Cash and Accrual Accounting

Essay # 65783

Accounting > Financial
Business > Accounting

This paper discusses two basic methods of accounting, cash and accrual and describes differences in managing these methods.

930 words () | 6 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in cash basis or cash accounting, businesses record transactions only if they involve the payment or receipt of cash, which does a poor job of matching revenues earned with money laid out for expenses. The author points out that, in accrual accounting, the economic impact of a transaction is recorded whether or not the transaction involves cash, which does a better job of matching revenues with expenses and of handling items such as property and equipment. The paper relates that the four statements used in the accrual method accounting are the balance sheet, the income statement, the statement of cash flows and the statement of stockholders' equity.

From the Paper:

"An example would be a purchase of supplies in July but the supplies are not sold until August. You receive the cash in August. However, when the books are closed all you have to show for July is an expense for supplies but no revenue to offset it, meaning there is a loss for that month. This can make it difficult for a business to determine whether or not it is earning a profit because all its business activity does not always fall on the same month. It also has trouble tracking anything other than cash. For example if you purchased equipment or property the cash method of accounting would show the purchase and disbursement in the month of purchase. These items, however, will be used over a period of time."