Intermediate Accounting Exam 1 Study Guide with Complete Solutions | 100% Pass

What is GAAP? - Standards by which accounting info is prepared and presented to external users. (FASB is source for GAAP through Accounting Standards Codification) What are the means of Financial Reporting except Financial Statements? - To provide financial information about the reporting entity that is useful to present/potential equity investors, lenders, and other creditors in making decisions in their capacity as capital providers (can be done through President's letter, prospectuses, reports filed with the SEC & other gov't agencies, news releases & management forecasts, and social/environmental impact statements) What are the major financial statements (5) and their purpose? - -Income Statement: Ultimately shows net income by providing revenues, expenses, gains, losses, and profitability -Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity: Prepares retained earnings, changes in equity -Balance sheet: Shows Assets= Liability + Owner's Equity ( resources and sources of assets) -Statement of Cash Flow -Statement of Comprehensive Income: Shows ALL gains and losses What organizations were responsible for setting US accounting standards? - -SEC (Security & Exchange Commission): Federal agency w/ authority to prescribe accounting standards to be employed by companies that fall within its jurisdiction -CAP (Committee on Accounting Procedure): Issued standards from AICPA -APB (The Accounting Principles Board): Issued standards from AICPA