the
credit sales.

Format
SALE BOOK
Date

Particulars

Outward Invoice No.

L.F.

Amount

Purchase Return Book

Sometimes goods are to be retuned back to the supplier, for various reasons. The most common
reason being defective goods or poor quality goods. In this case, a debit note is issued.

Format
PURCHASE RETURN BOOK
Date

Particulars

Credit Note No.

L.F.

Amount

Sale Return Book

The reason of Sale return is same as for purchase return. Sometimes customers return the goods
if they dont meet the quality standards promised. In such cases, a credit note is issued to the
customer.

Format
SALE RETURN BOOK
Date

Particulars

Debit Note No.

L.F.

Amount

Bills Receivables Book

Bills are raised by creditors to debtors. The debtors accept them and subsequently return them to
the creditors. Bills accepted by debtors are called as Bills Receivables in the books of creditors,
and Bills Payable in the books of debtors. We keep them in our record called Bills Receivable
Books and Bills Payable Book.

Format
BILLS RECEIVABLE BOOK
Date

Received From

Bills Payable Book

Term

Due Date

L.F.

Amount

Bills payable issues to the supplier of goods or services for payment, and the record is maintained
in this book.

Format
BILLS PAYABLE BOOK
Date

To Whom Given

Term

Due Date

L.F.

Amount

Key Features of Subsidiary Books

There is a difference between a purchase book and a purchase ledger. A purchase book records
only credit purchases and a purchase ledger records all the cash purchases in chronical order. The
daily balance of purchase book is transferred to purchase ledger. Therefore, purchase ledger is a
comprehensive account of all purchases.
The same rule applies to sale book and sale ledgers.
It is quite clear that maintaining a subsidiary book is facilitation to journal entries, practically
it is not possible to post each and every transaction through journal entries, especially in big
organizations because it makes the records bulky and unpractical.
Maintenance of subsidiary books gives us more scientific, practical, specialized, controlled,
and easy approach to work.
It provides us facility to divide the work among different departments like sale department,
purchase department, cash department, bank department, etc. It makes each department
more accountable and provides an easy way to audit and detect errors.
In modern days, the latest computer technology has set its base all over the world. More and
more competent accounts professionals are offering their services. Accuracy, quick results,
and compliance of law are the key factors of any organization. No one can ignore these
factors in a competitive market.

Bank Reconciliation
On a particular date, reconciliation of our bank balance with the balance of bank passbook is
called bank reconciliation. The bank reconciliation is a statement that consists of:
Balance as per our cash book/bank book
Balance as per pass book
Reason for difference in both of above
This statement may be prepared at any time as per suitability and requirement of the firm, which
depends upon the volume and number of transaction of the bank.
In these days, where most of the banking transactions are done electronically, the customer gets
alerts for every transaction. Time to reconcile the bank is reduced more.

Format
BANK RECONCILIATION STATEMENT
Particulars

Balance as per Bank Book

Debit Bank
Balance as per
Bank Book
50,000

Credit Bank
Balance as per
Bank Book
overdraft
-50,000

1. Add: Cheque issued to parties but not presented in

bank

3,25,000

3,25,000

2. Less: Cheque deposited in bank but not cleared yet

-50,000

-50,000

3. Less: Bank Charges debited by bank but not entered

in our books of accounts

-1,200

-1,200

4. Less: Bank interest charged by bank but not entered

in our books of accounts

-10,000

-10,000

5. Add: Payment direct deposited by party without

intimation to us

1,75,000

1,75,000

Balance as per Bank Pass Book/ Statement

4,88,000

3,88,000

Trial Balance
Trial balance is a summary of all the debit and credit balances of ledger accounts. The total of
debit side and credit side of trial balance should be matched. Trial balance is prepared on the last
day of the accounting cycle.
Trial balance provides us a comprehensive list of balances. With the help of that, we can draw
financial reports of an organization. For example, the trading account can be analyzed to ascertain
the gross profit, the profit and loss account is analyzed to ascertain the profit or Loss of that
particular accounting year, and finally, the balance sheet of the concern is prepared to conclude
the financial position of the firm.

Format
TRIAL BALANCE
S.No.

Ledger Accounts

L.F.

DebitRs.

CreditRs.

ADVANCE FROM CUSTOMERS

ADVANCE TO STIFF

XX

AUDIT FEES

XX

BALANCE AT BANK

XX

BANK BORROWINGS

XX

BANK INTEREST PAID

XX

CAPITAL

XX

CASH IN HAND

XX

COMMISSION ON SALE

XX

10

ELECTRICITY EXPENSES

XX

11

FIXED ASSETS

XX

12

FREIGHT OUTWARD

XX

13

INTEREST RECEIVED

14

INWARD FREIGHT CHARGES

XX

15

OFFICE EXPENSES

XX

16

OUTSTANDING RENT

XX

XX

XX

17

PREPAID INSURANCE

XX

18

PURCHASES

XX

19

RENT

XX

20

REPAIR AND RENUWALS

XX

21

SALARY

XX

22

SALARY PAYABLE

XX

23

SALE

XX

24

STAFF WELFARE EXPENSES

XX

25

STOCK

XX

26

SUNDRY CREDTIORS

27

SUNDRY DEBITORS

XX

TOTAL

XXXXX

XX

XXXXX

Financial Statements
Financial statements are prepared to ascertain the profit or loss of the business, and to know the
financial position of the company.
Trading, profit & Loss accounts ascertain the net profit for an accounting period and balance sheet
reflects the position of the business.
All the above has almost a fixed format, just put all the balances of ledger accounts into the format
given below with the help of the trial balance. With that, we may derive desired results in the shape
of financial equations.
Trading & Profit & Loss Account of M/s ABC Limited
For the period ending 31-03-2014
Particulars

Amount

Particulars

Amount

To Opening Stock

XX

By Sales

XX

To Purchases

XX

By Closing Stock

XX

To Freight charges

XX

By Gross Loss c/d

XXX

To Direct Expenses

XX

To Gross Profit c/d

XXX

Total

XXXX

Total

XXXX

To Salaries

XX

By Gross Profit b/d

XXX

To Rent

XX

To Office Expenses

XX

By Bank Interest received

XX

To Bank charges

XX

By Discount

XX

To Bank Interest

XX

By Commission Income

XX

To Electricity Expenses

XX

To Staff Welfare Expenses

XX

To Audit Fees

XX

To Repair & Renewal

XX

To Commission

XX

To Sundry Expenses

XX

To Depreciation

XX

To Net Profit transfer to Balance

sheet

XX

Total

XXXX

By Net Loss transfer to Balance

sheet

XX

Total

XXXX

Balance sheet of M/s ABC Limited

as on 31-03-2014
Liabilities

Amount

Capital XX

Assets

Amount

Fixed Assets XXXX

Add:Net Profit XX

XX

Less:Description XX

Bank Borrowings

XX

Current Assets -

Long Term Borrowing

XX

Current Liabilities -

XX

Stock

XX

Debtors

XX

Advance Form Customers

XX

Cash In hand

XX

Sundry creditors

XXX

Cash at Bank

XX

Bills receivables

XX

Bills Payable
Expenses Payable
Total

XXXX

Total

XXXX

Owners Equity
The equation of equity is as follows:
Owner Equity = Assets liability

The owner or the sole proprietor of a business makes investments, earns some profit on it, and
withdraws some money out of it for his personal use called drawings. We may write this transaction
as follows:
Investment (capital) Profit or Loss drawings = Owners Equity

Current Assets
Assets that are convertible into cash within the next accounting year are called current assets.

Cash in hand, cash in bank, fixed deposit receipts FDRs, inventory, debtors, receivable bills, shortterm investments, staff loan and advances; all these come under current assets. In addition,
prepaid expenses are also a part of current assets.
Note: Prepaid expenses are not convertible into cash, but they save cash for the next financial or
accounting year.

Current Liabilities
Like current assets, current liabilities are immediate liabilities of the firm that are to be paid within
one year from the date of balance sheet.
Current liabilities primarily include sundry creditors, expenses payable, bills payable, short-term
loans, advance from customers, etc.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING - DEPRECIATION

Depreciation reduces the value of assets on a residual basis. It also reduces the profits of the
current year.
Depreciation indicates reduction in value of any fixed assets. Reduction in value of assets depends
on the life of assets. Life of assets depends upon the usage of assets.
There are many deciding factors that ascertain the life of assets. For example, in case of a
building, the deciding factor is time. In case of leased assets, the deciding factor is the lease
period. For plant and machinery, the deciding factor should be production as well as time. There
can be many factors, but the life of assets should be ascertained on some reasonable basis.

Why Do We Need to Account for Depreciation?

Here is why we need to provide depreciation:
To ascertain the true profit during a year, it is desirable to charge depreciation.
To ascertain the true value of assets, depreciation should be charged. Without calculating
the correct value of assets, we cannot ascertain the true financial position of a company.
Instead of withdrawal of overstated profit, it is desirable to make provisions to buy new assets
to replace old asset. The accumulated value of depreciation provides additional working
capital.
Depreciation helps in ascertaining uniform profit in each accounting year.
Depreciation allows to take the advantage of tax benefit.

Accounting Entries Related to Assets and Depreciation

Let us see the accounting entries related to assets and depreciation:
S.No.
1

Particulars

Journal Entries

Purchase of Fixed Assets

Asset A/c

Dr.

To Bank A/c

Expenses on purchase of Fixed Assets

Related Asset A/c
To Cash/Bank A/c

Dr.

For Providing depreciation

Dr.

Depreciation A/c
To Assets A/c

Transfer of depreciation to Profit & Loss a/c

Dr.

Profit & Loss A/c

To Depreciation A/c

Sale of Assets
Dr.

Bank A/c
To Assets A/c

Depreciation =
Cost of AssetsScrap Value of Assets / Estimated Life of Assets

Method of Depreciation
Depreciation can be calculated using any of the following methods, however the most popular
methods remain a Straight Line Method and b Written Down Value Method.
Straight Line Method
Written Down Value Method
Annuity Method
Insurance Policy Method
Machine Hour Rate Method
Depletion Method
Revaluation Method
Depreciation Fund Method

Format
DEPRECIATION CHART
Desc.

Opening
Value

Addition
during the
year
3

Sale

Balance

5
2+3-4

Rate of
Depreciation

Value of
Depreciation

Closing
Value

8
5-7

Format of ledger accounts

ASSET ACCOUNT
Date

Particulars

25-06-13

To Bank

01-04-2014

L.F.

Amt

Date

Particulars

L.F.

Amt

xxx

31-03-2014

By Depreciation

xx

By Balance c/d

xx

Total

xxx

Total

xxx

To Balance

xx

By Depreciation

xx

COST ACCOUNTING - INTRODUCTION

Cost accounting is the application of accounting and costing principles, methods, and
techniques in the ascertainment of costs and the analysis of saving or excess cost
incurred as compared with previous experience or with standards.
Wheldon.

Concepts of Cost Accounting

Following are the main concepts of cost accounting:

Cost
There is a cost involved to purchase or produce anything. Costs may be different for the same
product, depending upon the stages of completion. The cost changes according to the stage a
product is in, for example, raw material, work in progress, finished goods, etc. The cost of a
product cannot be perfect and it may vary for the same product depending upon different
constraints and situations of production and market.

Expenses
Some costs are actual, such as raw material cost, freight cost, labor cost, etc. Some expenses are
attributable to cost. To earn revenue, some expenses are incurred like rent, salary, insurance,
selling & distribution cost, etc. Some expenses are variable, some are semi-variable, and some of
fixed nature.

Loss
Expenses are incurred to obtain something and losses are incurred without any compensation.
They add to the cost of product or services without any value addition to it.

Cost Center
Cost center refers to a particular area of activity and there may be multiple cost centers in an
organization. Every cost center adds some cost to the product and every cost center is responsible
for all its activity and cost. A cost center may also be called a department or a sub-department.
There are three types of cost centers:
Personal and Impersonal Cost Centers - A group of persons in an organization
responsible as a whole for a group activity is called a personal cost center. In case of
impersonal call center, the activities are done with the help of plant and machinery.
Operation and Process Cost Centers - The same kind of activity is done in an operation

department. In a process cost center, as the name suggests, different kinds of processes are
involved.
Product and Service Cost Centers - A department where all activities refer to product is
called a product department. When the centers render their services to a product
department for its smooth functioning, they are called service cost centers.

Profit Center
Profit centers are inclusive of cost centers as well as revenue activities. Profit centers set targets
for cost centers and delegates responsibilities to cost centers. Profit centers adopt policies to
achieve such targets. Profit centers play a vital role in an organization.

Cost Drivers
Cost of any product depends upon cost drivers. There may be different types of cost drivers such
as number of units or types of products required to produce. If there is any change in cost driver,
the cost of product changes automatically.

Conversion Cost
The cost required to convert raw material into product is called as conversion cost. It includes
labor, direct expenses, and overhead.

Carrying Costs
Carrying cost represents the cost to maintain inventory, lock up cost of inventory, store rent, and
store operation expenses.

Out of Stock Cost

Sometimes loss is incurred due to shortage of stock such as loss in sale, loss of goodwill of a
business or idle machine. It is called out of stock cost.

Contribution Margin
Contribution margin is the difference between sale price and variable cost.

Ordering Costs
Ordering costs represent the cost to place an order, up to to stage until the material is included as
inventory.

Development Cost
To develop new product, improve existing product, and improved method in producing a product
called development cost.

Policy Cost
The cost incurred to implement a new policy in addition to regular policy is called policy cost.

Idle Facilities Cost and Idle Capacity Cost

If available facilities remain idle and some loss incurred due to it, it is called idle facilities cost. If
capacity is unused due to repair, shut down or any other reason, it is called capacity cost.

Expired Cost
When the cost is fully consumed and no future monetary value could be measured, it is called
expired cost. Expired cost relates to current cost. Suppose the expenses incurred in an accounting
period do not have any future value, then it is called an expired cost.

Incremental Revenue
Incremental revenue implies the difference in revenues between two alternatives. While assessing
the profitability of a proposed alternative, incremental revenues are compared with incremental
costs.

Added Value
Added value means value addition to any product. Value addition of the product may be due to
some process on product or to make the product available or there may be other reasons; but it
also includes the profit share on it.

Urgent Cost
There are some expenses that are to be incurred on an immediate basis. Delaying such expenses
may result in loss to business. These expenses are called urgent cost. Urgent costs are not be
postponed.

Postponable Cost
Without avoiding any expenses, if we are able to defer some expenses to future, then it is called a
postponable cost.

Pre-production Cost
The cost incurred before commencing formal production or at the time of formation of new
establishment or project is called pre-production cost. Some of these costs are of capital nature
and some of these are called deferred revenue expenditure.

Research Cost
Research costs are incurred to discover a new product or to improve an existing product, method,
or process.

Training Cost
The costs incurred on teaching, training, apprentice of staff or worker inside or outside the
business premise to improve their skills is called training cost.

COST ACCOUNTING - ADVANTAGES

The advantages of cost accounting are:

Disclosure of profitable and unprofitable activities

Since cost accounting minutely calculates the cost, selling price and profitability of product,
segregation of profitable or unprofitable items or activities becomes easy.

Guidance for future production policies

On the basis of data provided by costing department about the cost of various processes and
activities as well as profit on it, it helps to plan the future.

Periodical determination of profit and losses

Cost accounting helps us to determine the periodical profit and loss of a product.

To find out exact cause of decrease or increase in profit

With the help of cost accounting, any organization can determine the exact cause of decrease or
increase in profit that may be due to higher cost of product, lower selling price or may be due to
unproductive activity or unused capacity.

Control over material and supplies

Cost accounting teaches us to account for the cost of material and supplies according to
department, process, units of production, or services that provide us a control over material and
supplies.

Relative efficiency of different workers

With the help of cost accounting, we may introduce suitable plan for wages, incentives, and
rewards for workers and employees of an organization.

Reliable comparison
Cost accounting provides us reliable comparison of products and services within and outside an
organization with the products and services available in the market. It also helps to achieve the
lowest cost level of product with highest efficiency level of operations.

Helpful to government
It helps the government in planning and policy making about import, export, industry and taxation.
It is helpful in assessment of excise, service tax and income tax, etc. It provides readymade data to
government in price fixing, price control, tariff protection, etc.

Helpful to consumers
Reduction of price due to reduction in cost passes to customer ultimately. Cost accounting builds
confidence in customers about fairness of price.

Classification and subdivision of cost

Cost accounting helps to classify the cost according to department, process, product, activity, and
service against financial accounting which give just consolidate net profit or loss figure of any
organization without any classification or sub-division of cost.

To find out adequate selling price

In tough marketing conditions or in slump period, the costing helps to determine selling price of
the product at the optimum level, neither too high nor too low.

Proper investment in inventory

Shifting of dead stock items or slow moving items into fast moving items may help company to
invest in more proper and profitable inventory. It also helps us to maintain inventory at the most
optimum level in terms of investments as well as variety of the stock.

Correct valuation of inventory

Cost accounting is an accurate and adequate valuation technique that helps an organization in
valuation of inventory in more reliable and exact way. On the other hand, valuation of inventory
merely depends on physical stock taking and valuation thereof, which is not a proper and scientific
method to follow.

Decision on manufacturing or purchasing from outside

Costing data helps management to decide whether in-house production of any product will be
profitable, or it is feasible to purchase the product from outside. In turn, it is helpful for
management to avoid any heavy loss due to wrong decision.

Reliable check on accounting

Cost accounting is more reliable and accurate system of accounting. It is helpful to check results of
financial accounting with the help of periodic reconciliation of cost accounts with financial
accounts.

Budgeting

In cost accounting, various budgets are prepared and these budgets are very important tools of
costing. Budgets show the cost, revenue, profit, production capacity, and efficiency of plant and
machinery, as well as the efficiency of workers. Since the budget is planned in scientific and
systemic way, it helps to keep a positive check over misdirecting the activities of an organization.

COST ACCOUNTING VS FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

Both cost accounting and financial accounting help the management formulate and control
organization policies. Financial management gives an overall picture of profit or loss and costing
provides detailed product-wise analysis.
No doubt, the purpose of both is same; but still there is a lot of difference in financial accounting
and cost accounting. For example, if a company is dealing in 10 types of products, financial
accounting provides information of all the products in totality under different categories of
expense heads such as cost of material, cost of labor, freight charges, direct expenses, and
indirect expenses. In contrast, cost accounting gives details of each overhead product-wise, such
as much material, labor, direct and indirect expenses are consumed in each unit. With the help of
costing, we get product-wise cost, selling price, and profitability.
The following table broadly covers the most important differences between financial accounting
and cost accounting.
Point of
Differences

Financial Accounting

Cost Accounting

Meaning

Recoding of transactions is part of

financial accounting. We make financial
statements through these transactions.
With the help of financial statements, we
analyze the profitability and financial
position of a company.

Cost accounting is used to calculate

cost of the product and also helpful in
controlling cost. In cost accounting,
we study about variable costs, fixed
costs, semi-fixed costs, overheads
and capital cost.

Purpose

Purpose of the financial statement is to

show correct financial position of the
organization.

To calculate cost of each unit of

product on the basis of which we can
take accurate decisions.

Estimation in recording of financial

transactions is not used. It is based on
actual transactions only.

In cost accounting, we book actual

transactions and compare it with the
estimation. Hence costing is based
on the estimation of cost as well as
on the recording of actual
transactions.

Correctness of transaction is important

without taking care of cost control.

Cost accounting done with the

purpose of control over cost with the
help of costing tools like standard
costing and budgetary control.

Period of reporting of financial

accounting is at the end of financial year.

Reporting under cost accounting is

done as per the requirement of
management or as-and-whenrequired basis.

In financial accounting, costs are

recorded broadly.

In cost accounting, minute reporting

of cost is done per-unit wise.

Fixation of selling price is not an

objective of financial accounting.

Cost accounting provides sufficient

information, which is helpful in
determining selling price.

Relative efficiency of workers, plant, and

machinery cannot be determined under
it.

Valuable information about

efficiency is provided by cost
accountant.

Recording

Controlling

Period

Reporting
Fixation of
Selling Price
Relative
Efficiency

Valuation of
Inventory

Valuation basis is cost or market price

whichever is less

Cost accounting always considers the

cost price of inventories.

Process

Journal entries, ledger accounts, trial

balance, and financial statements

Cost of sale of products, addition of

margin and determination of selling
price of the product.

COST ACCOUNTING - CLASSIFICATION OF COST

Costs can be classified based on the following attributes:

By Nature
In this type, material, labor and overheads are three costs, which can be further sub-divided into
raw materials, consumables, packing materials, and spare parts etc.

By Degree of Traceability of the Product

Direct and indirect expenses are main types of costs come under it. Direct expenses may directly
attributable to a particular product. Leather in shoe manufacturing is a direct expenses and
salaries, rent of building etc. come under indirect expenses.

By Controllability
In this classification, two types of costs fall:
Controllable - These are controlled by management like material labour and direct
expenses.
Uncontrollable - They are not influenced by management or any group of people. They
include rent of a building, salaries, and other indirect expenses.

By Relationship with Accounting Period

Classifications are measured by the period of use and benefit. The capital expenditure and
revenue expenditure are classified under it. Revenue expenses relate to current accounting
period. Capital expenditures are the benefits beyond accounting period. Fixed assets come under
category of capital expenditure and maintenance of assets comes under revenue expenditure
category.

By Association with the Product

There are two categories under this classification:
Product cost - Product cost is identifiable in any product. It includes direct material, direct
labor and direct overheads. Up to sale, these products are shown and valued as inventory
and they form a part of balance sheet. Any profitability is reflected only when these products
are sold. The Costs of these products are transferred to costs of goods sold account.
Time/Period base cost - Selling expenditure and Administrative expenditure, both are time
or period based expenditures. For example, rent of a building, salaries to employees are
related to period only. Profitability and costs are depends on both, product cost and
time/period cost.

By Functions
Under this category, the cost is divided by its function as follows:
Production Cost - It represents the total manufacturing or production cost.
Commercial cost - It includes operational expenses of the business and may be sub-divided
into administration cost, and selling and distribution cost.

By Change in Activity or Volume

Under this category, the cost is divided as fixed, variable, and semi-variable costs:
Fixed cost - It mainly relates to time or period. It remains unchanged irrespective of volume
of production like factory rent, insurance, etc. The cost per unit fluctuates according to the
production. The cost per unit decreases if production increases and cost per unit increases if
the production decreases. That is, the cost per unit is inversely proportional to the
production. For example, if the factory rent is Rs 25,000 per month and the number of units
produced in that month is 25,000, then the cost of rent per unit will be Rs 1 per unit. In case
the production increases to 50,000 units, then the cost of rent per unit will be Rs 0.50 per
unit.
Variable cost - Variable cost directly associates with unit. It increases or decreases
according to the volume of production. Direct material and direct labor are the most
common examples of variable cost. It means the variable cost per unit remains constant
irrespective of production of units.
Semi-variable cost - A specific portion of these costs remains fixed and the balance portion
is variable, depending on their use. For example, if the minimum electricity bill per month is
Rs 5,000 for 1000 units and excess consumption, if any, is charged @ Rs 7.50 per unit. In this
case, fixed electricity cost is Rs 5,000 and the total cost depends on the consumption of units
in excess of 1000 units. Therefore, the cost per unit up to a certain level changes according
to the volume of production, and after that, the cost per unit remains constant @ Rs 7.50 per
unit.

COST ACCOUNTING - ELEMENTS OF COST

The following chart shows the various elements of cost and how they are classified.

Direct or Indirect Materials

The materials directly contributed to a product and those easily identifiable in the finished product
are called direct materials. For example, paper in books, wood in furniture, plastic in water tank,
and leather in shoes are direct materials. They are also known as high-value items. Other lower
cost items or supporting material used in the production of any finished product are called indirect
material. For example, nails in shoes or furniture.

Direct Labor

Any wages paid to workers or a group of workers which may directly co-relate to any specific
activity of production, supervision, maintenance, transportation of material, or product, and
directly associate in conversion of raw material into finished goods are called direct labor. Wages
paid to trainee or apprentices does not comes under category of direct labor as they have no
significant value.

Overheads
Indirect expenses are called overheads, which include material and labor. Overheads are
classified as:
Production or manufacturing overheads
Administrative expenses
Selling Expenses
Distribution expenses
Research and development expenses

COST ACCOUNTING - COST SHEET

A cost sheet is prepared to know the outcome and breakup of costs for a particular accounting
period. Columnar form is most popular. Although cost sheets are prepared as per the
requirements of the management, the information to be incorporated in a cost sheet should
comprise of cost per unit and the total cost for the current period along with the cost per unit and
the total cost of preceding period. Data of financial statement is used for preparation of cost sheet.
Therefore, reconciliation of cost sheet and financial statement should be done on a regular
interval.

Format

COST SHEET OR STATEMENT OF COST

Total Units
Opening Stock of Raw material

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

Add: Purchases

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

Add: Direct Labor/Wages

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

Prime Cost

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

Add: Selling and distribution overheads

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

Total Cost or Cost of Sale

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

Less: Closing Stock

Cost of material Consumed

Add: Works overheads

Works Cost
Add: Administration overheads
Cost of Production

COST ACCOUNTING - COST CONTROL

Conceptually, accounting is the discipline that provides information on which external
and internal users of the information may base decision that result in the allocation of
economic resource in society.
...Slavin and Reynolds
Accounting provides business-related information to the owner, the management, the employees
of the company as well as to the government, creditors, investors, and customers.
Financial accounting is based on actual past and cost accounting is based on planning and
controlling. Preparation of budget is a part of planning and controlling relates to putting a check on
the actual function of planning. Comparison of budgeted with actual performance provide the
management an idea to eliminate weak performances.

Cost Control Techniques

Costs can be controlling by employing the following methods:
Material Control
Labor Control
Overheads Control
Standard costing
Budgetary Control
Capital Expenditure Control
Productivity and Accounting Ratios

Requirements for Successful Cost Control

The following requirements are to be fulfilled to implement successful cost control:
A plan and a set of well-defined responsibilities to all executives are essential.
Clear definition of tasks for performance and cost to execute those tasks.
A fixed responsibility, in case of deviation between targeted and actual.
Prompt collection of performance data from each department of an organization as the
delay in information equals to no information and the management is unable to take correct
decision due to lack of complete information.
Highlights of good and bad, both performances to enable the management to take
corrective steps.
Reward for good performances and Punishment for the poor ones.

COST ACCOUNTING - COST REDUCTION

Cost reduction is to be understood as the achievement of real and permanent
reduction in the unit cost of goods manufactured or services rendered without
impairing their suitability for the use intended or diminution in the quality of product.
The institute of Management Accountants, London
There are only two ways to maximize profit of any organization: either to increase sale price of

unit, or to reduce cost of that unit. Both above cases may result into gaining good profit. As we are
seeing today, most of the businesses are facing tough competitive market situation where
increase in sale price may result in to loss of sale. Increasing sale price is possible only in case of
those products where the company is dealing in monopoly items and we all are aware that this
situation cannot prolong for any company and its products. Therefore, cost reduction is only one
scientific way to deal with this situation; provided it is real and permanent. Cost reduction should
not be the result of any temporary decrement in cost of raw material, change in government
polices etc. and most importantly, reduction of cost should not be on price of quality of that
product.
Reduction of cost should be in the following manner:
Volume of production should be same but cost of expenditure should be reduced.
Without changing level of production there should be increase in production.

Cost Reduction Program

Followings are the essentials of a cost reduction program:
Cost reduction program should be according to requirement of the company.
Cost reduction program is a continuous activity that cannot be treated as one time or short
term activity. Success of any cost reduction program may lie in only continuous
improvement of efforts.
Cost reduction program should be real and permanent.
Example setter of cost reduction program should be top management employee. Success of
this program depends on co-operation of all employees and department of an organization.
Employees should be rewarded for their participation in cost reduction program and for
giving innovative ideas related to this program.

Fields Covered under the Cost Reduction Program

A number of fields come under the scope of cost reduction. They are discussed below.

Design
Manufacturing of any product starts with the design of product. At the time of improvement in
design of old product as well as at the time of designing new product, some investment is
recommended to find a useful design that may reduce the cost of the product in following terms:
Material Cost
Design of product should encourage to find out possibility of cheaper raw material as a substitute,
maximum production, less quantity etc.
Labor Cost
Design of product may reduce time of operation, cost of after-sale service, minimum tolerance,
etc.
Organization
Employees should be encouraged for cost reduction scheme. There should be no scope for doubts
and frictions; there should be no communication gap between any department or any level of
management; and there must be proper delegation of responsibilities with defined area of
functions of an organization.
Factory Layout and Equipment
There should be a proper study about unused utilization of material, manpower and machines,
maximum utilization of all above may reduce cost of any product effectively.
Administration

An organization should make efforts to reduce the cost of administrative expenses, as there is
ample scope to do so. A company may evaluate and reduce the cost of following expenses, but not
the cost of efficiency:
Telephone expenses
Travelling expenses
Salary by reducing staff
Reduction in cost of stationery
Postage and Telegrams
Marketing
Following areas can be covered under the cost reduction program:
Advertisement
Warehouse
Sales Promotion
Distribution Expenses
Research & Development Program
Any cost accountant should keep the following points in mind while focusing on cost reduction for
the Marketing segment:
Check the distribution system of an organization about the overall efficiency of the system
and how economically that system is working.
Find out the efficiency of the sales promotion system
Find out if the costs can reduced from the sales and distribution system of an organization
and whether the research and development system of market is sufficient.
A cost accountant should also do an ABC analysis of customers in which customers may be
divided into three categories. For example:
ABC ANALYSIS OF CUSTOMERS
Category

Number of Dispatches

Volume of Sale Covered

Customer...A

About 10%

60% to 80%

Customer...B

About 20%

20% to 30%

Customer...C

About 70%

5% to 10%

After performing this analysis, the organization can focus on the customers who are covering most
of the sales volume. According to it, the cost reduction program may be run successfully in the
area of category B and C.

Financial Management
Attention should be given to the following areas:
If there is any over-investment.
How much economical is the cost of capital received?
If the organization is getting maximum returns for the capital employed.
If there is any over-investment, that should be sold and similarly, unutilized fixed assets

should be eliminated. Slow-moving or non-moving inventories should be removed and

should transfer this surplus to the working capital to re-invest it in a cycle of more profitable
area of business.

Personal Management
Cost reduction programs can be run using staff welfare measures and improving labor relation.
Introduction of incentive schemes for labor and giving them better working conditions is very
important to run an efficient cost reduction program.

Material Control
Cost reduction program should be run by purchasing economical and more useful material.
Economic Order Quantity EOQ technique should be used. Inventory should be kept low. Proper
check on inward material, control over warehouse and proper issuance of material, and effective
material yield should be done.

Production
Using effective control over material, labor, and machine a better cost reduction program may be
run.

Tools and Techniques of Cost Reduction

The following tools and techniques are used to reduce costs:
Budgetary Control
Standard Costing
Simplification and Variety Reduction
Planning and Control of Finance
Cost Benefit Analysis
Value Analysis
Contribution Analysis
Job Evaluation and Merit Rating
Improvement in Design
Material Control
Labor Control
Overhead Control
Market Research

COST ACCOUNTING - BUDGETING ANALYSIS

We are all well-familiar with the term budget. Budgeting is a powerful tool that helps the
management in performing its functions such as planning, coordinating, and controlling the
operations efficiently. The definition of budget is,
A plan quantified in monetary terms prepared and approved prior to a define period
of time usually showing planned income to be generated and/or expenditure to be
incurred during the period and the capital to be employed to attain a given objective.
---CIMA, England

Budget, Budgeting, and Budgetary Control

Let us go through the terms sequentially.

Budget
Budget represents the objectives of any organization that is based on the implication of forecast
and related to planned activities.
Budget is neither an estimate nor a forecast because an estimation is a predetermination of future
events, may be based on simple guess or any scientific principles.
Similarly, a forecast may be an anticipation of events during a specified period of time. A forecast
may be for a specific activity of the company. We normally forecast likely events such as sales,
production, or any other activity of the organization.
On the other hand, budget relates to planned policy and program of the organization under planed
conditions. It represents the action according to a situation which may or may not take place.

Budgeting
Budgeting represents the formation of the budget with the help and coordination of all or the
various departments of the firm.

Budgetary Control
Budgetary control is a tool for the management to allocate responsibility and authority in planning
for future and to develop a basis of measurement to evaluate the efficiency of operations.
A budget is a plan of the policy to be pursued during a defined time period. All the actions are
based on planning of budget because budget is prepared after studying all the related activities of
the company. Budget gives a communication ground to the top management with the staff of the
firm who are implementing the policies of the top management.
Budgetary control helps in coordinating the economic trends, financial position, policies, plans,
and actions of an organization.
Budgetary control also helps the management to ensure and control the plan and activities of the
organization. Budgetary control makes it possible by continuous comparison of actual
performance with that of the budgets.
Budgets are the individual objectives of a department whereas budgeting may be
said to be the act of building budgets. Budgetary Control embraces all this and in
addition, includes the science of planning the budgets themselves and utilization of
such budget to effect an overall management tool f or the business planning and
control.
...Rowland and William

Types of Budgets
Budgets can be categorized in various ways. Let us go through the types of budgets in detail.

Functional Budgets
It relates to any function of the firm such as sales, production, cash, etc. Following budgets are
prepared in functional budgets:
Sales Budget
Production Budget
Material Budget
Manufacturing Budget
Administrative Cost Budget

Plant Utilization Budget

Capital Expenditure Budget
Research and Development Cost Budget
Cash Budget

Master Budget or Summarized Budget or Finalized Profit plan

This budget is very useful for the top management of the company because it covers all the
information in a summarized manner.

Fixed Budget
It is a rigid budget and is drawn on the assumption that there will be no change in the budget level.

Flexible Budget
It is also called a sliding scale budget. It is useful in:
the new organizations where it is difficult to foresee,
the firms where activity level changes due to seasonal nature or change in demand,
the industries based on change of fashion,
the units which keep on introducing new products, and
the firms which are engaged in ship-building business.

Zero Base Budgeting

Zero base budgeting is not based on the incremental approach; previous year figures are not
adopted as base.
CIMA has defined it as:
As a method of budgeting, where all activities are revaluated each time a budget is
set, discrete levels of each activity are valued and combination is chosen to match
the funds available.

Control Ratios
Following ratios are used to evaluate the deviations of the actual performance from the budgeted
performance. If the ratio is 100% or more, it represents favorable results and vice-a-versa.
Capacity Ratio

Activity Ratio

Efficiency Ratio

Calendar Ratio

=
Actual hours worked / Budgeted hours

=
Standard hours for actual production / Budgeted hours
100
=
Standard hours for actual production / Actual hours worked
100
=

Number of actual working days in a period / Number of working days in

the budgeted period
100

Flexible Budget Vs. Fixed Budget

Points

Flexible Budget

Fixed Budget

Flexibility

Due to its nature of flexibility, it

may be quickly re-organized
according to the level of
production.

After the commencement of a

period, fixed budget cannot
change according to actual
production.

Condition

Flexible budget may change

according to change in
conditions.

Fixed budget is based on the

assumption that conditions will
remain unchanged.

Cost Classification

Classification of costs is done

according to the nature of their
variability.

It is suitable for fixed costs only;

no classification is done in fixed
budget.

Comparison

Comparisons of actual figures

with revised standard figures are
done according to change in the
production level of a concern.

If there is change in production

level, then it is not possible to do
a correct comparison.

Ascertainment of cost

It is easy to ascertain costs even

at different levels of activity.

If there is change in the

production level or
circumstances, it is not possible
to ascertain costs correctly.

Cost Control

It is used as an effective tool to

control costs.

Due to its limitations, it is not

used as cost control tool.

Flexible Budget
Flexible budget provides logical comparison. The actual cost at the actual activity is compared
with the budgeted cost at the time of preparing a flexible budget. Flexibility recognizes the concept
of variability.
Flexible budget helps in assessing the performance of departments in relation to the activity level
achieved. Cost ascertainment is possible at different levels of activities. It is also useful in fixation
of price and preparation of quotations.

Example
With the help of the following given expenses, prepare a budget for production of 10,000 units.
Prepare flexible budgets for 5,000 and 8,000 units.
Costs

Price per UnitRs.

Material

75

Labor

20

Variable Factory Overheads

15

Fixed Factory Overheads Rs 50,000

Variable Expenses Direct

Selling Expenses 20% Fixed

20

Distribution Expenses 10% fixed

10

Administrative Expenses Rs 70,000

Total cost of Sale per unit

158

Solution

Particulars

Output 5000 units

RateRs

Amount

Output 5000 units

RateRs

Amount

Variable or Product Expenses:

Material

75.00

3,75,000

75.00

6,00,000

Labour

20.00

1,00,000

20.00

1,60,000

Direct Variable Overheads

6.00

30,000

6.00

48,000

Prime Cost

101.00

5,05,000

101.00

8,08,000

Variable Overheads

15.00

75,000

15.00

1,20,000

Fixed Overheads

10.00

50,000

6.25

50,000

Work Cost

126.00

6,30,000

122.25

9,78,000

Fixed Administrative Expenses

14.00

70,000

8.75

70,000

Cost of Production

140.00

7,00,000

131.00

10,48,000

Fixed 20% of Rs.20/-

8.00

40,000

5.00

40,000

Variable Cost 80% of Rs.20/-

16.00

80,000

16.00

1,28,000

Fixed 10% of Rs.10/-

2.00

10,000

1.25

10,000

Variable 90% of Rs.10/-

9.00

10,000

1.25

10,000

Total Cost of Sale

175.00

8,75,000

165.25

12,98,000

Factory Overheads

Selling Expenses

Distributed Expenses

Cash Budget
Cash budget comes under the category of financial budget. It is prepared to calculate budgeted
cash flows inflows and outflows during a specific period of time. Cash budget is useful in
determining the optimum level of cash to avoid excessive cash or shortage of cash, which may
arise in future.
With the help of cash budget, we can arrange cash through borrowing funds in case of shortage,
and we may invest cash if it is present in excess.
It is necessary for every business to keep a safe level of cash. Being a part of master budget, the
following tasks are included in a cash budget:
Collection of Cash

Cash Payments
Selling Expenses and administrative expensive budget

Format
If a firm wants to maintain cash balance of Rs 50,000 and in case of shortage the firm borrows
funds from Bank, following cash budget is prepared:
Particulars

Q-1

Q-2

Q-3

Q-4

Total
Yearly

Opening Cash Balance

40,000

50,000

50,000

50,500

40,000

Add; Cash receipts

80,000

1,00,000

90,000

1,25,000

3,95,000

Total available Cash A

1,20,000

1,50,000

1,40,000

1,75,500

4,35,000

Direct Material

30,000

40,000

38,000

42,000

1,50,000

Direct Labour

12,000

15,000

14,000

16,000

57,000

Factory Overheads

18,000

19,000

17,000

20,000

74,000

Administrative Expenses

16,000

16,000

16,000

16,000

64,000

Selling & Distribution Exp.

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000

42,000

Purchase of Fixed Assets

40,000

40,000

Total Cash Payments B

85,000

1,00,000

1,36,000

1,06,000

4,27,000

Cash in hand C A-B

35,000

50,000

4,000

69,500

8,000

Financing Activities:

15,000

50,000

65,000

Borrowings

-3,000

-18,000

-21,000

Repayments of Borrowings

-500

-1,500

-2,000

23,000

46,500

-19,500

50,000

58,000

50,000

50,500

50,000

50,000

Less: Cash Payments:

Interest paid
Net Cash Flows from financing
Activities D
Closing Cash Balance E C+D

COST ACCOUNTING - MARGINAL COSTING

Marginal cost is the change in the total cost when the quantity produced is incremented by one.
That is, it is the cost of producing one more unit of a good. For example, let us suppose:
Variable cost per unit
= Rs 25
Fixed cost
= Rs 1,00,000
Cost of 10,000 units
= 25 10,000 = Rs 2,50,000
Total Cost of 10,000 units = Fixed Cost + Variable Cost
= 1,00,000 + 2,50,000
= Rs 3,50,000

Total cost of 10,001 units = 1,00,000 + 2,50,025

= Rs 3,50,025
Marginal Cost
= 3,50,025 3,50,000
= Rs 25

Need for Marginal Costing

Let us see why marginal costing is required:
Variable cost per unit remains constant; any increase or decrease in production changes the
total cost of output.
Total fixed cost remains unchanged up to a certain level of production and does not vary
with increase or decrease in production. It means the fixed cost remains constant in terms of
total cost.
Fixed expenses exclude from the total cost in marginal costing technique and provide us the
same cost per unit up to a certain level of production.

Features of Marginal Costing

Features of marginal costing are as follows:
Marginal costing is used to know the impact of variable cost on the volume of production or
output.
Break-even analysis is an integral and important part of marginal costing.
Contribution of each product or department is a foundation to know the profitability of the
product or department.
Addition of variable cost and profit to contribution is equal to selling price.
Marginal costing is the base of valuation of stock of finished product and work in progress.
Fixed cost is recovered from contribution and variable cost is charged to production.
Costs are classified on the basis of fixed and variable costs only. Semi-fixed prices are also
converted either as fixed cost or as variable cost.

Ascertainment of Profit under Marginal Cost

Contribution is a fund that is equal to the selling price of a product less marginal cost.
Contribution may be described as follows:
Contribution
= Selling Price Marginal Cost
Contribution
= Fixed Expenses + Profit
Contribution Fixed Expenses = Profit

Income Statement under Marginal Costing

Income Statement
For the year ended 31-03-2014
Particulars

Amount

Sales

25,00,000

Less: Variable Cost:

Cost of goods manufactured

Total

12,00,000

Variable Selling Expenses

3,00,000

Variable Administration Expenses

50,000
15,50,000

Contribution

9,50,000

Less: Fixed Cost:

Fixed Administration Expenses

70,000

Fixed Selling Expenses

1,30,000

2,00,000
7,50,000

Advantages of Marginal Costing

The advantages of marginal costing are as follows:
Easy to operate and simple to understand.
Marginal costing is useful in profit planning; it is helpful to determine profitability at different
level of production and sale.
It is useful in decision making about fixation of selling price, export decision and make or buy
decision.
Break even analysis and P/V ratio are useful techniques of marginal costing.
Evaluation of different departments is possible through marginal costing.
By avoiding arbitrary allocation of fixed cost, it provides control over variable cost.
Fixed overhead recovery rate is easy.
Under marginal costing, valuation of inventory done at marginal cost. Therefore, it is not
possible to carry forward illogical fixed overheads from one accounting period to the next
period.
Since fixed cost is not controllable in short period, it helps to concentrate in control over
variable cost.

COST ACCOUNTING - STANDARD COSTING

Planned cost is a key for effective cost control which is not provided by historical cost concepts.
The standard costing system was developed to overcome the drawbacks of the historical costing
system. Since historical costing deals only with the actual costs incurred, it is not an effective
device of cost control.
Standard costing tells us what should be the cost of the product and if the actual cost exceeds the
projected cost, the standard costing system can point to the reason of deviation.

Points Related to Standard Costing

Standard costing includes pre-determination of costs under specific working conditions.
In this process, the standard quantity of machine time, labor time, and material is calculated
and the future market trend for price standards is analyzed.
Standard costing helps in variance analysis.

Along with fixation of sale price, it also provides valuation of stock and work in progress.
Material, labor, and overheads cost are ascertained.
Actual cost is measured.

Standard Cost Card

Format
Standard Cost Card
No ... ... ... ...
Product... ... ... ...
Element of Cost

Date of setting Standard... ... ... ...

Quantity of Hours

Rate Rs.

Standard Cost

1. Direct Material
Material A

400 units

5.00

2,000

Material B

100 units

4.00

400

500 units
Less: Normal Loss 5%

25 units

Normal Output

475 units

2. Direct Labour

100 hrs

2,400
Scrap Value

400
2,000

20

200

3. Overheads

COST ACCOUNTING - VARIANCE ANALYSIS

When the actual cost differs from the standard cost, it is called variance. If the actual cost is less
than the standard cost or the actual profit is higher than the standard profit, it is called favorable
variance. On the contrary, if the actual cost is higher than the standard cost or profit is low, then it
is called adverse variance.
Each element of cost and sales requires variance analysis. Variance is classified as follows:
Direct Material Variance
Direct Labor Variance
Overhead Variance
Sales Variance

Direct Material Variance

Material variances can be of the following categories:
Material Cost Variance
Material Price Variance
Material Usage Variance
Material Mix Variance

Material Yield Variance

Material Cost Variance
Standard cost of materials for actual output Actual cost of material used
Or
Material price variance + Material usage or quantity variance
Or
Material price variance + Material mix variance + Material yield variance
Material Price Variance
Actual usage Standard Quantity Price Actual Unit Price
Actual Usage = Actual Quantity of material in units used
Standard Unit Price = Standard Price of material per unit
Actual Unit Price = Actual price of material per unit
Material Usage or Quantity Variance
Material usage or Quantity variance : Standard price per unit Standard Quantity Actual
Quantity
Material Mix Variance
Material mix variance arises due to the difference between the standard mixture of material
and the actual mixture of Material mix.
Material Mix variance is calculated as a difference between the standard prices of standard
mix and the standard price of actual mix.
If there is no difference between the standard and the actual weight of mix, then:
Standard unit cost Standard Quantity Actual Quantity
Or
Standard Cost of Standard Mix Standard cost of Actual Mix
Sometimes due to shortage of a particular type of material, standard is revised; then:
Standard unit cost Revised Standard Quantity Actual Quantity
Or
Standard cost of revised Standard Mix Standard Cost of Actual mix
If the actual weight of mix differs from the standard weight of mix, then:
Standard cost of revised standard mix
Total weight of actual mix / mixTotal weight of revised standard mix
Material Yield Variance

When the standard and the actual mix do not differ, then
Yield Variance = Standard Rate Actual Yield Standard Yield
Standard Rate =
Standard cost of standard mix / Net standard output i.e.Gross outputStandard loss

Direct Labor Variance

Direct labor variances are categorized as follows:
Labor Cost Variance
Labor Rate of Pay Variance
Total Labor Efficiency Variance
Labor Efficiency Variance
Labor Idle Time Variance
Labor Mix Variance or Gang Composition Variance
Labor Yield Variance or Labor Efficiency Sub Variance
Substitution Variance
Labor Cost Variance
Standard Cost of Labor Actual Cost of Labor
Labor Rate of pay Variance
Actual Time taken Standard Rate Actual Rate
Total Labor Efficiency Variance
Standard rate Standard time Actual time
Labor Efficiency Variance
Standard Rate Standard time for actual output Actual time worked
Labor Idle Time Variance
Idle Time Variance = Abnormal Idle Time Standard Rate
Total Labor Cost Variance = Labor rate of Pay variance + Total labor Efficiency Variance
Total Labor Efficiency Variance = Labor Efficiency Variance + Labor Idle Time Variance
Labor Mix Variance or Gang Composition Variance
If actual composition of labor is equal to standard:
LMV = Standard Cost of Standard Composition for Actual time taken Standard Cost of Actual
Composition for Actual time worked

If standard composition of labor revised due to shortage of any specific type of labor but the
total actual time is equal to the total standard time:
LMV = Standard Cost of Revised Standard Composition for Actual Time Taken Standard Cost of
Actual Composition for Actual Time Worked
If actual and standard time of labor differs:
=
Total time of actual labor composition / Total time of standard labor composition
Std.cost of std.composition Std.cost of actual composition
In case the Standard is revised and there is a difference in the total Actual and the Standard
time:
=
Total time of actual labor composition / Total time of revised std.labor composition
Std.cost of revised std.composition actual composition
Labor Yield Variance
Std. Labor Cost per unit Actual Yield In units Std. Yield in units expected from Actual time
worked on production
Substitution Variance
Actual hrs Std. Rate of Std. Worker Actual hrs Std.Rate actual worker

COST ACCOUNTING - CVP ANALYSIS

Cost-Volume-Profit CVP Analysis is also known as BreakEven Analysis. Every business organization
works to maximize its profits. With the help of CVP analysis, the management studies the corelation of profit and the level of production.
CVP analysis is concerned with the level of activity where total sales equals the total cost and it is
called as the break-even point. In other words, we study the sales value, cost and profit at different
levels of production. CVP analysis highlights the relationship between the cost, the sales value, and
the profit.

Assumptions
Let us go through the assumptions for CVP analysis:
Variable costs remain variable and fixed costs remain static at every level of production.
Sales volume does not affect the selling price of the product. We can assume the selling
price as constant.
At all level of sales, the volume, material, and labor costs remain constant.
Efficiency and productivity remains unchanged at all the levels of sales volume.
The sales-mix at all level of sales remains constant in a multi-product situation.
The relevant factor which affects the cost and revenue is volume only.
The volume of sales is equal to the volume of production.

Marginal Cost Equation

Equations for elements of cost are as follows:
Sales = Variable costs + Fixed Expenses Profit /Loss
Or

Sales Variable Cost = Fixed Expenses Profit /Loss

Or
Sales Variable Cost = Contribution

It is necessary to understand the following four concepts, their calculations, and applications to
know the mathematical relation between cost, volume, and profit:
Contribution
Profit Volume Ratio P/V Ratio or Contribution/Sales (C/S)
Break-Even Point
Margin of Safety

Contribution
Contribution = Sales Marginal Cost

We have already discussed contribution in Marginal Costing topic above.

Profit-Volume Ratio
Profit / Volume P/V ratio is calculated while studying the profitability of operations of a business
and to establish a relation between Sales and Contribution. It is one of the most important ratios,
calculated as under:
P Ratio =
V

Contribution / Sales
=
Fixed Expenses+Profit / Sales
=
SalesVariable Cost / Sales
=
Change in profits of Contributions / Change in Sales
The P/V Ratio shares a direct relation with profits. Higher the P/V ratio, more the profit and vice-aversa.

Break-Even Point
When the total cost of executing business equals to the total sales, it is called break-even point.
Contribution equals to the fixed cost at this point. Here is a formula to calculate break-even point:
B.E.P in units =
Total Fixed Expenses / Selling Price per Unit Marginal Cost per Unit
=
Total Fixed Expenses / Contribution per Unit
Break-even point based on total sales:
=
Fixed Cost / PV Ratio
Calculation of output or sales value at which a desired profit is earned:
=
Fixed Expenses + Desired Profit / Selling Price per Unit Marginal Cost per Unit
=
Fixed Expenses + Desired Profit / Contribution per Unit

Composite Break Even Point

A company may have different production units, where they may produce the same product. In
this case, the combined fixed cost of each productions unit and the combined total sales are taken
into consideration to find out BEP.
Constant Product - Mix Approach In this approach, the ratio is constant for the products of
all production units.
Variable Product - Mix Approach In this approach, the preference of products is based on
bigger ratio.

Margin of Safety
Excess of sale at BEP is known as margin of safety. Therefore,
Margin of safety = Actual Sales Sales at BEP

Margin of safety may be calculated with the help of the following formula:
Margin of Safety =
Profit / PV Ratio
=
Profit / Contribution per Unit

Break-Even Chart
Break-Even Chart is the most useful graphical representation of marginal costing. It converts
accounting data to a useful readable report. Estimated profits, losses, and costs can be
determined at different levels of production. Let us take an example.

Example
Calculate break-even point and draw the break-even chart from the following data:
Fixed Cost
= Rs 2,50,000
Variable Cost = Rs 15 per unit
Selling Price = Rs 25 per unit
Production level in units 12,000, 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, 30,000, and 40,000.

Solution:
B.E.P =
Fixed Cost / Contribution per unit
=
Rs 2,50,000 / Rs 10 Rs 25 - Rs 15
= 25,000 units
At production level of 25,000 units, the total cost will be Rs 6,25,000.
Calculated as (25000 14 + 2,50000)
Statement showing Profit & Margin of safety at different level of production Break Even Sale =
Rs 6,25,000 25,000 x 25
Production

Total Sale

Total Cost

Profit

Margin of safety

In Units

In Rs

In Rs

Sales - Cost

Profit/Contribution per unit

In Rs

In Units

12000

3,00,000

4,30,000

-1,30,000

15000

3,75,000

4,75,000

-1,00,000

20000

5,00,000

5,50,000

-50,000

25000

6,25,000

6,25,000

B.E.P

B.E.P

30000

7,50,000

7,00,000

50,000

5,000

40000

10,00,000

8,50,000

1,50,000

15,000

The corresponding chart plotted as production against amount appears as follows:

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - INTRODUCTION

Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales defines management accounting as:
Any worm of accounting which enables a business to conduct more efficiently can be
regarded as Management Accounting.
American Accounting Association defines management accounting as:
Management Accounting includes the methods and concepts necessary for effective
planning, for choosing among alternative business actions, and for control through
the evaluation and interpretation of performance.

Characteristics of Management Accounting

Management accounting provides data to the management on the basis of which they take
decisions to achieve organizational goals and improve their efficiency. In this section, we will
discuss the main characteristics of management accounting.

To Provide Accounting Information

Information is collected and classified by the financial accounting department, and presented in a
way that suits managerial needs to review the various policy decisions of an organization.

Cause and Effect Analysis

One step further from financial accounting, management accounting works to know the reasons of
profit or loss of an organization. It works to find out the causes for loss and also study the factors
which influence the profitability. Therefore, cause and effect is a feature of management
accounting.

Special Technique and Concepts

Budgetary control, marginal costing, standard costing are main techniques used in financial
accounting for successful financial planning and analysis, and to make financial data more useful.

Decision Making
Studying various alternative decisions, studying impact of financial data on future, supplying useful
data to management, helping management to take decisions is a part of management accounting.

Achieving Tasks
Financial data is used to set targets of the company and to achieve them. Corrective measures are
used if there is any deviation in actual and targeted task. This all is done through management
accounting with the help of budgetary control and standard costing.

No Fixed Norms
No doubt, tools of management accounting are same, but at the same time; uses of these tools
depend upon need, size, and structure of any organization. Thus, no fix norms are used in
application of management accounting. On the other hand, financial accounting totally depends
on certain rules and principals. Therefore, presentation and analysis of accounting data may vary
from one organization to another.

Increasing Efficiency
While evaluating the performance of each department of an organization, management
accounting can spot the efficient and inefficient sections of an organization. With the help of that,
corrective step can be taken to rectify the inefficient part for better performance. Hence, we can
say that efficiency of a concern can increase using accounting information.

Informative Instead of Decision Making

Decisions are taken only by top management using information provided by management
accountant as classified in a manner which is useful in decision making. Decision making does not
come under preview of accountant, it is only the top management, who can take decision. Thus,
decision of an organization depends on caliber and efficiency of the management.

Forecasting
Management accountant helps management in future planning and forecasting using historical
accounting data.

Objectives of Management Accounting

Let us go through the objectives of management accounting:

Planning and Formulating Policies

In the process of planning and formulating policies, a management accountant provides necessary
and relevant information to achieve the targets of the company. Management accounting uses
regression analysis and time series analysis as forecasting techniques.

Controlling Performance
In order to assure effective control, various techniques are used by a management accountant
such as budgetary control, standard costing, management audit, etc. Management accounting
provides a proper managerial control system to the management. Reports are provided to the
management regarding the effective and efficient use of resources.

Interpreting Financial Statement

Collecting accounting data and analyzing the same is a key role of management accounting.
Management accounting provides relevant information in a systematic way that can be used by
the management in planning and decision-making. Cash flow, fund flow, ratio analysis, trend
analysis, and comparative financial statements are the tools normally used in management
accounting to interpret and analyze accounting data.

Motivating Employees
Management accounting provides a selection of best alternative methods of doing things. It
motivates employees to improve their performance by setting targets and starting incentive
schemes.

Making Decisions
Success of any organization depends upon accurate decision-making and effective decisionmaking is based on informational network as provided by management accounting. Applying
techniques of differential costing, absorption costing, marginal costing, and management
accounting provides useful data to the management to aid in their decision-making.

Reporting to Management
It is the primary role of management accounting to inform and advice the management about the
latest position of the company. It covers information about the performance of various
departments on regular basis to the management which is helpful in taking timely decisions.
A management accountant also works in the capacity of an advisory to overcome any existing
financial or other problems of an organization.

Coordinating among Departments

Management accounting is helpful in coordinating the departments of an organization by applying
thorough functional budgeting and providing reports for the same to the management on a
regular basis.

Administrating Tax
Any organization must comply with the tax systems prevailing in the country they are operating
from. It is a challenge due to the ever-increasing complexity of the tax structure. Organization
need to file various kinds of returns with different tax authorities. They need to calculate the
correct amount of tax and assure timely deposit of tax. Therefore, the management takes
guidance from management accountants to comply with the law of the land.

MANAGEMENT VS. COST ACCOUNTING

Management accounting collects data from cost accounting and financial accounting. Thereafter,
it analyzes and interprets the data to prepare reports and provide necessary information to the
management.
On the other hand, cost books are prepared in cost accounting system from data as received from
financial accounting at the end of each accounting period.
The difference between management and cost accounting are as follows:

S.No.

Cost Accounting

Management Accounting

The main objective of cost accounting is

to assist the management in cost control
and decision-making.

The primary objective of management

accounting is to provide necessary
information to the management in the
process of its planning, controlling, and
performance evaluation, and decisionmaking.

Cost accounting system uses quantitative

cost data that can be measured in
monitory terms.

Management accounting uses both

quantitative and qualitative data. It also
uses those data that cannot be measured
in terms of money.

Determination of cost and cost control

are the primary roles of cost accounting.

Efficient and effective performance of a

concern is the primary role of
management accounting.

Success of cost accounting does not

depend upon management accounting
system.

Success of management accounting

depends on sound financial accounting
system and cost accounting systems of a
concern.

Cost-related data as obtained from

financial accounting is the base of cost
accounting.

Management accounting is based on the

data as received from financial
accounting and cost accounting.

Provides future cost-related decisions

based on the historical cost information.

Provides historical and predictive

information for future decision-making.

Cost accounting reports are useful to the

management as well as the shareholders
and creditors of a concern.

Management accounting prepares

reports exclusively meant for the
management.

Only cost accounting principles are used

in it.

Principals of cost accounting and financial

accounting are used in management
accounting.

Statutory audit of cost accounting reports

are necessary in some cases, especially
big business houses.

No statutory requirement of audit for

reports.

10

Cost accounting is restricted to costrelated data.

Management accounting uses financial

accounting data as well as cost
accounting data.

MANAGEMENT VS. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

All monetary transactions are recorded in the books of accounts on historical cost basis. Financial
statements are prepared to ascertain the actual profit or loss of the firm and to know the financial
position of the firm of every accounting period.
Management accounting collects data from financial statements, analyzes, and then provides this
data to the management.
S.no.

Financial Accounting

Management Accounting

Monitory transactions are the base of

financial accounting.

Data as obtained from financial accounting is

the base of management accounting.

Recognition, classification, recording

of financial transactions on actual
basis, and preparation of financial

Collection of data from financial accounting,

provision of necessary information to the
management for planning, decision-making,

statement are the main functions of

financial accounting.

and evaluation are the main functions of

management accounting.

Support of relevant figures is required

in preparing the financial reports.

Subjective and objective, both figures may be

present in the management accounting report.

Success of financial accounting does

not depend on sound management
accounting system.

Success of management accounting depends

on sound financial accounting system of a
concern.

Financial reports are used by the

management of a company,
shareholders, creditors, and financial
institutions.

Financial reports are exclusively used by the

management only.

Statutory audit of financial statements

of concerns is required as per
applicable law.

No statutory requirement of audit for reports

prepared by management accountants.

Financial statements of a concern are

prepared at the end of every
accounting period.

The reports are prepared as and when

required by management of the concern.

To ascertain profit or loss of a concern

on actual basis and to know financial
position of a concern financial
accounting is used.

Thorough management accounting evaluation

of performance is done department and
section-wise, as well as whole concern-wise.

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - CASH FLOW

It is very important for a business to keep adequate cash in hand to meet day-to-day expenditures
and to invest as and when required in business. Thus, cash plays a very vital role to run a business
successfully. Sometimes it has been observed that in spite of adequate profit in business, they are
unable to meet their taxes and dividends, just because of shortage of cash flow.
We have read about two very important financial statements: first, revenue statement and second,
balance sheet. Revenue statements provide provide essential information about the operating
activities of a concern, and balance sheets show the financial position of a firm. But, both are
unable to convey anything about the generation of cash out of all business activities.
Keeping in view the above limitation, the financial accounting board, U.S.A., has emphasized on
the need for a cash flow statement as:
Financial reporting should provide information to help potential investors and
creditors and other users in assessing the amounts, timing and uncertainty of
prospective cash receipts from dividends or interest and proceeds from the sales,
redemption or maturity of securities or loans. The prospects for those cash receipts of
effected by an enterprises ability to generate enough cash to meet the obligation
when due and its others operating needs to re-invest in operations and to pay cash
dividends.
In June 1995, the Securities and Exchange Board of India SEBI amended Clause 32 of the listing
agreement requiring every listed companies to give along with the balance sheet and profit & loss
account, a cash flow statement prepared in the prescribed format, showing cash flows from
operating activities, investing activities and financing activities, separately.
Recognizing the importance of cash flow statement, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of
India ICAI issued AS-3 revised Cash flow statements in March 1997. The revised accounting
standards supersede AS-3 changes in financial position, issued in June 1981. The objectives of
cash flow statement given in AS-3 Revised are as under:

Information about the cash flows of an enterprise is useful in providing users of

financial statements with a basis to assess the ability of the enterprises to generate
cash and cash equivalents and the needs of the enterprises to utilize those cash flows.
The economic decisions that are taken by users require an evaluation of the ability of
an enterprise to generate cash and cash equivalents and the timing and certainty of
their generations. The statement deals with the provision of information about the
historical changes in cash and cash equivalents of an enterprise by mean of cash flow
the statement which classified cash flow during the period from operating, investing
and financing activities.
During a specified period of time, a cash flow statement describes the inflows and outflows of the
cash and cash equivalents in an enterprise. A cash flow statement shows the net effect of various
business transactions on cash and cash equivalents and consideration of receipts and payments of
cash. Cash flow is a summary of change in cash position in between the dates of two balance
sheets and revenue statements. The important terms used in a cash flow statement are as follows:

Cash
The meaning of cash is cash in hand and cash at bank including deposits.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Here, cash and cash equivalents imply readily convertible, highly liquid investments, the value of
which in cash is well-known to us without risk of change in its realization amount. The purpose of
keeping cash equivalents is to meet our current and short-term commitment rather than for
investments. Only those investments having short maturity terms qualify as cash equivalents. Short
maturity means maturity within three months.

Cash Flows
There are two types of flows: inflows and outflows. If the increase in cash is the effect of
transactions, it is called inflows of cash; and if the result of transactions is decrease in cash, it is
called outflows of cash.
Note: If decrease in cash is due to cash management rather than its operating, investing, and
financing activities, it will be excluded from cash outflows. Cash management means investment
of cash in cash equivalents.

Classification of Cash Flows

According to AS-3 Revised, cash flows should be classified in three main categories:
Cash Flow from operating activities
Cash Flow from investing activities
Cash Flow from financing activities

Cash flow from operating activities

Inflow of cash from operating activities represents the level of sufficient cash generation
necessary to maintain operating capability without recourse to external resource of financing.
In other words, operating activities mean principal revenue-producing activities of a firm. It
represents the transactions those determine the profit or loss of a firm.
Examples of cash Flows from operating activities:
Cash sale goods or services
Cash receipts from commission, fees and royalties income etc.
Cash payments to workers or employees in form of salary or wages.
Cash payments to supplier of goods or services.

Cash receipt on account of insurance premium by insurance companies.

Cash payments in form of claims, annuity and other benefits.
Cash payments or refund of income tax in case not included in investing or financing
activities.
Cash payments on account of current and future contracts.
Note: Cash receipt on sale of plant and machinery comes under category of investing activities.

Cash flow from investing activities

Assets and long-term investments that do not come under cash equivalents are known as investing
activities. Investing activity represents how much investment in long-term assets has been made to
earn profit in future.
Examples of Cash Flows from investing activities:
Cash payments to acquire tangibles and intangibles assets including construction of assets
and capitalization of research and development cost.
Cash receipts from sale of investments and disposal of fixed assets.
Cash payment for investments in shares, warrants and debentures of other companies etc.
excluding those which are covered under cash equivalents or purchased for trading purpose.
If so, those come under operating activities.
Cash received from disposal of or sale of shares, warrants or redemption of funds other than
those which are kept for trading purpose.
Advances or loan made to third party other than by financing companies.
Cash payment for future contracts other than trading purpose.
Cash received from future contracts other than trading purpose.

Cash flow from financing activities

The activities which may result in change in size and composition of owners capital including
preference shares are called financing activities. Separate disclosure is important for financing
activities.
Examples of Cash flows from financing activities include cash received on issue of shares,
debentures, loans, bonds and other short- or long-term borrowings.
Cash payments on redemption of debentures bonds, preference shares etc.

Treatment of Some Typical Items

The treatment of some typical cash flow items is discussed below.

Extraordinary Items
Inflow or outflow of cash is classified according to the nature of activities that may be operating,
investing, or financing activities. Cash flow due to extraordinary items should be shown separately
in the cash flow statement to enable users to understand its nature and effect on the cash flow
statement.

Interest and Dividends

If cash flow arises due to interest paid or interest and dividend received, then that should be
classified as operating activities in case of "financial enterprises". In case of "other than financial
organizations", the interest paid should be classified as financing activity, and the interest and
dividends received should be classified as investing activity.
Note: Dividend paid should be classified as financing activity in both the above cases.

Taxes on Income
Taxes on income should be separately disclosed and should be classified under operating
activities in most of the cases except where we can easily identify the taxes according to nature of
income but if total amount of tax is given, then it should be classified as operating activities.
Note: Dividend distribution tax will be classified as financing activities.
Cash flows from acquisition and disposal of subsidiaries and other business units:
Cash flow arises due to acquisition or disposal of subsidiary should be shown separately and
classified as investing activities. This transaction should be easily identifiable in cash flow
statement to enable users to understand the effect of it. The case flow of disposal is not deducted
from cash flow of acquisition.

Foreign Currency
Items appearing in a cash flow statement should be shown in local currency value, applying actual
foreign currency rate of the particular day on which cash flow statement is going to be prepared.
Effect on value of cash and cash equivalents as reflected in the cash flow statement due to change
in rate of foreign currency should be shown separately as a reconciliation of changes.
Due to change in foreign currency rate, unrealized gains and losses are not cash flows. However,
effect on cash and cash equivalents held or due in foreign currency are reported in cash flow
statement in order to reconcile the cash and cash equivalents at the beginning and at the end of
the period.

Non-Cash Transactions
Some investing and financing activities do not have any direct impact on cash flows. For example,
conversion of debt to equity, acquisition of an enterprise by means of issuance of share, etc.
Those transactions should be excluded from cash flow statements, in which there are no use of
cash or cash equivalents. There are other financial statements in which those investing and
financing activities appear separately.

Format: Direct Method

M/s ABC LIMITED

Cash flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2014
Particulars

Amount

Cash Flows from Operating Activities Schedule- 1

XX

Cash Flows from Investing Activities Schedule- 2

XX

Cash Flows from Financing Activities Schedule-3

XX

Extraordinary Items

XX

Net Profit before Tax

XX

Income Tax Paid

XX

Net Increase or Decrease in cash or cash Equivalents

XX

Add: Cash & Cash Equivalents at the beginning of the period

XX

Cash and Cash Equivalents at the end of the period

XXX

Schedule - 1
Cash flow from operating activities
Particulars

Amount

Cash received from customers

XXX

Cash paid for:

- Suppliers for Purchases

XX

- Wages & Salary

XX

- Operating and General administrative expenses

XX

XX

Net Profit before Taxes

XX

Income Tax Paid

XX

Cash flow from Operating Activities

XXX

Schedule-2
Cash flow from investing activities
Particulars

Amount

Cash received for:

- Sale of Fixed Assets

XX

- Sale of Investment

XX

- Interest received

XX

- Dividend received

XX

XXX

Cash paid for:

- Purchase of Fixed Assets

XX

- Purchase of Investments

XX

Net Cash Flow from Investing Activities

XX
XX

Schedule-3
Cash flow from financing activity
Particulars

Amount

Cash received for:

XX

Issue of Equity Shares

XX

Issue of Preference Share

XX

Long term borrowings

XX

XXX
Cash paid for:
- Interest paid

XX

- Redemption of preference shares

XX

- Repayment of Loans

XX

Dividend paid

XX

Purchase of Investments

XX

XX

Net Cash Flow from Financing Activities

XX

Cash Flow Indirect Method

Two Balance Sheet requires.
No need of Profit & Loss account in Indirect Method.
Non Cash Item require.
We need change in current Assets & Current Liabilities account.
No need to open, Opening current assets and current Liabilities accounts.

Format
Indirect Method: Given by AS-3

M/s XYZ LIMITED

Cash flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2014
Particulars

Amount

Cash Flows from Operating Activities Schedule- 1

XX

Cash Flows from Investing Activities Schedule- 2

XX

Cash Flows from Financing Activities Schedule-3

XX

Extraordinary Items

XX

Net Profit before Tax

XX

Income Tax Paid

XX

Net Increase or Decrease in cash or cash Equivalents

XX

Add: Cash & Cash Equivalents at the beginning of the period

XX

Cash and Cash Equivalents at the end of the period

XXX

Schedule-1
Cash flow from operating activities

Particulars

Amount

Changes in Profit & Loss account

XX

Changes in Reserve Any

XX

+ Interim Dividend

XX

Net Profit

XXX

Non Cash Items:

+ Depreciation

XX

+ Loss on Sale of Fixed Assets

XX

+ Goodwill Amortization

XX

+ Preliminary Expenses written off

XX

Non Cash Incomes:

- Gain on Sale of Fixed Assets

XX

Operating Profit before working Capital changes

XXX

Changes in Current Assets & Current liabilities

XX

Cash operating Expenses before Tax

------

Tax Paid

XXX
X

Cash Flow from Operating Activities

-----XXX

Schedule-2
Cash flow from investing activities
Particulars

Amount

Cash received for:

- Sale of Fixed Assets

XX

- Sale of Investment

XX

- Interest received

XX

- Dividend received

XX

XXX

Cash paid for:

- Purchase of Fixed Assets

XX

- Purchase of Investments

XX

Net Cash Flow from Investing Activities

XX
XX

Schedule-3
Cash flow from financing activity
Particulars

Amount

Cash received for:

- Issue of Equity Shares

XX

- Issue of Preference Share

XX

- Long-term borrowings

XX

XXX

Cash paid for:

- Interest paid

XX

- Redemption of Preference shares

XX

- Repayment of Loans

XX

- Dividend paid

XX

- Purchase of Investments

XX

Net Cash Flow from Financing Activities

XX
XX

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - RATIO ANALYSIS

Ratio is an expression of relationship between two or more items in mathematical terms.
Exhibition of meaningful and useful relation between different accounting data is called
Accounting Ratio. Ratio may be expressed as a:b a is to b, in terms of simple fraction, integer, or
percentage.
If the current assets of a concern is Rs 4,00,000 and the current liabilities is Rs 2,00,000, then the
ratio of current assets to current liabilities is given as 4,00,000 / 2,00,000 = 2. This is called simple
ratio. Multiply a ratio by 100 to express it in terms of percentage.
We can express the ratio between 200 and 100 in any of the following ways:
2:1
2/1
200%
2 to 1
2
Ratios are extremely useful in drawing the financial position of a concern.

Accounting Analysis
Comparative analysis and interpretation of accounting data is called Accounting Analysis. When
accounting data is expressed in relation to some other data, it conveys some significant
information to the users of data.

Ratio Analysis and its Applications

Ratio analysis is a medium to understand the financial weakness and soundness of an

organization. Keeping in mind the objective of analysis, the analyst has to select appropriate data
to calculate appropriate ratios. Interpretation depends upon the caliber of the analyst.
Ratio analysis is useful in many ways to different concerned parties according to their respective
requirements. Ratio analysis can be used in the following ways:
To know the financial strength and weakness of an organization.
To measure operative efficiency of a concern.
For the management to review past years activity.
To assess level of efficiency.
To predict the future plans of a business.
To optimize capital structure.
In inter and intra company comparisons.
To measure liquidity, solvency, profitability and managerial efficiency of a concern.
In proper utilization of assets of a company.
In budget preparation.
In assessing solvency of a firm, bankruptcy position of a firm, and chances of corporate
sickness.

Advantages of Ratio Analysis

It is powerful tool to measure short and long-term solvency of a company.
It is a tool to measure profitability and managerial efficiency of a company.
It is an important tool to measure operating activities of a business.
It helps in analyzing the capital structure of a company.
Large quantitative data may be summarized using ratio analysis.
It relates past accounting performances with the current.
It is useful in coordinating the different functional machineries of a company.
It helps the management in future decision-making.
It helps in maintaining a reasonable balance between sales and purchase and estimating
working capital requirements.

Limitations of Ratio Analysis

Although Ratio Analysis is a very useful accounting tools to analyze and interpret different
accounting equations, it comes with its own set of limitations:
If the data received from financial accounting is incorrect, then the information derived from
ratio analysis could not be reliable.
Unauthenticated data may lead to misinterpretation of ratio analysis.
Future prediction may not be always dependable, as ratio analysis is based on the past
performance.
To get a conclusive idea about the business, a series of ratios is to be calculated. A single
ratio cannot serve the purpose.
It is not necessary that a ratio can give the real present situation of a business, as the result is
based on historical data.
Trend analysis is done with the help of various calculated ratios that can be distorted due to
the changes in the price level.

Ratio analysis is effective only where same accounting principles and policies are adopted by
other concerns too, otherwise inter-company comparison will not exhibit a real picture at all.
Through ratio analysis, special events cannot be identified. For example, maturity of
debentures cannot be identified with ratio analysis.
For effective ratio analysis, practical experience and knowledge about particular industry is
essential. Otherwise, it may prove worthless.
Ratio analysis is a useful tool only in the hands of an expert.

Types of Ratio
Ratios can be classified on the basis of financial statements or on the basis of functional aspects.

Classification on the Basis of Financial Statement

Balance Sheet Ratios
Ratios calculated from taking various data from the balance sheet are called balance sheet ratio.
For example, current ratio, liquid ratio, capital gearing ratio, debt equity ratio, and proprietary
ratio, etc.

Revenue Statement Ratio

Ratios calculated on the basis of data appearing in the trading account or the profit and loss
account are called revenue statement ratios. For example, operating ratio, net profit ratio, gross
profit ratio, stock turnover ratio.

Mixed or Composite Ratio

When the data from both balance sheet and revenue statements are used, it is called mixed or
composite ratio. For example, working capital turnover ratio, inventory turnover ratio, accounts
payable turnover ratio, fixed assets turnover ratio, return of net worth ratio, return on investment
ratio.
Classification of Ratios on the Basis of Financial Statements
Balance Sheet Ratios

Profit and Loss A/c

Ratios

Composite or Mixed Ratios

Current Ratio

Gross Profit Ratio

Stock Turnover Ratio

Liquid Ratio

Operating Ratio

Receivable Turnover Ratio

Absolute Liquid Ratio

Operating Profit Ratio

Payable Turnover Ratio

Debt Equity Ratio

Net Profit Ratio

Fixed Assets Turnover Ratio

Proprietorship Ratio

Cash Profit Ratio

Total Assets Turnover Ratio

Capita Gearing Ratio

Expenses Ratio

Assets Proprietorship Ratio

Interest Coverage Ratio

Working Capital Turnover

Ratio

Capital Inventory to
Working Capital Ratio
Ratio of Current Assets to
Fixed Assets

Capital Turnover Ratio

Return on Capital Employed
Return on Equity Ratio
Return on Shareholders Fund
Capital Turnover Ratio

Classification on the Basis of Financial Aspects

Ratios can be further classified based on their functional aspects as discussed below.

Liquidity Ratios
Liquidity ratios are used to find out the short-term paying capacity of a firm, to comment short
term solvency of the firm, or to meet its current liabilities. Similarly, turnover ratios are calculated
to know the efficiency of liquid resources of the firm, Accounts Receivable Debtors Turnover Ratio
and Accounts Payable Creditors.

Long-Term Solvency and Leverage Ratios

Debt equity ratio and interest coverage ratio are calculated to know the efficiency of a firm to pay
long-term debts and to meet interest costs. Leverage ratios are calculated to know the proportion
of debt and equity in the financing of a firm.

Activity Ratios
Activity ratios are also called turnover ratios. Activity ratios measure the efficiency with which the
resources of a firm are employed.

Profitability Ratios
The results of business operations can be calculated through profitability ratios. These ratios can
also be used to know the overall performance and effectiveness of a firm. Two types of profitability
ratios are calculated in relation to sales and investments.
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF RATIOS
Liquidity Ratios

Long-Term
Solvency and
Leverage Ratios
Debt/Equity Ratio

Current Ratio
Liquid Ratio
Absolute Liquid or
Cash Ratios
Interval Measure
B
Debtors Turnover
Ratio
Creditor Turnover
Ratio
Inventory Turnover
Ratio

Debt to total
Capital Ratio
Interest Coverage
Ratio
Cash Flow/ Debt
Capital Gearing

Activity Ratios
Asset Management
Ratios
Inventory Turnover
Ratio

Profit Abilities
Ratios

A In relation to
sales

Debtors Turnover
Ratio

Gross Profit Ratio

Fixed Assets
Turnover Ratio

Operating Ratio

Operating Ratio

Total Assets
Turnover Ratio

Operative Profit
Ratio

Working Capital
Turnover Ratio

Net Profit Ratio

Payable Turnover
Ratio
Capital Employed
Turnover Ratio

Expenses Ratio
B In relation to
Investments
Return on
Investment
Return on Capital
Return on Equity
Return on Total
Resources
Earnings per Share
Price Earnings

Ratio

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - USEFUL RATIOS

Shortterm Financial Position or Test of Liquidity
a Current Ratios

=
Current Assets / Current Liabilities

b Quick or Acid Test or Liquid Ratio

=
Liquid Assets / Current Liabilities

c Absolute Liquid Ratio

=
Absolute Liquid Assets / Current Liabilities

d Interval Measure

=
Liquid Assets / Avg.Daily Operating Expenses
Current Assets Movement Asset Management Ratios

a Inventory /Stock Turnover Ratio

=
Cost of Goods Sold / Avg.Inventory at Cost

b Debtors or receivables Turnover

Ratio/Velocity

=
Net Credit Annual Sale / Avg.Trade Debtors

c Average Collection Period

=
Total Trade Debtors / Sale per Day

d Creditors / Payable Turnover Ratio

/ Velocity

=
Net Credit Annual Purchase / Avg.Trade Creditors

e Average Payment Period

=
Total Trade Creditos / Payable / Avg.Daily Purchase

f Working Capital Turnover Ratio

=
Sales or Cost of Sales / Net Working Capital

Analysis of Long-term Financial Position or Test of Solvency

a Debt Equity Ratio

=
Outsiders Funds / Shareholders Funds
or
=
Outsiders Equities / Internal Equities

b Funded Debt to Total

Capitalization Ratio

=
Funded Debts / Total Capitalization
100

c Ratio of Long term Debt to

Shareholders, Funds Debt Equity

=
Long term Debts / Shareholders Funds

d Proprietary or Equity Ratio

=
Shareholders Funds / Total Assets

e Solvency Ratio

=
Total Liabilities to Outsiders / Total Assets

f Fixed Assets Net Worth Ratio

=
Fixed Assets after Depreciation / Shareholders Funds

g Fixed Assets Ratio or Fixed Assets

to Long Term Funds

=
Fixed Assets after Depreciation / Total long term Fund

h Ratio of Current Assets to

Proprietary funds

=
Current Assets / Shareholders Funds

i Debt-Service or Interest Coverage

=
Net Profit before Int. & Taxes / Fixed Interest Charges

j Total Coverage or Fixed Charge

Coverage

=
EBIT / Total Fixed Charges

k Preference Dividend Coverage

Ratio

=
Net Profit before Int.& Tax / Preference Dividend

l Cash to debt-Service Ratio or Debt

Cash Flow Coverage

=
CF /
1+
SFD / 1 Tax Rate
CF = Annual cash flow before Int. & Tax
SFD = Sinking fund appropriation on debt

Analysis of Profitability
i General Profitability:
a Gross Profit Ratio

=
Gross Profit / Net Sale
100

b Operating Ratio

=
Operating Cost / Net Sale
100

c Expenses Ratio

=
Particular Expense / Net Sale
100

d Net Profit Ratio

=
Net Profit after Tax / Net Sale
100

e Operating Profit Ratio

=
Operating Profit / Net Sale
100
Overall Profitability

a Return on Shareholders
Investment RoI

=
Net Profiti after Tax & Interest / Shareholders Fund
100

b Return on Equity Capital

=
Net Profit after Tax Pref.Dividend / Paid up Equity
Capital
100

c Earnings per Share EPS

=
Net Profit after Tax Pref.Dividend / Number of Equity
Share
100

d Return on Gross Capital Employed

=
Adjusted Net Profit / Gross Capital Employed

 100
e Return on Net Capital Employed

=
Adjusted Net Profit / Net Capital Employed
100

f Return on Assets

=
Net Profit after Tax / Avg.Total Assets
100

g Capital Turnover Ratio

=
Sale or Cost of Sale / Capital Employed
100

h Fixed Assets Turnover Ratio

=
Sale or Cost of Goods Sold / Fixed Assets
100

i Working Capital Turnover Ratio

=
Sale or Cost of Goods Sold / Net Working Capital
100

Market Test or Valuation Ratio

a Dividend Yield Ratio

=
Dividend per Share / Market Value per Share

b Dividend Payout Ratio

=
Dividend per Equity Share / Earnings per Share

c Price/Earnings P/E Ratio

=
Market Price per Equity Share / Earnings per Share

d Earning Yield Ratio

=
Earnings per Share / Market price per share

e Market Value Book Value Ratio

=
Market value per share / Book value per share

f Market Price to Cash Flow Ratio

=
Market price per share / Cash flow per share

Market Test or Valuation Ratio

a Capital Gearing Ratio

=
Equity Share Capital + Reserve & Surplus / Pref.Capital +
Long term Debt bearing Fixed Interest

b Total Investment to Long Term

Liabilities

=
Shareholders Fund + Long term Liabilities / Long term
Liabilities

c Debt Equity Ratio

=
Outsiders Funds / Shareholders Funds

d Ratio to Fixed Assets to Funded

Debt

=
Fixed Assets / Funded Debts

e Ratio of Current Liabilities to

Proprietors fund

=
Current Liabilities / Shareholders Funds

f Ratio of Reserve to Equity Capital

=
Reserves / Equity Share Capital
100

g Financial Leverage

=
EBIT / EBIT Interest & Pref.Dividend

h Operating Leverage

=
Contribution / EBIT

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - WORKING CAPITAL

Working capital is defined by experts as follows Working capital is the amount of funds necessary to cover the cost of operating the
enterprises.
---Shubin
Circulating capital means current assets of a company that are changed in the
ordinary course of business from one form to another, as for example, from cash to
inventories, inventories to receivables, receivables in to cash.
---Genestenberg
Broadly, there are two types of capital required for a business:
Fixed Capital
Working Capital
Fixed capital requires investing in long term investments of business to create production facility
through purchase of fixed assets such as building, plant, machinery, furniture etc. Investment in
these assets means permanent blockage of capital or for a long term fixed term blockage of funds.
Capital is required for short term purposes to purchase raw material, payment of day to day needs
of organization, routine business expenditure, payment of salaries, wages, taxes etc. These funds
are called working capital. Working capital refers to capital to finance short term or current assets
such as cash, securities, debtors and inventories.

Gross Working Capital and Net Working Capital

Gross working capital means the investment in current assets, whereas the Net working capital
means the difference of current assets and current liabilities. Net working capital can be positive
or negative.
NET WORKING CAPITAL
A Current Assets
Cash in hand

XXX

Cash at Bank

XXX

Sundry Debtors

XXX

Bills receivables

XXX

Inventories of Stock
XXX
Raw Material

XXX

Workin-Process

XXX

Finished Goods

XXX

Short Term Investments

XXX

Prepaid Expenses

XXX

Accrued Incomes

XXX

Total Current Assets

XXXXX

B Less: Current Liabilities

Sundry Creditors

XXX

Short term Loans, advances and deposits

XXX

Bank Overdraft

XXX

Bills payable

XXX

Provisions

XXX

Expenses Payable

XXX

Total Current Liabilities

XXXX

Working Capital A - B

XX

Working Capital Cycle

Generation and disbursement of cash is carried out in the manner depicted by the following
diagram:

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