1. Accounts

2. Key Accounting Documents
Public Limited Companies in the UK are required to publish their accounts
This will usually consist of three key accounting documents:
The Income Statement (Sometimes referred to as “Profit and Loss”)
The Balance Sheet (Sometimes referred to as “Statement of Financial Position”)
The Cash Flow Statement

3. The Income Statement

4. Profit = Total revenue – Total Costs
The Income Statement
The income statement will summarise the trading that has taken place during a specific period
It will calculate whether the business has made a net profit or a net loss during the period
It is based upon the profit formula:
Profit = Total revenue – Total Costs

5. An Example Money received from selling goods and services
Money spent providing the goods and services sold (direct costs)
Profit or loss made before indirect costs are taken off
The indirect costs, or expenses that the business has had to pay
The profit or loss from trading
Costs or revenue from financial dealings
Profit or loss made before tax is taken off
The corporation tax the business must pay
Profit or loss available to the business after tax

6. The Balance Sheet

7. The Balance Sheet
May be referred to as “Statement of Financial Position”
The balance sheet is a snapshot of the assets and liabilities of a business
It shows the value of the resources within the business, and how they were financed
A balance sheet must “balance” since the resources that have been obtained must have been financed in some way

8. An Example
Fixed assets that the business has obtained for long-term use, e.g. premises
Items that the business has, but does not intend to keep longer than 12 months. E.g. stock
The total value of things the business owns
Debts that the business intends to pay within the next 12 months
Long-term borrowing, e.g. a bank loan
The total value of what a business owes
The difference between total assets and total liabilities
The funds contributed into the business by the owners

9. The Cash Flow Statement

10. The Cash Flow Statement
Unlike a cash flow forecast, the cash flow statement is a factual document
It shows the flow of cash both into and out of the business
Most businesses will only publish this document in a summary form

11. An Example
The net amount of cash flowing into or out of a business from its trading activity
The net amount of cash flowing into or out of a business from its investment activity (i.e. buying or selling fixed assets)
The net amount of cash flowing into or out of a business from its activity with banks or shareholders
The total increase or decrease in cash within the business
Figures in brackets show cash outflows