In financial accounting, a cash flow statement, also known as statement of cash flows or funds flow statement, is a financial statement that shows how changes in balance sheet accounts and income affect cash and cash equivalents, and breaks the analysis down to operating, investing, and financing activities. Essentially, the cash flow statement is concerned with the flow of cash in and cash out of the business. The statement captures both the current operating results and the accompanying changes in the balance sheetAs an analytical tool, the statement of cash flows is useful in determining the short-term viability of a company, particularly its ability to pay bills. International Accounting Standard 7 (IAS 7) is the International Accounting Standard that deals with cash flow statements.
People and groups interested in cash flow statements include:
Accounting personnel, who need to know whether the organization will be able to cover payroll and other immediate expenses
Potential lenders or creditors, who want a clear picture of a company's ability to
Potential investors, who need to judge whether the company is financially sound
Potential employees or contractors, who need to know whether the company will be able to afford compensation
Shareholders of the business.
PURPOSE
The cash flow statement was previously known as the flow of funds statement. The cash flow statement reflects a firm's liquidity.
The balance sheet is a snapshot of a firm's financial resources and obligations at a single point in time, and the income statement summarizes a firm's financial transactions over an interval of time. These two financial statements reflect the accrual basis accounting used by firms to match revenues with the expenses associated with generating those revenues. The cash flow statement includes only inflows and outflows of cash and cash equivalents; it excludes transactions that do not directly affect cash receipts and payments. These noncash transactions