CH 01
CH 01
CH 01
Chapter 1
Accounting in Action
Chapter Preview
Taxing authorities: Does the company comply with the tax laws?
Regulatory agencies: Is the company operating within prescribed rules?
Labor unions: Does the company have the ability to pay increased wages and
benefits to union members?
ACTION PLAN
• Review the basic concepts discussed.
• Develop an understanding of the key terms used.
1. True.
2. False.
Bookkeeping involves only the recording step.
3. False.
Accountants analyze and interpret information in reports as part of the
communication step.
4. False.
The two most common types of external users are investors and creditors.
5. True.
ACTION PLAN
• Review the discussion of ethics and financial reporting standards.
• Develop an understanding of the key terms used.
Share capital—ordinary: describes the amounts paid in by shareholders for the ordinary
shares they purchase.
Revenues: are the gross increases in equity resulting from business activities entered into for
the purpose of earning income. Revenues usually result in an increase in an asset.
Expenses: are the cost of assets consumed or services used in the process of earning
revenue.
Dividends: are distribution of cash or other assets to shareholders. They are not an expense.
a. Rent Expense
b. Service Revenue
c. Dividends
d. Salaries and Wage Expense
ACTION PLAN
• Understand the sources of revenue.
• Understand what causes expenses.
• Review the rules for changes in equity: Investments and revenues
increase equity. Expenses and dividends decrease equity.
• Recognize that dividends are distributions of cash or other assets to
shareholders.
The steps companies follow each period to record transactions and eventually prepare
financial statements:
Observe that the equality of the basic equation has been maintained. Note also that the
source of the increase in equity (in this case, issued shares) is indicated.
This transaction results in an equal increase and decrease in total assets, though
the composition of assets changes.
Assets increase because of the expected future benefits of using the headsets and computer accessories, and
liabilities increase by the amount due Mobile Solutions.
The two sides of the equation still balance at €17,800. Retained Earnings decreases when Softbyte incurs the expense.
Expenses do not have to be paid in cash at the time they are incurred.
When Softbyte pays at a later date, the liability Accounts Payable will decrease and the asset Cash will decrease [see
Transaction (8)]. The cost of advertising is an expense (rather than an asset) because Softbyte has used the benefits.
Advertising Expense is included in determining net income.
Observe that the payment of a liability related to an expense that has previously been recorded does not affect equity.
Softbyte recorded the expense [in Transaction (5)] and should not record it again.
Transaction (9) does not change total assets, but it changes the composition of those assets.
Note that the collection of an account receivable for services previously billed and recorded does not affect equity.
Softbyte already recorded this revenue [in Transaction (6)] and should not record it again.
Transaction (9) does not change total assets, but it changes the composition of those assets.
Note that the dividend reduces retained earnings, which is part of equity. Dividends are not expenses.
Like shareholders’ investments, dividends are excluded in determining net income.
ACTION PLAN
• Analyze the effects of each transaction on the accounting equation.
• Use appropriate category names (not descriptions).
• Keep the accounting equation in balance.
1. Income statement: presents the revenues and expenses and resulting net
income or net loss for a specific period of time.
2. Retained earnings statement: summarizes the changes in retained earnings
for a specific period of time.
3. Statement of financial position: reports the assets, liabilities, and equity of
a company at a specific date. (Sometimes referred to as a balance sheet.)
4. Statement of cash flows: summarizes information about the cash inflows
(receipts) and outflows (payments) for a specific period of time.
5. Comprehensive income statement: presents other comprehensive income
items that are not included in the determination of net income in 1.
Structure:
• The income statement lists revenues first, followed by expenses.
• Then, the statement shows net income (or net loss).
• When revenues exceed expenses, net income results.
• When expenses exceed revenues, a net loss results.
• The income statement does not include investment and dividend
transactions between the shareholders and the business in
measuring net income.
Structure:
Lists assets at the top, followed by equity and then liabilities.
Total assets must equal total equity and liabilities.
When two or more liabilities are involved, a customary way of listing is as
shown as follows:
IFRS Alternative:
IFRS allows an alternative statement format in which the
information contained in the income statement and the
comprehensive income statement are combined in a single
statement, referred to as a statement of comprehensive income.
ACTION PLAN
• Remember the basic accounting equation: assets must equal liabilities plus equity.
• Review previous financial statements to determine how total assets, net income,
and equity are computed.
Public Accounting
Individuals in public accounting offer expert service to the general public, in much the same
way that doctors serve patients and lawyers serve clients.
Choices: Auditing, taxation, management consulting
Private Accounting
Individuals in private accounting are employees of for-profit companies and not-for-profit
organizations.
Choices: Cost accounting, budgeting, accounting information system design and support,
tax planning and preparation, internal auditing
Governmental Accounting
Choices: Tax authorities, local governments, law enforcement agencies, company
regulators, accounting educators at public colleges and universities
Forensic Accounting
Choices: Investigate theft and fraud using accounting, auditing, and investigative skills