Accounting vs. Book-keepingBook-keeping concerns itself with the recording (correctly and in a set of books) of those transactions that result in the transfer of money or money's worth. Whereas accounting is comprehensive in perspective. It extends to classifying, summarizing, presenting and even analyzing accounting information .
Accounting vs. Accountancy
Body of knowledge (consisting of principles, postulates, assumptions, conventions, concepts and rules) governing the science of recording classifying and analyzing financial transactions is accounting. Whereas the practice and art of the science of accounting is termed as accountancy.To meet the ever increasing demands made on accounting by different interested parties (such as owners, management, creditors, taxation authorities etc.) the various branches have come into existence. Financial AccountingThe object of financial accounting is to ascertain the result (profit or loss) of business operations during the particular period and to state the financial position (Balance Sheet) as on a date at the end of the period.
Cost Accounting
The object of cost accounting is to find out the cost of goods produced or services rendered by a business. It also helps the business in controlling the costs by indicating avoidable losses and wastes.Management AccountingThe object of management accounting is to supply relevant information at appropriate time to the management to enable it to take decision and effect control.In this web primer, we are concerned only with financial accounting. The objects of financial accounting as stated above can be achieved only by recording the financial transactions in a systematic manner according to a set of principles. The recorded information has to be classified, analyzed and presented in a manner in which business results and financial position can be ascertained.
Uses of Accounting
Accounting plays important and useful role by developing the information for providing answers to many questions faced by the users of accounting information.
(1) How good or bad is the financial condition of the business?
(2) Has the business activity resulted in a profit or loss?
(3) How well the different departments of the business have performed in the past?
(4) Which activities or products have been profitable?
(5) Out of the existing products which should be discontinued and the production of which commodities should be increased.
(6) Whether to buy a component from the market or to manufacture the same?
(7) Whether the cost of production is reasonable or excessive?
(8) What has been the impact of existing policies on the profitability of the business?
(9) What are the likely results of new policy decisions on future earning capacity of the business?
(10) In the light of past performance of the business how it should plan for future to ensure desired results ?
Above mentioned are few examples of the types of questions faced by the users of accounting information. These can be satisfactorily answered with the help of suitable and necessary information provided by accounting.
Besides, accounting is also useful in the following respects :-
(1) Increased volume of business results in large number of transactions and no businessman can remember everything. Accounting records obviate the necessity of remembering various transactions.
(2) Accounting record, prepared on the basis of uniform practices, will enable a business to compare results of one period with another period.
(3) Taxation authorities (both income tax and sales tax) are likely to believe the facts contained in the set of accounting books if maintained according to generally accepted accounting principles.
(4) Cocooning records, backed up by proper and authenticated vouchers are good evidence in a court of law.
(5) If a business is to be sold as a going concern then the values of different assets as shown.
Trainee Accounting Jobs - Could You Be A Graduate Accountant?
As an accounting trainee, you would be working with an accountant who is CCAB qualified, who would be in essence your mentor for the field of accountancy. The vast majority of accounting jobs in the UK state that the organization is looking for CCAB-qualified accountants. As a trainee, you could land a job with an organization to train in accounting while you were going to school for accounting to get some hands on experience.
Trainee accounting jobs are quite plentiful within the UK because of the vastness of accounting jobs throughout the area. While accounting may seem boring to some, there is still a need for new, young accountants to enter the field, which is why CCAB-qualified accountants are taking new people under their wings as trainees--to keep a steady flow of accountants who are CCAB-qualified in the ranks.
In the UK, there are different levels of accountants:
Chartered Certified Accountant: A member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants whose designation letters would read ACCA or FCCA.
Chartered Accountant: A member of either the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, with designation letters of ACA or FCA, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland with designation letters of CA, The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland with designation letters of ACA or FCA, or any recognized equivalent body from another commonwealth country, such as Canada.
Chartered Management Accountant: A member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, with designation letters of ACMA or FCMA.
Chartered Public Finance Accountant: A member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy with designation letters of CPFA.
International Accountant: A member of the Association of International Accountants with designation letters of AIAA or FAIA.
Authorized Public Accountant: A member of the Association of Authorized Public Accountants with designation letters of AAPA.
Incorporated Financial Accountant: A member of the Institute of Financial Accountants with designation letters of FFA or AFA.
Trainee accounting jobs are quite plentiful within the UK because of the vastness of accounting jobs throughout the area. While accounting may seem boring to some, there is still a need for new, young accountants to enter the field, which is why CCAB-qualified accountants are taking new people under their wings as trainees--to keep a steady flow of accountants who are CCAB-qualified in the ranks.
In the UK, there are different levels of accountants:
Chartered Certified Accountant: A member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants whose designation letters would read ACCA or FCCA.
Chartered Accountant: A member of either the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, with designation letters of ACA or FCA, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland with designation letters of CA, The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland with designation letters of ACA or FCA, or any recognized equivalent body from another commonwealth country, such as Canada.
Chartered Management Accountant: A member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, with designation letters of ACMA or FCMA.
Chartered Public Finance Accountant: A member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy with designation letters of CPFA.
International Accountant: A member of the Association of International Accountants with designation letters of AIAA or FAIA.
Authorized Public Accountant: A member of the Association of Authorized Public Accountants with designation letters of AAPA.
Incorporated Financial Accountant: A member of the Institute of Financial Accountants with designation letters of FFA or AFA.
UK Self employed Accounting Software and Self Assessment Tax Returns
In the UK anyone receiving earned income which is not taxed under the employers PAYE system is technically self employed. Anyone who is self employed and running a business in the UK must register that business with HM Revenue and Customs within 3 months of starting that self employed business and failure to do so can lead to penalty fines.
All self employed businesses must keep records of the financial transactions and submit these accounts annually to HM Revenue and Customs in the format of the self assessment tax return which are supplementary pages included in the self employed annual tax return.
Different standards for accounting by self employed business are applicable compared to the accounting requirements of a limited liability company and consequently much simpler Accounting Software can be applied. Accounting Software for a limited company invariably requires a double entry system of accounting that produces not just a profit and loss account but also a balance sheet. The Accounting Software has to deal with business bank accounts, debtors and creditors and produce reconcilable results.
While advisable for self employed businesses to maintain a separate bank account it is not an essential requirement. The Accounting Software used by anyone self employed should keep accurate records of fixed assets although it is not essential that this Accounting Software also produces a balance sheet. With these factors in mind Accounting Software for the self employed can be much simpler and greatly advantageous if that Accounting Software also produces the numerous and sometimes onerous burden of HM Revenue and Customs tax returns and working papers.
Self Employed Accounting Software Requirements
Accounting Software for anyone Self Employed does not have to be double entry. The Accounting Software can be a single entry system which makes the value of using Accounting Software based upon excel spreadsheets feasible and due to the simplicity highly desirable. Such Accounting Software being excel based is fast and easy to use, utilising all the benefits and advantages excel offers. Accounting Software that is also highly visible at the click of a button. Accounting Software on a database hides the financial transactions that the Accounting Software has to query to retrieve the required information. It is this element of an Accounting Software database that often requires some technical accounting knowledge to operate efficiently. Accounting Software written on excel spreadsheets is, due to its visibility, much easier to use and understand and requires little or no accounting experience.
Accounting Software written on excel spreadsheets makes an ideal solution for the self employed businessman. Good financial records are the key to the success of any self employed business and especially to the value of Accounting Software. A quality Accounting Software package is an essential component of your business to identify potential problem areas and capitalise on success to drive the business forward.
Accounting Software and HM Revenue and Customs Returns
Different types of Accounting Software are available for the Self Employed and some of this software has been specifically designed to cater for the precise size and requirements of the self employed business. There are basic Accounting Software packages available for the self employed business that is not vat registered and have no employees. Standard Accounting Software packages for the self employed business that is vat registered. The vat threshold limit at which businesses are liable for vat is £61,000 up to April 2007 and subject to possible changes after that date. Advanced and more sophisticated Accounting Software for the self employed who also employ staff are available with integrated payroll software included in the Accounting Software packages.
All self employed businesses must keep records of the financial transactions and submit these accounts annually to HM Revenue and Customs in the format of the self assessment tax return which are supplementary pages included in the self employed annual tax return.
Different standards for accounting by self employed business are applicable compared to the accounting requirements of a limited liability company and consequently much simpler Accounting Software can be applied. Accounting Software for a limited company invariably requires a double entry system of accounting that produces not just a profit and loss account but also a balance sheet. The Accounting Software has to deal with business bank accounts, debtors and creditors and produce reconcilable results.
While advisable for self employed businesses to maintain a separate bank account it is not an essential requirement. The Accounting Software used by anyone self employed should keep accurate records of fixed assets although it is not essential that this Accounting Software also produces a balance sheet. With these factors in mind Accounting Software for the self employed can be much simpler and greatly advantageous if that Accounting Software also produces the numerous and sometimes onerous burden of HM Revenue and Customs tax returns and working papers.
Self Employed Accounting Software Requirements
Accounting Software for anyone Self Employed does not have to be double entry. The Accounting Software can be a single entry system which makes the value of using Accounting Software based upon excel spreadsheets feasible and due to the simplicity highly desirable. Such Accounting Software being excel based is fast and easy to use, utilising all the benefits and advantages excel offers. Accounting Software that is also highly visible at the click of a button. Accounting Software on a database hides the financial transactions that the Accounting Software has to query to retrieve the required information. It is this element of an Accounting Software database that often requires some technical accounting knowledge to operate efficiently. Accounting Software written on excel spreadsheets is, due to its visibility, much easier to use and understand and requires little or no accounting experience.
Accounting Software written on excel spreadsheets makes an ideal solution for the self employed businessman. Good financial records are the key to the success of any self employed business and especially to the value of Accounting Software. A quality Accounting Software package is an essential component of your business to identify potential problem areas and capitalise on success to drive the business forward.
Accounting Software and HM Revenue and Customs Returns
Different types of Accounting Software are available for the Self Employed and some of this software has been specifically designed to cater for the precise size and requirements of the self employed business. There are basic Accounting Software packages available for the self employed business that is not vat registered and have no employees. Standard Accounting Software packages for the self employed business that is vat registered. The vat threshold limit at which businesses are liable for vat is £61,000 up to April 2007 and subject to possible changes after that date. Advanced and more sophisticated Accounting Software for the self employed who also employ staff are available with integrated payroll software included in the Accounting Software packages.
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