Best Busines for Cash Flows
When talking about the best business accounting
software, you must first know the relationship between finance and
accounting. Conceptually speaking, they are closely related to the
extent that accounting is an important input in financial decision
making and there are key differences in viewpoints between them.
Accounting is a necessary input into finance. That is, accounting is a
sub-function of finance.
Accounting generates information or data
relating to the operations or activities of the firm. The end-product
of accounting constitutes financial statements such as the balance
sheet, the income statement (profit and loss account) and the statement
of changes in financial position (sources and uses of funds statement).
The information contained in these statements and reports assists
financial managers in assessing the past performance and future
directions of the firm and in meeting certain legal obligations, such
as payment of taxes and so on. Thus, accounting and finance are
functionally closely related.
But there are key differences
between finance and accounting. The first difference relates to the
treatment of funds while the second relates to decision making. The
viewpoint of accounting relating to the funds of the firm is different
from that of finance. The measurement of funds (income and expenses) in
accounting is based on the accrual system. For instance, revenue is
recognized at the point of sale and not when collected. Similarly,
expenses are recognized when they are incurred rather than when
actually paid. The accrual-based accounting data do not reflect fully
the financial circumstances of the firm. The viewpoint of finance
relating to the treatment of funds is based on cashflows. The revenues
are recognized only when actually received in cash (i.e. cash inflow)
and expenses are recognized on actual payment (i.e. cash outflow).
Finance
and accounting also differ in respect to their purposes. The purpose of
accounting is collection and presentation of financial data. It
provides consistently developed and easily interpreted data on the
past, present and future operations of the firm. On the other hand,
financial manager’s major responsibility relates to financial planning,
controlling and decision making. Thus, in a sense, finance begins where
accounting ends.
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