Foundational Accounting Principles and Terminology
Running Head: Foundational Accounting Principles and Terminology 1
TUI University
Eric Bollar
Module 1: Case Assignment
ACC501 Accounting For Decision Making
Dr. Wendy Achilles
January 21, 2011
Foundational Accounting Principles and Terminology 2 We all know how important the accounting aspect of any business/organization is. It is basically the most important way to manage finances. Without proper accounting for all expenses and finances, a company and/or organization will definitely have a hard time being financially stable. In this paper we will discuss some foundational accounting principles and terminology that are basic but quite essential to the accounting practice. Now let’s discuss some accounting terms beginning with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is a codification of how CPA firms and corporations prepare and present their business income and expense, assets and liabilities on their financial statements. GAAP is not a single accounting rule, but rather the aggregate of many rules on how to account for various transactions. GAAP are more like accounting standards (Wikipedia, 2009). Next we have Contra-Asset Accounts, which is defined as an account which offsets another account. A contra-asset account has a credit balance and offsets the debit balance of the corresponding asset. A contra-liability account has a debit balance and offsets the credit balance of the corresponding liability (InvestorWords, 2009). Let us move on to Historical Cost, which is a measure of value used in accounting in which the price of an asset on the balance sheet is based on its nominal or original cost when acquired by the company. The historical-cost method is used for assets in the U.S. under generally accepted accounting principles (Investopedia, 2009). Okay, now there is the
TUI University
Eric Bollar
Module 1: Case Assignment
ACC501 Accounting For Decision Making
Dr. Wendy Achilles
January 21, 2011
Foundational Accounting Principles and Terminology 2 We all know how important the accounting aspect of any business/organization is. It is basically the most important way to manage finances. Without proper accounting for all expenses and finances, a company and/or organization will definitely have a hard time being financially stable. In this paper we will discuss some foundational accounting principles and terminology that are basic but quite essential to the accounting practice. Now let’s discuss some accounting terms beginning with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is a codification of how CPA firms and corporations prepare and present their business income and expense, assets and liabilities on their financial statements. GAAP is not a single accounting rule, but rather the aggregate of many rules on how to account for various transactions. GAAP are more like accounting standards (Wikipedia, 2009). Next we have Contra-Asset Accounts, which is defined as an account which offsets another account. A contra-asset account has a credit balance and offsets the debit balance of the corresponding asset. A contra-liability account has a debit balance and offsets the credit balance of the corresponding liability (InvestorWords, 2009). Let us move on to Historical Cost, which is a measure of value used in accounting in which the price of an asset on the balance sheet is based on its nominal or original cost when acquired by the company. The historical-cost method is used for assets in the U.S. under generally accepted accounting principles (Investopedia, 2009). Okay, now there is the
References: What is a Cash Flow Statement? Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/04/033104.asp On January 21, 2011 Reading the Balance Sheet Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/04/031004.asp On January 21, 2011 Income Statement. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/incomestatement.asp On January 21, 2011 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generally_Accepted_Accounting_Principles On January 21, 2011. InvestorWords.com. Retrieved, from http://www.investorwords.com/5476/contra_account.html. On January 21, 2011.