|
Accounting Principles
If everyone involved in the process of accounting followed their own system, or no system at all, there's be no way to truly tell whether a company was profitable or not. Most companies follow what are called generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and there are huge tomes in libraries and bookstores devoted to just this one topic. Unless a company states otherwise, anyone reading a financial statement can make the assumption that company has used GAAP.
If GAAP are not the principles used for preparing financial statements, then a business needs to make clear which other form of accounting they're used and are bound to avoid using titles in its financial statements that could mislead the person examining it.
GAAP are the gold standard for preparing financial statement. Not disclosing that it has used principles other than GAAP makes a company legally liable for any misleading or misunderstood data. These principles have been fine-tuned over decades and have effectively governed accounting methods and the financial reporting systems of businesses. Different principles have been established for different types of business entities, such for-profit and not-for-profit companies, governments and other enterprises.
GAAP are not cut and dried, however. They're guidelines and as such are often open to interpretation. Estimates have to be made at times, and they require good faith efforts towards accuracy. You've surely heard the phrase "creative accounting" and this is when a company pushes the envelope a little (or a lot) to make their business look more profitable than it might actually be. This is also called massaging the numbers. This can get out of control and quickly turn into accounting fraud, which is also called cooking the books. The results of these practices can be devastating and ruin hundreds and thousands of lives, as in the cases of Enron, Rite Aid and others.
More Resources
Accounting News KB Home:SEC accounting probe done, no action taken
The Securities and Exchange Commission has completed its investigation into possible accounting violations by KB Home and does not intend to recommend any enforcement action, the homebuilder said Wednesday.
Accounting Policy Manager
Accounting Policy Manager Job category: Professional | Finance & accounting | Accountancy, Professional | Finance & accounting | Group finance County: England | London The position of Accounting Policy Manager is key role in the Group Accounting Policy team, responsible for keeping the Finance Community and Senior Management aware of technical accounting developments, updating Group Accounting ...
UNC Accounting Club information session 7:00pm - 8:00pm Wednesday, September 01
The UNC Accounting Club will host an informational meeting to introduce new students to its officers and discuss fall events. The meeting will be held in the Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Former district accounting supervisor accused of embezzling $237,000
FA IRBANKS — The former district accounting supervisor at the Fairbanks courthouse has been accused of embezzling $237,000 worth of bail money from the court system. The office of special prosecuti...
|
|
|
