Contributions are the primary revenue to a Not-for-Profit Organization (NFPO). Because the NFPO has characteristics which difference with the for-Profit Organization, its accounting method of recording contributions has own standards. Primarily the nonprofit organization must produce three important annual financial statements: the statement of financial position, the statement of operation, and the statement of cash flow. One of the principle differences in nonprofit financial statements compared to for-profit entities is the objective of a nonprofit is to realize its socially desirable goals and objectives for the community it serves, rather than to realize a net profit. Financial statements are important communication information about NFPO to members, contributors and creditors. Financial statements satisfy their and others interested needs, like the financial condition of organizations and how the management has discharged its stewardship responsibility to those that have provided resources to the organizations, especially important as resources are contributed for specific purposes Continue reading
Financial Management Concepts
Accounting – Definition, Concepts and Conventions
Definition of Accounting The American Accounting Association define accounting as “the process of identifying, measuring and communicating economic information to permit informed judgements and decisions by users of the information.” Let’s look at the key words in the above definition: It suggests that accounting is about providing information to others. Accounting information is economic information – it relates to the financial or economic activities of the business or organization. Accounting information needs to be identified and measured. This is done by way of a “set of accounts”, based on a system of accounting known as double-entry book keeping. The accounting system identifies and records “accounting transactions”. The “measurement” of accounting information is not a straight-forward process. it involves making judgements about the value of assets owned by a business or liabilities owed by a business. it is also about accurately measuring how Continue reading
Dividend Decision – Meaning, Types, Theories and Influencing Factors
Meaning and Definition of Dividend Dividend is defined as the distribution of a portion of a company’s earnings, decided by the board of directors, to a class of its shareholders. The dividend is most often quoted in terms of the dollar amount each share receives (dividends per share). It can also be quoted in terms of a percent of the current market price, referred to as dividend yield. Dividend is a taxable payment declared by a company’s board of directors and given to its shareholders out of the company’s current or retained earnings, usually quarterly. Dividends are usually given as cash (cash dividend), but they can also take the form of stock (stock dividend) or other property. Dividends provide an incentive to own stock in stable companies even if they are not experiencing much growth. Companies are not required to pay dividends. The companies that offer dividends are most often Continue reading
Differences between Activity Based Costing and Activity Based Management
Activity Based Costing (ABC) Activity Based Costing was introduced as the answer for an improved full-cost product-cost calculation as the model grew into a more full-fledged costing system for hierarchies of activities and cost objects. Activity Based Costing is a two-stage procedure where cost of resources in the first stage are allocated to activities to construct Activity Cost Pools, which in second stage are allocated to cost objects based on these objects’ use of the different activities. It is also a tool for cost and performance measurement towards activities, resources and cost objects (for example products and services). Activity Based Costing is knows as a “horizontal” or cross-functional cost view and it can provide fact-based insight into the spending and profitability of products, services and customers. There are three guidelines to support cost allocation in Activity Based Costing. The first would be ‘Direct-cost tracing to product’. Trace the cost of Continue reading
What is Financial Leverage?
The use of fixed-charges sources of funds, such as debt and preference capital along with owner’s equity in the capital structure described as financial leverage gearing or trading on equity. The use of the term trading on equity is derived from the fact that is the owner’s equity that is used to raise debt; that is, the equity that is traded upon. Financial leverage is defined as the ability of a firm to use fixed financial charges to magnify the effect of change in E.B.I.T on the firm’s earning per share. The financial leverage occurs when a firm’s Capital Structure contain obligation of fixed financial charges. For instance, interest on debentures, dividend on preference share etc., along with owner’s equity to enhance earning of equity shareholder’s. The fixed financial charges do not vary with the operating profit. They are fixed and are to be paid irrespective of level of operating Continue reading
Basics of Cash Management – Cash Management Functions
Cash management is one of the key areas of working capital management. Cash is the most liquid current assets. Cash is the common denominator to which all current assets can be reduced because the other major liquid assets, i.e. receivable and inventory get eventually converted into cash. This underlines the importance of cash management. Read More: The Concept of Cash Management The term “Cash” with reference to management of cash is used in two ways. In a narrow sense cash refers to coins, currency, cheques, drafts and deposits in banks. The broader view of cash includes near cash assets such as marketable securities and time deposits in banks. The reason why these near cash assets are included in cash is that they can readily be converted into cash. Usually, excess cash is invested in marketable securities as it contributes to profitability. Cash is one of the most important components of Continue reading