Published by: Anu Poudeli
Published date: 31 May 2023
To ensure accurate and trustworthy financial accounts, there are a numbers ofcrucial activities and processes involved in financial statement preparation.
The following is a summary of the key steps in creating financial statements:
1. Chart Of Accounts: Create a chart of accounts, which is a structured list of the accounts used to record financial transactions, as your initial steps. Typically, the chart of accounts incorporate divisions for assets, liabilities, euity, revenue and expenses. A special code and description should be allocated to each account.
2. Recording transaction: Consistently keep track of every financial transaction. Each transaction's specifics, including the date, description, sum, and accounts impacted must be recordes as part of this process. A general ledger can be manually filled out with transactions, or accounting software can be used.
3. General Ledger: Maintain a general ledger, which is a centralized database that complies the details of all financial transactions entered into the various accounts. The general ledger aids in the creation of financial statements by providing an accurate record of each acccount's balance.
4. Adjusting Entries: Create adjusting entries at the conclusion of an accounting period to make sure that revenues and expenses are record in the appropriate time frame. Accruals, deferrals, estimate, and conclusion are all taken into account by adjusting entries. Accrued expense, prepaid expense, depreciation, and recognition of unearned revenue are examples of cpmmom adjusting entries.
5. Trail Balance: Create a trail balance by listing all accounts and their corresponding balances after making any necessary adjustments to entries. Before creating financial statements, the trail balance checks the debit and credits balance out and aids in finding any problems.
6. Financial Statements: Prepare financial statements based on the corrected trail balance. The income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows, and statements of changes in equity are the four primary financial statements. These financial statements give a quick overview of the company's cash flow's, financial status and performance.
7. Closing Entries: Transfer temporary accounts, such as revenue and expense accounts, to ethe retained earnings account at the conclusion of the accounting period. For the new accounting period ,closing entries set these accounts into zero.
8. External Reporting: The financial statements may be useful for external reporting after they have been complied. Stakeholders like investors , creditors, regulatory agencies and tax authorities are frequently informed about these assertions.
9. Audit and Review: To make sure the financial statements are accurate and in accordance with accounting rules, think about having them audited or examined by an external auditor. This procedure offers an unbiased evaluation of the accuracy of the financial statements.
10. compliance and Disclosure: Ensure comformiy with pertinent accounting standards, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or international Financial Reporting Standards (IFRs), and disclose any relevant information.
It's crucial to keep in mind that financial accounting procedures can change depending on the sector, location and legal and regulatory requirements. More specialized advice can be obtained by speaking with accountants or other experts relevant to your situation.