WGU c213 study guide Graded A+

purpose of accounting - Answer-Accounting is the recording of the day-to-day financial activities of a company and the organization of that information into summary reports used to evaluate the company's financial status. Bookkeeping is a part of accounting. Bookkeeping refers to the process of recording transactions into various accounts, which is the first step in accounting. The next step is to analyze the accounts and organize them into financial statements and other useful reports. (Reference topic 1.1) The balance sheet - Answer-reports a company's assets, liabilities, and owners' equity. It reports the financial position of a firm at a point in time. income statement - Answer-reports the amount of net income earned by a company during a period. Net income is the excess of a company's revenues over its expenses. It reports the financial performance of a firm over a period of time. statement of cash flows - Answer-reports the amount of cash collected and paid out by a company in the following three types of activities: operating, investing, and financing over a period of time. (Reference topic 1.2) Fin Statement Users: Lenders - Answer-Banks use companies' financial statements in making decisions about commercial loans. The financial statements are useful because they help the lender predict the future ability of the borrower to repay the loan. Fin Statement Users: Investors - Answer-Investors want information to help them estimate how much cash they can expect to directly receive from the business in the future if they invest in it now. Fin Statement Users: Company Management - Answer-Managers use financial accounting data to formulate company goals, to compute bonuses for employees, and to illuminate company weaknesses. Fin Statement Users: Suppliers and Customers - Answer-Suppliers, customers, and employees use financial statements to tell them about the long-run prospects of a company. Fin Statement Users: Employees - Answer-Financial statement data, as mentioned earlier, are used in determining employee bonuses. In addition, financial accounting information can help an employee evaluate the employer's ability to fulfill its long-run promises, such as for pensions and retiree healthcare benefits. Financial statements are also important in contract negotiations between labor and management. Fin Statement Users: Competitors - Answer-Competitors use financial accounting information to reveal strategic opportunities within their industry