4 Aug 2022

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How to Read and Understand Financial Statements

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Academic level: High School

Paper type: Assignment

Words: 487

Pages: 2

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There are four main financial statements that are prepared by companies, that is, the income statement, Balance sheet, cash flow statement and the shareholders equity statement. The statements are prepared to aid users of financial statements in decision making. The users of financial statements include creditors, shareholders, employees, the government just to name a few. The statements are prepared using the generally accepted accounting principles. 

Accountants make the following assumptions when preparing financial statements. 

Transactions are recorded at their historical cost as opposed to the market value. 

The statements are prepared using the matching and the accrual principles. 

The prudence concept is used when preparing financial statements 

The financial statements have to have full disclosure and notes accompanying them. 

Balance Sheet 

The balance sheet contains information as regards the assets, Liabilities and equity that exists within an organization at a given point in time. The assets are resources owned and controlled by a company from which future benefits are expected, liabilities are obligations of a company from which an outflow of resources is expected in the future and equity refers to the funds provided by the owners of the company. 

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The accounting equation is represented by: 

Total Assets (current assets + Non-current assets) = Total Liabilities (current liabilities + non-current liabilities) + Total Equity 

The assets are recorded in the balance sheet starting with the most liquid, the liabilities are recorded starting with those that are due with the short-term liabilities coming first and then the long-term liabilities. The equity account starts with the paid in capital then followed by the earnings. 

Balance Sheet Example 

Balance Sheet 

As at 31st December 2018 

Assets     
Prepaid Rates 

1000 

 
Closing Stock 

22500 

 
Cash 

6000 

 
Bank 

30000 

 
Accounts Receivables ( less provision for doubtful debts of 1000 and adjustment for 300) 

53700 

 
Total Current Assets   

113200 

Non-Current Assets     
plant and machinery 

250000 

 
Accumulated Depreciation 

45000 

205000 

Motor Vehicle 

79200 

 
 

32000 

47200 

Total assets   

365400 

     
Financed by     
Current Liabilities     
Accrued Rent 

3000 

 
Accounts payables 

46600 

 
     
Total Liabilities   

49600 

Shareholders’ equity     
Capital   

250000 

Net Income   

65800 

Total Liabilities & shareholders’ equity   

365400 

Income Statement Example 

Income statement 

For year ended 31st December 2018 

Sales     

600000 

Less Return inwards     

40000 

Net sales     

560000 

       
Cost of goods sold       
opening inventory/stock 

25000 

   
add purchases 

360000 

   
Less return outwards 

20000 

   
Add carriage inwards 

2500 

   
less closing inventory 

22500 

 

345000 

       
Gross profit     

215000 

Add other incomes       
Discount received     

4000 

       
Less expenses       
wages and salary 

60000 

   
postage and telephone 

7500 

   
water and electricity ( add outstanding electricity) 

9200 

   
general expenses 

8500 

   
bad debts 

1500 

   
rent and rates ( add accruals and less prepaid rates) 

17000 

   
Depreciation plant & machinery 10% 

25000 

   
depreciation motor vehicle 20% 

16000 

   
discount allowed 

5000 

   
carriage outwards 

3500 

   
Total expense     

153200 

Net income     

65800 

Depreciation 

There are number of depreciation methods applied by different companies. The most common depreciation methods are the depreciation method and the reducing balance method. The straight-line depreciation method allocates a uniform depreciation across the useful life of the asset. 

Example 

Straight Line 

Company A bought a motor vehicle at 30000in the year 2020. The company uses the straight-line deprecation method at a rate of 20. The vehicle will have a salvage value of 5000 at the end. 

Depreciation = (30000 – 5000) x 20% = 5000 

Reducing balance method 

Company A bought motor vehicle in the year 2020 at a cost of 30000. The company uses the reducing balance depreciation method at a rate of 20. Calculate depreciation for 2021 

Depreciation 2020 = (30000 – 0) x 20% = 6000 

2021 accumulated depreciation for 2020 = 6000 

Deprecation 2021 = (30000 – 6000) x 20% = 4800 

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StudyBounty. (2023, September 16). How to Read and Understand Financial Statements.
https://studybounty.com/how-to-read-and-understand-financial-statemeents-assignment

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