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  1. eHow
  2. Business
  3. Business Accounting
  4. Accounting Terms

Accounting Terms

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  • How to Borrow Long Term on Accounting Transactions

    Consistent accounting procedures are important in generating reliable financial statements for third parties such as analysts, investors and creditors. Banks and private lenders frequently require long-term borrowers to maintain certain minimum accounting ratios relating to the company's solvency and creditworthiness. Accordingly, it is important for a company to be able to comply with accounting transaction requirements when seeking long-term financing.

  • How to Borrow Long-term From Your IRA Account

    The Internal Revenue Service regulates what you can and cannot do in your Individual Retirement Account. A prohibited transaction is leveraging the IRA in any way, including borrowing from or using the IRA as collateral. Some investors use a 60-day rollover rule as a loophole to get short-term use of IRA funds. There are other options. A real estate IRA can be partnered with a limited liability company to obtain a mortgage. Employer-sponsored plans are permitted by the IRS to offer loans to participating employees. Situations vary, and borrowing may not always be feasible.

  • Long Term vs. Short Term Liabilities in Accounting

    Liabilities are reported on a company balance sheet to indicate commitments for current or future spending. When reported with corresponding assets to offset liabilities, the balance sheet provides a streamlined presentation of the equity in the business. Understanding the classifications of your liabilities will assist with long-term financial planning, helping to protect the financial stability of your company.

  • Accountant Long Term Career Objectives

    Every organization, whether private, pubic, or non-profit, has to manage its money. An individual with an accounting degree has many possible career paths, from simple bookkeeper to chief financial officer of a major corporation. While accounting fundamentals apply to a wide variety of organizations, the company or industry dictates the type of accounting discipline-applied principles. Setting long-term career objectives provide a clear path to a satisfying career in a specific discipline, avoiding pitfalls along the way.

  • Accounting 101 Basics of Long-Term Liability

    In reference to accounting, liabilities are the claims against a business' assets. Long-term liabilities, also referred to as noncurrent liabilities, are those with a maturity period of more than one year. Consequently, these liabilities can remain due for a period of more than 10 years. Examples of long-term liabilities include long-term loans, notes payable, bonds payable and mortgage payable. International accounting standards (IAS) and the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAPS) guides accounting for long-term liabilities.

  • What Is an Expenditure in Accounting?

    Businesses, both large and small, must account for the actual status of the items on which they spend cash. The proper recording of assets, liabilities, income and expenses is at the heart of a good accounting system. Inadequate recording, however, results in a distortion of the income and expenditure sheets as well as the entire balance sheet. An expenditure is one of the essential aspects in business accounting, and can fall into one of several categories.

  • Are Supplies Included in the Balance Sheet According to the GAAP?

    Supplies on hand constitute a short-term asset available for use by a business. A typical set of financial statements records such supplies in the "Current Assets" section of the balance sheet, and the cost of replacement supplies on the statement of income and expense. GAAP, or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, are just that: general principles. GAAP principles set out guidelines that serve as a framework for consistent, reliable and reasonable accounting; it doesn't promote strict rules.

  • What Are the Major Subclassifications of Assets That Are Included on a Balance Sheet?

    The balance sheet essentially shows a snapshot of the financial wellbeing of the company at any given point. When looking at the balance sheet, you will notice assets listed as well as liabilities. The assets are typically broken up into several subclassifications so that you can see where the majority of them are coming from.

  • What Is Gearing in Accounting?

    A company uses various means to attract customers, gain market share and make money. Using gearing, the business invests in strategic, long-term initiatives and key, short-term projects that will bring more cash into corporate cellars down the road. An organization's gearing ratio provides a clearer idea of liquidity, solvency and profitability.

  • What Do I Have to Show Cash as Revenue on an Income Tax Report?

    By establishing fiscal guidelines, public officials open the door to a varied package of business legislation, industry-specific edicts and rules individual taxpayers must follow. Part of these guidelines include things like when to file income tax reports, what to include in them, how to report cash and revenue and how to communicate with fiscal agencies.

  • What Is Revenue Productivity?

    Revenue productivity measures the amount of income or revenue that a certain resource produces for a business. There are two ways to measure revenue productivity: by using the average revenue productivity and by using the marginal revenue productivity. The two show different ways of looking at the same business feature.

  • Accounting for Sales Tax Adjustments Off Invoices

    Sales tax is levied by certain state and local governments to fund their programs and operate their governments. Businesses that sell goods that are taxable must collect this sales tax from the purchaser, and periodically send the money in to the government agency. Sometimes, a tax amount must be adjusted because of a refund or a sale that is entered incorrectly.

  • Straight Line Method for Intangible Assets

    Long-term assets represent items a company retains for more than 12 months. The items often bring substantial value to a business. Intangible assets are a subgroup of a company's long-term assets. These items have specific dictates companies must follow when recording and reporting intangible assets, particularly with related straight-line amortization.

  • Is Cash a Tangible Asset?

    In simple accounting terms, a business's net worth, also known as equity, is determined by subtracting the amount of its liabilities from the value of its assets. Assets can take on many forms and may be tangible or intangible in nature. A common type of tangible asset held by nearly all types of business is cash, which can also take on a variety of forms.

  • What Factors Should Be Considered When Classifying an Asset as Intangible?

    An asset is an item owned by an individual or business that offers monetary value to the owner. For accounting purposes, an asset is categorized as either tangible or intangible. Several factors should be taken into consideration to determine whether an asset can be classified as intangible, or whether an intangible item is an asset at all.

  • Insurance Accounting Terms & Definitions

    Like many industries, insurance operates with its own particular language and terminology, which can be confusing to the layperson. Insurance accounting makes use of certain terminology used in the calculation of areas such as profits and losses. In particular, the terminology is frequently used when measuring the impact of claims in relation to premiums, as well as how premiums are classified.

  • How Should Intangible Assets Be Disclosed on a Balance Sheet?

    Businesses own many different types of property, which is disclosed on the company's financial documents, particularly the balance sheet. The balance sheet is a financial report that shows the health of the business by indicating the value of various asset and liability accounts, as well as the equity position of the owners or stockholders. Intangible assets may also be shown on the balance sheet.

  • What Is a Long Lived Asset?

    Accounting treats assets differently according to their useful life. Assets such as property, plant and equipment, long-term investments and certain intangibles that are expected to contribute to earnings for multiple years are referred to as long-lived, non-current or long-term assets.

  • Should My Long-Term Liability Be Tied to an Asset Account?

    You don't need to tie your long-term liability to an asset account. You can do whatever you want with borrowed money, as long as you pursue a law-abiding goal. The whole conversation about linking liabilities to asset accounts calls for an in-depth understanding of financial items, as well as how and where accountants report them.

  • Sources of Revenue Statement (SRS)

    Managing a business requires many skills. Managers need to know how to facilitate optimal production among employees, executives must find ways to execute carefully laid plans for success, and overall, the company must continue to find ways to strategically grow and sustain profits. A Sources of Revenue Statement (SRS) provide managers and executives involved in financial management of the company a means to determine paths for sustainable, managed growth. Examining an SRS effectively provides an edge against competition for increased share gains.

  • Total Overhead Contribution and Accounting Terms

    "Total overhead contribution" refers to the costs associated with operating a business. It is imperative to know the total amount of overhead contribution when calculating pricing and providing estimates for services to be provided. A portion of overhead costs should be included in the selling price of products and services to maintain a net profit.

  • GAAP and Valuation of Intangible Assets

    Generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, mandate that a company record and report its transactions accurately and completely. These edicts focus on correctness, not only at the journal entry level but also in the financial statement preparation phase. GAAP and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission guidelines enable businesses to adequately value corporate resources, including intangible assets.

  • Tangible Asset Criteria

    Tangible assets include any property that has a long life or is used in the operation of a business. Cash, equipment, machinery and plant are all considered tangible assets, according to BusinessDictionary.com. In rare cases tangible assets may be destroyed by accidents, fires, hurricanes or other disasters.

  • Reduction Cost Methods in Management Accounting

    Businesses continually look for new ways to increase profits. Profits go down when costs increase, but selling prices remain the same. Some companies choose to increase selling prices. This often comes at the risk of losing current customers and future sales. Other companies focus on finding ways to reduce costs. Each department in an organization, including management accounting, needs to evaluate its processes and find ways to initiate cost reductions.

  • What Is Coding in Accounting Terms?

    Coding in accounting is the process of assigning numbers or letters to data to create a fast-search database. Accounting codes are not universal as every accountant, accounting firm, institution or business may create its own coding system in accounting tailored to their own organizational needs. Some types of coding are simple and straight forward while others require a manual to interpret.

  • How Does GAAP Determine Whether an Intangible Asset Is Included on the Balance Sheet?

    Most accounting is done on an accrual basis, meaning that costs and revenues are recorded in the time periods of their occurrence. Since some transactions can be difficult to date, a system of rules and regulations grew up around accrual basis accounting to standardize the products of accountants so a common basis of understanding can be created. Intangible assets, which are economic resources without physical existence, are governed by both the materiality principle and the matching principle.

  • Are Promotional Expenses Intangible Assets?

    Accountants place specific classifications on different business transaction types. Many of the classifications come from generally accepted accounting principles, the accounting law of the land in the United States. Promotional expenses are not an intangible asset. Expenses like this are necessary to run a business and earn profit when selling goods and services.

  • The Impact on Accounting of Inducing Sales by Giving Better Credit Terms

    Every action a company engages in creates a financial transaction. The accounting department records these transactions in the financial records, which then feed into the preparation of the financial statements. Salespeople focus on increasing sales, rather than the impact of their actions on the financial statements. One method used by salespeople involves offering better credit terms to their customers. This tactic impacts the financial records in several ways.

  • What Is Other Revenue on an Income Statement?

    Business owners and managers must often prepare financial statements for their stakeholders to review. The stakeholders includes partners, employees, potential financial contributors and stockholders. An important financial report is the income statement, also called a P&L or profit and loss statement. The income statement sometimes contains one item called "Other Revenue" that is sometimes a source of confusion for a preparer.

  • How to Report Product Sales Revenue & Service Revenue on an Income Statement

    A company generates revenue by selling products, such as hats, or services, such as legal representation. You must report revenue on the top line of your income statement, which is the amount from which all other items are subtracted, such as expenses. Based on accrual accounting, you must report revenue in the period in which it is earned, which can be different than when you receive payment. For example, you would report a sale made in the third quarter on your third-quarter income statement, even if you receive payment for it in the fourth quarter.

  • Differences Between a Tangible & an Intangible Asset

    Tangible assets such as raw materials, property or cash have a physical existence. Tangible assets that have a monetary value can be passed on to heirs or sold. Intangible assets do not have a physical or material existence and can include intellectual property, patents, business contracts or trademarks. Unlike with tangible assets, the financial reward from intangible assets may not be immediate. Intangible assets may also be vulnerable to appropriation or piracy.

  • Intangible Asset Accounting Policies

    Companies invest in a variety of asset types, including current assets, fixed assets and intangible assets. Each asset type provides different benefits for the organization. Current assets provide the financial resources to meet current obligations. Fixed assets provide production or operational benefits for several years. Intangible assets allow the company to gain the exclusive right to certain symbols or processes. Intangible assets require the company to incorporate specific accounting policies.

  • How to List Payment Terms on an Invoice

    A normal component of all invoices is a section that states the payment terms. Payment terms refer to when the invoice is due and can be any terms a company sets forth. When a business creates invoices for billing, it includes the payment terms somewhere on the invoice. If you are a business owner, you must develop the terms you want to use for your customers. Many businesses offer different payment terms to different customers. To begin, you must choose where to place this information on your invoices.

  • How to Report Intangible Assets on a Balance Sheet

    Intangible assets are those items that individuals in a company cannot feel or see. In accounting terms, these include items that provide rights or privileges to a company. Examples include patents, copyrights or right-to-use contracts. Though a piece of paper exists for the item, it does not truly represent the asset itself, in terms of value brought by the item. Reporting intangible assets is necessary on a company's balance sheet, under the long-term assets section.

  • Cost Reduction Strategies for Hourly Workers

    A salaried employee is paid the same amount each week no matter how many hours she works. An hourly worker, however, tracks his hours, reports them and is then paid his hourly rate times the number of hours worked. When a business has a need to reduce costs, employee compensation is a factor in the strategy.

  • Tangible Vs. Intangible Resources

    Every business has various types of resources and assets, some of which are clearly visible and others of which are less obvious. Buildings, vehicles, factories, manufacturing equipment and land are tangible resources that have a clear and easily determined market value. Corporate reputation and goodwill are some of the intangible assets that are far more open to subjective assessment.

  • Are Intangible Assets Reported on a Financial Statement?

    Business financial statements are used by managers and business owners to evaluate the financial condition of their company. Often, these statements are prepared once per month, at the end of the month. Business assets and the comparison of assets to liabilities is detailed on the business balance sheet. Business financial documents also include the value of intangible assets.

  • How Do I Adjust Entry for Prepaid Insurance?

    In accounting, assets are items owned by the business. Fuel and office supplies are two examples of assets. As assets are used up, they need to be replaced. The cost of replacing assets reduces income and is referred to as an expense. For example, replacing office supplies is referred to as office supplies expense. Some assets, such as an insurance policy, are intangible. As insurance is paid for in advance, this asset is referred to as prepaid insurance. For a six-month policy, each month that passes by uses up one-sixth of the policy.

  • What Is an Appropriation in Accounting Terms?

    Accountants use specific terminology to describe financial events. Appropriations represent a distribution profit to certain accounts. Alternate terms include appropriate and appropriated. The terms help accountants define transactions and inform a company's stakeholders about the purpose behind their company's actions. How a company spends its capital is often a primary concern of invested stakeholders.

  • Basic Accounting Terms and Definitions

    Every profession uses its own language with its own definitions and context. Accountants use terminology foreign to many outside of this profession. Understanding the financial condition of the business and the accounting principles used to determine the financial condition is critical for business owners. Understanding the meaning behind basic accounting terms opens the communication between accountants and business owners.

  • Accounting Terms and Assets

    Assets represent any item that a company owns. Companies use their assets to operate their business, to finance their business and to invest for future business operations. Companies acquire assets through several means. They exchange assets for equity in the company. They receive assets in exchange for a promise to pay for the assets in the future. And they receive assets through the revenue producing operation of the business.

  • What Does P/R Mean in Accounting Terms?

    Accounting is not just about numbers, but also the letters commonly used in acronyms and abbreviations. Accountants will tend to abbreviate account names or terms when writing journal entries or reports. This saves both time and space when filling out paperwork. While an everyday language to number-crunchers, shorthand notes can confuse others who review numbers associated with a company's financial information.

  • Accounting in Simple Terms

    Accounting is the science of collecting, recording and compiling financial information so that it might be read and understood by its users. Managers use accounting information to monitor and optimize business operations, shareholders use accounting information to keep watch on managers and thus protect their investments, polities use accounting information to collect taxes and administer services, while private individuals use accounting information for all of these purposes and more besides.

  • What Is an Expenditure in Accounting Terms?

    Expenditures refer to any outflow of cash for the business. Accounting departments plan for two main types of expenditures, which include capital expenditures and revenue expenditures. Each refers to different activities taking place within the company and requires different planning.

  • Business Accounting Terms

    Business accounting is a system that provides quantitative information about a company's finances. Understanding accounting terminology can make you financially savvy. For example, you can distinguish assets from equity and short-term debts from long-term liabilities. You can also determine whether a business is solvent by poring over its statement of financial position.

  • Accounting Terms: Debit or Credit Adjustment

    Debit and credit adjustments are journal entries that bookkeepers make to correct previously recorded transactions. These entries help companies abide by specific accounting norms, such as international financial reporting standards and generally accepted accounting principles. Under GAAP and IFRS, credit and debit notices relate to financial accounts, such as assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. Bookkeepers are also called accounting clerks or junior accountants.

  • College Accounting Tips Terms

    Embarking on an accounting career can be rewarding if you possess the skills and knowledge that employers look for. If you're a college student interested in accounting, paying attention to specific concepts is useful. The most important accounting and financial terms relate to transaction-recording, debits and credits, operating data summaries and financial accounts.

  • What Is a Going Concern in Accounting Terms?

    In accounting terminology, a going concern is an entity that will be able to continue to operate for a reasonable time. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) changed the meaning of reasonable time in 2009 to mean at least 12 months into the future. Disclosure about whether an organization is a going concern or whether there are factors that may impair that capacity is the responsibility of management.

  • Short Term Goals for an Accountant

    Accountants help organizations make sure financial statements are accurate, complete and in line with regulatory guidelines. If you're an accountant, thinking about your short-term goals can help you further your career and improve your productivity. As of 2010, accountants earned an average salary ranging from $35,554 to $51,475,according to online job resource PayScale.

  • What Does A/P Stand for in Accounting Terms?

    Accounting departments utilize a variety of acronyms to identify responsibilities, departments or government agencies. While some acronyms are industry-specific, others exist universally. A/P represents the "accounts payable" department in most companies.

  • What Is Considered a Hardship With American Express?

    The American Express Account Protector insurance provides help should you encounter a temporary medical hardship. Payment plans are available for hardships that are a result of unemployment, divorce or separation, or an unforeseen reduction of income.

  • Term & Conditions for Opening a Capital Gain Account in a Bank

    Capital gain accounts may be a good way to save on taxes. Capital gain is the increase in the value of capital assets that may include bonds, shares, land and mostly real estate. Entrepreneurs and investors who make long-term capital gains ought to open a capital gain account while they wait to reinvest the profits.

  • Simple Definitions of the Accounting Terms Debit & Credit

    We are so familiar with the banking system record-keeping, we have skewed the meaning of debit and credit. When we hear the term debit, we automatically think of a debit as negative and a credit as positive. The simple definition of debit and credit is the left and right side of a two-sided accounting entry. When you understand the meaning of debit and credit, you can move on to categorizing the accounts to determine how entries posted as debits or credits will affect the balance.

  • How to Trade on EZTrader

    EZTrader.com is an online brokerage firm that operates out of Cyprus, Greece. According to its website, it has developed a scope of business to suit the needs of both serious investors and average day traders.

  • Common Basic Accounting and Finance Terms

    Accounting is a complex financial practice that involves a basic understanding of financial and accounting terms. Many of these terms can help you understand how to financially manage, organize and maintain a business. Proper knowledge of accounting terms can help guide you as you set up a new business or restructure an old one.

  • Accounting Terms for Cash

    Cash transactions make up the heart of any businesses' financial health. Businesses need cash to pay their bills and to fund the growth of the company. Customers pay their invoices using cash. Accountants use different terms to refer to cash.

  • What Is Cost Management in Accounting Terms?

    Cost management in accounting terms is an integral component of managerial accounting systems. It is the means by which companies report, analyze, plan and control the costs of doing business through a series of specific accounting procedures.

  • Key Financial Accounting Terms

    Accountants use industry language when speaking to each other. Acquiring a basic understanding of accounting and its terms helps non-accountants to interact with the accounting staff. Learning the terminology also garners respect from coworkers.

  • Cost Accounting Terms

    Cost accounting is a term that tends to frighten most people. Learning basic cost accounting terminology can help business owners make sense of company reports. Cost accounting itself is the evaluation of the cost of each step in production and the depreciation of capital, which determines the amount a company makes or loses on a certain product. These terms are vital to understanding cost accounting.

  • Accounting Terms Explained

    Accounting is a set of business processes that allow corporate leaders to evaluate the performance of operating segments in the short and long terms. Those working in accounting must understand key terms when assuming their responsibilities. Effective accounting controls ensure this and also prevent losses that may result from theft, technological breakdowns and nonconformity to accounting rules.

  • Accounting Profit Terms

    The definition of accounting profit is simply "profit before tax," according to the online Business Dictionary. BNET expands on this definition somewhat by pointing out that accounting profit is "the difference between total revenue and explicit costs." Typical investors view accounting profit as your "actual profit." This is especially relevant when publicly owned companies report quarterly and annual earnings.

  • Basic Accounting Terms

    Financial terminology can be confusing to people with no accounting background. As with any profession, there are certain technical terms that are typical of the accounting world that may not be familiar to others. Accounting, also known as the language of business, employs certain words that have a certain meaning in your daily life, but may mean something else in the financial area.

  • Accounting Terms for Revenue

    Revenue drives the growth of a business, providing a return to the owners and the funds to pay bills. Accountants determine net income by deducting expenses from total revenue. Accountants use different terms when referring to different components of revenue.

  • Accounting Technical Terms

    Every profession, including accounting, uses terminology unique to its field. Small business owners, managers and employees who work with accounting staff should understand the language used by accountants. Learning accounting technical terms will facilitate communication and improve working relationships.

  • Accounting Finance Terms

    Accounting finance terms are part of the knowledge base on which accountants and financial professionals form their opinions, enabling corporate personnel to adeptly discuss and engage in record-keeping activities. Although most people complete a four-year college program to polish their accounting acumen, accountants at all levels of the hierarchical spectrum typically share a common understanding of basic terms such as asset, liability, expense and revenue.

  • Accounting 101 Terms

    Accounting is the discipline of tracking income and outflow for the purpose of informing financial decision making. Accounting professionals worldwide have adopted a common set of standards and terminology called Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which allows for standardization and accountability. Professional accountants adhere to a series of principles including regularity, consistency, sincerity, permanence of method, prudence, continuity, full disclosure, and utmost good faith.

  • Russian Accounting Terms

    Making yourself understood in Russian is a challenge. Real fluency only comes with immersion, that is, living among the target population for some time. In accounting, some things are made easier by the fact that some words are taken from English, so remembering them is easy. Even bad pronunciation by a non-native speaker will be understood in the right context. With some practice, some of these phrases will become second nature.

  • Australian Accounting Terms

    Accounting and financial reporting is complex in any language. To ensure everyone is speaking as close to the same language as possible, there are the International Accounting Standards (IASs), which include the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). Most accounting terms are similar the world over, but as part of the Commonwealth and a former British colony, some Australian accounting terms may be closer to British English. Still others are relevant to local organizations and offices.

  • Debit Memorandum Definition

    A debit memorandum, or debit memo, is used to notify a depositor or customer of a change, a refund or a charge on his account. A debit memorandum is typically used by a bank or a business that sells merchandise.

  • List of Basic Accounting Terms

    Knowledge related to some common accounting terms can help you conduct basic bookkeeping for personal accounts or help investors navigate the waters of corporate financial statements and reports. Understanding the relationship between common accounting terms--and their impact on the bottom line--can lead to an accurate picture of your personal financial situation or help illustrate the vitality of a business.

  • What is Reconciliation in Accounting Terms?

    Reconciliation in accounting refers to the process of a company balancing its bank accounts with its bank statements. The process is done to balance out the accounts and ensure all transactions have been posted into the accounts.

  • Fair Value Accounting Explained in Simple Terms

    A company needs to properly value assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses when recording transactions and reporting operating data. Senior executives usually make sure the firm records such transactions in accordance with accounting rules.

  • Accounting & Shipping Terms

    When businesses purchase merchandise and goods, every order includes shipping terms. Shipping terms simply state who pays for the transportation costs of the goods and when ownership rights are exchanged. There are two main types of shipping terms and each has a different set of rules. Some shipping terms require journal entries for proper accounting records.

  • What Is a Sales Invoice in Accounting Terms?

    A sales invoice is a fundamental component of business transactions. The information it contains and the way it is written ultimately impact the company's operations and financial statements.

  • Financial & Accounting Terms

    Finance and accounting terms help an investor understand how companies record operating transactions and prepare financial statements. All organizations, including nonprofit entities and government agencies, prepare financial reports in accordance with accounting rules and procedures. The most important financial accounting terms relate to ledger reports and financial accounts such as asset, liability, revenue and expense.

  • Accounting Payment Terms

    In accounting, invoices are used to document the sale of a product or service. The invoice uses specific payment terms. Accountants need to be well-versed in these terms in order to understand how to properly account for the sale. Normally, terms have two parts: a discount part and a net part.

  • Important Accounting Terms

    Understanding accounting parlance can be critical in evaluating a corporation's financial statements because accountants and financial analysts prepare these statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and international financial reporting standards (IFRS). The most important accounting concepts concern financial statements and accounts. Financial statements include balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements and equity statements. Important financial account terms include asset, liability, equity, revenue and expense.

  • Liability in Accounting Terms

    The accounting profession uses several terms to describe various economic events or financial transactions in business. While accounting terminology can be complex to the layperson, basic knowledge of a few accounting terms can greatly enhance an individual’s understanding of accounting. A liability is a basic financial accounting term used to describe a company’s financial obligation resulting from a past business transaction. This term has several important uses in accounting.

  • Equity in Accounting Terms

    In accounting parlance, equity represents ownership rights that a shareholder has in a corporation after purchasing shares of equity, or stocks. Equity also may represent initial investments that two or more business partners make to establish a private company. Accounting for equity in a corporation is important because it indicates how owners' funds are used to generate operating revenues.

  • Manufacturing Accounting Terms

    The accounting profession has its own distinct set of terms used to describe various functions and applications. Within the profession, there are accountants who specialize in service industries, financial planning, tax accounting and other sub-categories. Each has its own terminology and manufacturing accounting is no exception.

  • What Is the Meaning of the Term Accounting System?

    An accounting system is a record-keeping system based on gathering financial information, processing it and summarizing it into financial statements and reports. Most accounting systems are computerized using software designed exclusively for this purpose. An accounting system follows a set of procedures and includes all aspects of financial information for a business.

  • In Accounting Terms, What Is the Principle of Consistency?

    In accounting, principles and guidelines of bookkeeping are set by GAAP, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. These principles and guidelines set up for businesses are in place for many reasons; one of these reasons is called the principle of consistency, which requires businesses to handle affairs a certain way to avoid possible misinterpretations of financial records.

  • What Is Goodwill in Accounting Terms?

    An important part of accounting is tracking the information recorded on a company’s balance sheet. Over the past several years, accounting has transformed from creating simple measurements of the company’s net income to determining the amount of wealth created by the assets and liabilities listed on a company’s balance sheet. The valuation of balance sheet items is an integral part of determining the company’s overall wealth.

  • Definition of the Accounting Term Depreciation

    Depreciation describes methods of allocating the value of a piece of capital equipment over a period of several years. Different types of machines have different depreciation periods because they last for different numbers of years. Tax depreciation can be separate from the actual useful life of a piece of equipment. In addition, there are several ways to calculate depreciation and some methods accelerate depreciation to recognize a loss earlier for tax purposes.

  • What Is Cost Reduction in Accounting Terms?

    Business managers and owners are responsible for a variety of tasks and functions. Important business functions may include reducing costs from wasted inputs, the inefficient use of resources or too many employees working on too few projects. Cost cutting measures often start in the company's accounting department, which is responsible for tracking and reviewing important financial information. Cutting costs is a common way companies improve profits and cash flows from business operations.

  • Basic Accounting Terms and Principles

    The process of accounting is basically the art of recording, organizing, analyzing and maintaining the financial activities of a business. To those unfamiliar with the process, any form of accounting can seem overwhelming. However, by studying just a few of the most basic terms and principles, it becomes clear that everything in the accounting process is connected and that there is definitely a method to the madness.

  • The Duties of an Auditor

    Auditors review the integrity of financial information in an organization and the means used to gather and estimate such information. In layman's terms, they are accountants who ensure that other accountants and executives are honest. Most auditors have a degree in accounting or a related field, and many have a professional certification such as a CPA credential. Median earnings for auditors was about $59,430 in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of all auditors made between $45,900 and $78,210

  • How to Use Long-Term Liability Accounts in Quickbooks

    Long-term liabilities are liabilities that are longer than one year. For example, if you have a five-year truck loan, you have a long term liability and need to set up a long term liability account. Also, when you incur a liability you will either receive cash (for example, in the case of a loan), in which case your cash account will increase, or an asset (in the case of a purchase), in which case an asset account will be needed.

  • Definition of Revenue in Accounting Terms

    Revenue is the recognition of a financial transaction that occurs in normal business operations. Companies earn revenue by selling goods and services to consumers or other businesses.

  • What Does the Accounting Term Debit Mean?

    The accounting industry uses two primary terms to describe the amounts in journal entries: debit and credit. These terms result from the double-entry accounting system used by companies today.

  • Explain Consolidation in Accounting Terms

    Consolidation is the process by which the accounting data for two or more companies is combined to create one set of financial reports (see reference 1). Many corporations have diversified into multiple business lines, with each business line as a separate company. While managers, owners and investors could take the financial statements for every branch of business and add them together, that process might yield mistakes. It is far better to have an accounting system in place that can generate consolidated financial statements for two or more divisions.

  • What Is the Meaning of "Breaking Even" in Accounting Terms?

    When talking to business owners or investors, the term "breaking even" is often used. "Breaking even" in accounting terms means that the total income a business earns equals the total expense of running the business. Many startup businesses budget for net operating losses for the first year or two of operations with the hopes that the business breaks even or shows a profit instead. A business needs to show a profit by the third year in order to give the owner confidence that the business can be successful.

  • What Does "Reconcile" Mean in Accounting Terms?

    The news is filled with stories about the financial woes of major corporations. Companies have filed bankruptcy while top managers insist they have no knowledge of how it happened. A business can fail for many reasons; few of them should be a surprise. The real root of this problem is bad accounting. A properly reconciled set of accounting records always provides an accurate picture of a company's financial stability.

  • What is a Standard Margin in Accounting Terms?

    In accounting terms, a standard margin is a measure of profitability for a business unaffected by "one-time" events, the random and the unpredictable. Standard margin is used to measure the effectiveness and value of a business from a purely internal perspective, while ignoring potential positive windfalls or negative costs in the business environment.

  • Definitions of Accounting Terms

    Accounting is the basic process that an individual or an organization uses to record information about the property that the individual or organization owns, as well as the property or services that the individual or organization owes. This information is typically used to help individuals or organizations make decisions related to the individual's or the organization's finances. However, there are some basic accounting terms that an individual must understand in order to use this information.

  • Defining Accounting Terms

    Anyone who takes care of a company's books is called a bookkeeper or accountant. This person must understand a certain grouping of terminology in order to do the job well. While there are many accounting terms, here are some of the basics.

  • How Premium Rate Services Work

    The term "services" in regards to services that you can hire a company to perform is actually quite broad. When considering premium rate services, the term refers to accounts and features for which a subscription fee is required. Many companies that offer premium rate services feature them as an additional service tier above the standard services offered; the standard services may be available for a smaller price, or they may be available for free but with reduced functionality.

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