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Accounting is the process of identifying, recording, and communicating the economic events of an organization to interested users to make sound decisions. In accounting identifying economic events involves selecting the economic activities related to a particular organization such as paying out salaries to employees of a particular entity. In turn, once these economic activities have been identified they are recorded in the books daily into a systematic system measured in dollars. These economic events are then classified and summarized by an accounting system. The data gathered from the economic events are then translated into financial statements and communicated to internal and external users interested in the economic health of the company.
Accounting is a very broad field with endless opportunities in the business world. However, accounting is divided into three major fields, which are public accounting, private accounting, and not-for-profit accounting. In public accounting expert services are provided by certified public accountant (CPA) to the public the same way a lawyer serves clients. Auditing plays a major role in public accounting; they examine the reliability of financial statements of entities and express an educated opinion. Taxation is another essential part of public accounting. Tax specialists are responsible for the planning and preparation of tax returns as well as to adhere to the guidelines and regulations of the IRS in representation of their clients. Private accounting on the other hand consist of working within an organization in various areas of its accounting department such as general accounting focusing on recording daily transactions and preparing financial statements; cost accounting ...
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...no more then 15 minutes, and recorded and/or written report gathered in the meeting should be added value” (interviewing technique for, 2010).
Reference
Interviewing technique for investigations and audits. (2010, August). Retrieved from http://www.aicpa.org/InterestAreas/ForensicAndValuation/Resources/ForensicAcctg/ForensicAccounting/Pages/Interviewing%20Techniques%20for%20Investigations%20a
Arens, A. A., Elder, R. J., & Beasley, M. S. (2010). Auditing and Assurance Services. Upper Saddler River, New Jersey. 2009
Bainbridge, Ross. (2007, January 08). The Purpose of Sarbanes Oxley [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Purpose-of-Sarbanes-Oxley&id=410262
Albrecht, A.S., Albrecht, C.C., Albrecht, C.O., Zimbelman, M.F. (2009). Fraud Examination. Mason, Ohio. 2009, 2006
http://www.cluteinstitute-onlinejournals.com/PDFs/1182.pdf
The majorities of financial advisers do not have a formal accounting or tax background and thus have some challenges to overcome when reading tax returns of their clients. However they are still asked to help their clients in future planning. Since most accounting is to be done based on compliance with GAAP it would make sense to think that tax accounting should also be done this way, however both the IRS and the courts have stated that compliance with GAAP is of little significance when dealing with the objectives of tax accounting. The objectives of both accounting methods are simply different, because the primary goal of financial accounting is to provide useful information to all stakeholders and the primary goal of the income tax system is the equitable collection of revenue. Because of these differences it can be said that the users of accounting information are different for both methods. The assumption for financial accounting is the going-concern and the tax accounting system ignores this assumption. These differences give us the concept of timing differences and permanent differences. Understanding...
Throughout the past several years major corporate scandals have rocked the economy and hurt investor confidence. The largest bankruptcies in history have resulted from greedy executives that “cook the books” to gain the numbers they want. These scandals typically involve complex methods for misusing or misdirecting funds, overstating revenues, understating expenses, overstating the value of assets or underreporting of liabilities, sometimes with the cooperation of officials in other corporations (Medura 1-3). In response to the increasing number of scandals the US government amended the Sarbanes Oxley act of 2002 to mitigate these problems. Sarbanes Oxley has extensive regulations that hold the CEO and top executives responsible for the numbers they report but problems still occur. To ensure proper accounting standards have been used Sarbanes Oxley also requires that public companies be audited by accounting firms (Livingstone). The problem is that the accounting firms are also public companies that also have to look after their bottom line while still remaining objective with the corporations they audit. When an accounting firm is hired the company that hired them has the power in the relationship. When the company has the power they can bully the firm into doing what they tell them to do. The accounting firm then loses its objectivity and independence making their job ineffective and not accomplishing their goal of honest accounting (Gerard). Their have been 379 convictions of fraud to date, and 3 to 6 new cases opening per month. The problem has clearly not been solved (Ulinski).
Accounting is “a systematic process of identifying, recording, measuring, classifying, verifying, summarizing, interpreting and communicating financial information” (Accounting, n.d.). Financial information mentioned above includes any financial transactions done by the business. There are two types of accounting. The first one is accrual accounting, which realizes transactions at the time they occur and disregards whether or not cash transaction has occurred. This method is widely used in business, because it allows transactions to be completed over time and distance. Financial statements produced by accrual accounting reflect a sophisticated trade and a much more accurate snapshot of the business’ current situation. The opposite of accrual accounting is cash accounting, in which transactions are realized only when cash payment is made or received. This is the method used in personal finance.
Buckhoff, T. A., & Colson, R. H. (2003). PREVENTING FRAUD BY CONDUCTING BACKGROUND CHECKS. CPA Journal, 73(11), 52.
According to Marshall, McManus and Viele (2004), accounting is “the process of identification, measurement, communication of information about a business for the purpose of making decisions and informed judgment” (p.3). Decision makers look at balance sheets, income statements, changes in the owner’s equity and cash flow statement as documentation of the viability of an entity. Misrepresentation of the financial statements can place doubt of profitability in any company. The need for accountability and regulation of accounting practices is important in preserving trust in the business community.
Financial accounting is the analysis, classification, and recording of financial transactions and reporting such information to respective users especially external users who use the information to make decisions about their engagements with the entity. In financial accounting general purpose financial statements are used for external reporting. The public by standards imposes the development of the statements through respective national professional bodies, International Accounting Standards Board and respective company Acts for various nations.
(#9) The Center for Audit Quality published a report identifying the key players responsible for the mitigation of fraud risk to the investing public and other stakeholders as the board of directors and audit committee, the internal and external auditors, and the company’s management. (Elizabeth Radar 6). (#6) While many players share in the role to mitigate fraud risk, the position
The purpose of this document is to describe the nature, purpose and scope of accounting and it deliberately explains the details of each category in accounting. Accounting involves in preparing financial documents of an entity by analyzing, verifying, and reporting this records. It emphasizes its major characteristic role in field of banking and finance, with a mixture of supportive sub topics.
The authors aim to study the body of the knowledge that CPAs should possess. They emphasised the following knowledge; humanities, micro-economics, macro-economics, behavioral science, mathematics, statistics, probability, law, and functional fields of business (quantitative methods, finance, production, marketing, personnel relations, and business management). It should acknowledge that the study also focuses on some areas that are seen today as part of generic skills includes (formal organizations, computers, evidence and opinion). This can be attributed to the important of technical knowledge as fundamental part of accounting skills sets that is complemented by generic skills set. Despite the fact that work of Roy and MacNeill positively agreed from those who are responsible for accounting education in a practical environment of accounting the finding of the report is not
At a glance, accounting might appear as a repetitive cycle of preparing and examining financial statements. However, a brief exposure to accounting has taught me how chaotic it can be for accountants. An accountant captures and represents the information of businesses. By reviewing financial operations, an accountant helps a business run efficiently. This profession can be intellectually stimulating and rewarding. After learning about accounting, I cannot help but be interested and desire to work toward a degree in accountancy. In my studies, I have learned accountants require a plethora of qualities to be successful. And to mature from a student to a professional, I must resolve to strengthen my weaknesses. There is much I must learn and achieve, but a degree in accounting is well worth the time spent.
The accounting cycle is a series of steps starting with recording business transactions and leading up to the preparation of financial statements. This financial process demonstrates the purpose of financial accounting–to create useful financial information in the form of general-purpose financial statements. In other words, the sole purpose of recording transactions and keeping track of expenses and revenues is turn this data into meaning financial information by presenting it in the form of a balance sheet, income statement, statement of owner’s equity, and statement of cash flows.
"Accountants." WISCareers. University Of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. .
Threats to Auditor Independence: The Impact of Relationship and Economic Bonds. By: Ping Ye; Carson, Elizabeth; Simnett, Roger. Auditing, Feb2011, Vol. 30 Issue 1, p121-148, 28p, 1 Diagram, 6 Charts; DOI: 10.2308/aud.2011.30.1.121
Accounting is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States It expands each time a new store, a factory, a filling station, or a school goes up, whether in a large city or a small town. In today's society, the demand for good accountants for exceeds the supply. As our country has expanded, business and industry have become more and more complex, so control here is very important. And control depends on a great deal of the bookkeepers and accountants who can analyze figues and advise management on what should be done. They are using more scientific ways changing money, figuring change, and collecting sales taxes. Moreover, department stores and other companies now have plants and offices widely scattered throughout the country. A new set of bookkeepers and accountants, is needed at each branch. I know there are many managements supervisory, and junior or senior executive positions are bing filled by people who started as accountants because accountants have the knowledge of methods and finance and comprehension of the fundamentals of business, and acc...
Accounting itself is a system that people has been using for thousands of years, the system records financial information about a person or business, businesses use it in order to be able to keep and track their financial accounts and other financial information in a safe and efficient way. (Brooks, 2012)