Financial Accounting

Meaning and definition of Financial Accounting

Financial accounting refers to reporting of the financial position and performance of a firm by the way of financial statements issued to external users on intervallic basis. As explained by Investopedia, the main difference between financial and managerial accounting is that financial accounting is intended to provide info to parties outside the organization, while managerial accounting info is intended to help managers within the organization take decisions.

Since external financial statements are used by a large number of people in numerous ways, financial accounting features common rules known as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and accounting standards. Financial accounting is, therefore, a specialized branch of accounting which keeps a track record of the financial transactions of a company.

Graphic definition of Financial Accounting

The accounting equation, Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity, and financial statements are the key topics included in financial accounting. There are certain accounting standards which are helpful in determining the format of different financial accounts. Financial accounting provides a picture of the income and expenditure for the company in addition to the summary of its assets, liabilities, and owners’ or shareholders’ equity on the date of creation of accounts.

The following diagram is presented for a better explanation of financial accounting:

0 = Dr Assets                            Cr Owners' Equity                 Cr Liabilities   

          .       _____________________________/\____________________________       . 

          .      /    Cr Retained Earnings (profit)         Cr Common Stock  \      . 

          .    _________________/\_______________________________      .            . 

          .   / Dr Expenses       Cr Beginning Retained Earnings \     .            . 

          .     Dr Dividends      Cr Revenue                           .            . 

      \________________________/  \______________________________________________________/ 

       increased by debits           increased by credits 

Thus -- Crediting a credit  & Debiting a debit --> account increases its absolute value (balance).                                 

Thus -- Debiting a credit & Crediting a debit --> account decreases its absolute value (balance).