Let’s take a closer look at accrued expenses
At the end of the reporting period, most businesses have accumulated operating costs that won’t be paid until the next period. If your business prepares financial statements under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), certain unpaid costs may need to be reported as accrued expenses. Overlooking them can understate your business’s liabilities and overstate its [...]
Prepare now for a more efficient audit
Audit preparation should begin long before fieldwork starts. Giving your accounting team and external auditor time to address significant transactions, reconcile accounts and assemble supporting documents can help streamline the audit process and avoid financial-reporting delays. Communicate significant developments Internal and external changes may bring opportunities and risks that could affect your auditor’s procedures. Identify [...]
4 tips to help seasonal businesses enhance cash-flow management
Most businesses experience cash-flow fluctuations, but the swings can be especially intense for seasonal businesses. Revenue may rise sharply during busy periods and fall in slower seasons, yet many expenses continue year-round — and some must be paid months before sales peak. This timing mismatch can leave an otherwise profitable business short on cash. Here [...]
Risky business: How auditors help combat corporate fraud
In today’s volatile economic climate, organizations face mounting pressures that can increase the risk of fraudulent activities. Auditors play a pivotal role in identifying and mitigating these risks through comprehensive fraud risk assessments and tailored audit procedures. Fraud triangle Three elements are generally required for fraud to happen. First, perpetrators must experience some type of [...]
Cash vs. accrual accounting: What’s the difference?
Financial statements are critical to monitoring your business’s financial health. In addition to helping management make informed business decisions, year-end and interim financial statements may be required by lenders, investors and franchisors. Here’s an overview of two common accounting methods, along with the pros and cons of each method. 1. Cash basis Under the cash-basis [...]
Accounting & Auditing Resources
In today’s uncertain marketplace, many businesses are stashing operating cash in their bank accounts, even though they might not have imminent plans to deploy their reserves. However, excessive “rainy day” funds could be an inefficient use of capital. Here’s a systematic approach to help estimate reasonable cash reserves and maximize your company’s return on long-term [...]
Liquidity overload: Why having too much cash may be bad for business
In today’s uncertain marketplace, many businesses are stashing operating cash in their bank accounts, even though they might not have imminent plans to deploy their reserves. However, excessive “rainy day” funds could be an inefficient use of capital. Here’s a systematic approach to help estimate reasonable cash reserves and maximize your company’s return on long-term [...]
Accounting & Auditing Resources
If your business has significant inventory on its balance sheet, it can be costly. The carrying costs of inventory include warehousing, salaries, insurance, taxes, and transportation, as well as depreciation and shrinkage. Plus, tying up working capital in inventory detracts from other strategic investment opportunities. Reducing these costs can help improve a company’s profits and [...]
Accounting & Auditing Resources
Financial reporting plays a key role when a business needs funds for continued operations and strategic investment opportunities. Lenders and investors will generally want to review your company’s financial statements before they give it money. Timely, reliable reports can increase the odds that a bank will approve your company’s loan application and equity investors will [...]
Accounting & Auditing Resources
As audit season begins for calendar-year entities, it’s important to review issues that may arise during fieldwork. One common issue is materiality. This concept is used to determine what’s important enough to be included in — and what can be omitted from — a financial statement. Here’s how materiality is determined and used during an [...]