12 Things You Need to Know About Financial Statements

Financial statements are documents that summarize the financial performance and position of a business. They are essential for investors, creditors, managers, and other stakeholders who want to understand how the business is doing and what are its strengths and weaknesses. Here are 12 things you need to know about financial statements:

1. There are four main types of financial statements: income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows, and statement of changes in equity. Each one provides different information about the business's revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities, cash flows, and equity.

2. The income statement shows the revenues and expenses of the business for a specific period of time, usually a year or a quarter. It also shows the net income or loss, which is the difference between revenues and expenses. The income statement reflects the profitability of the business.

3. The balance sheet shows the assets, liabilities, and equity of the business at a specific point in time, usually at the end of a year or a quarter. It also shows the net worth of the business, which is the difference between assets and liabilities. The balance sheet reflects the solvency of the business.

4. The statement of cash flows shows the sources and uses of cash by the business for a specific period of time, usually a year or a quarter. It also shows the net increase or decrease in cash, which is the difference between cash inflows and outflows. The statement of cash flows reflects the liquidity of the business.

5. The statement of changes in equity shows the changes in the equity of the business for a specific period of time, usually a year or a quarter. It also shows the total equity at the beginning and end of the period. The statement of changes in equity reflects the ownership of the business.

6. Financial statements are prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) or international financial reporting standards (IFRS), which are sets of rules and guidelines that ensure consistency and comparability among different businesses and industries.

7. Financial statements are audited by independent external auditors who verify that they are prepared in accordance with GAAP or IFRS and that they present a fair and accurate picture of the business's financial situation.

8. Financial statements are analyzed by using various ratios and indicators that measure different aspects of the business's performance and position, such as profitability, efficiency, liquidity, solvency, leverage, growth, and valuation.

9. Financial statements are used by various users for different purposes, such as:

• - Investors use financial statements to evaluate the potential return and risk of investing in a business.
• - Creditors use financial statements to assess the ability and willingness of a business to repay its debts.
• - Managers use financial statements to monitor and control the operations and resources of a business.
• - Employees use financial statements to negotiate wages and benefits and to participate in profit-sharing or stock-option plans.
• - Regulators use financial statements to ensure compliance with laws and regulations and to protect public interests.
• - Tax authorities use financial statements to determine the tax liability of a business.
• - Customers use financial statements to evaluate the quality and reliability of a business's products or services.
• - Suppliers use financial statements to evaluate the creditworthiness and bargaining power of a business.
• - Competitors use financial statements to benchmark their own performance and position against a business.

10. Financial statements are not perfect representations of reality. They have some limitations, such as:

• - They are based on historical data that may not reflect current or future conditions.
• - They are influenced by accounting choices and estimates that may not be objective or accurate.
• - They are subject to errors and frauds that may not be detected or corrected.
• - They do not capture all aspects of a business's value, such as intangible assets, human capital, social responsibility, or environmental impact.

11. Financial statements are not sufficient sources of information for decision making. They should be supplemented by other sources of information, such as:

• - Management discussion and analysis (MD&A), which is a section in the annual report that explains the results and trends of the business from the perspective of management.
• - Notes to financial statements, which are additional disclosures that provide more details and explanations about the items in the financial statements.
• - Supplementary schedules, which are additional tables or graphs that provide more information about specific aspects of the business, such as segment reporting, inventory valuation, or pension plans.
• - Non-financial information, which is information that is not directly related to accounting numbers but may affect them indirectly, such as market conditions, industry trends, customer feedback, competitor actions, regulatory changes, or social issues.

12. Financial statements are dynamic and evolving documents that reflect the changing nature and needs of businesses and users. They are constantly updated and improved by accounting standards setters, regulators, auditors, managers, analysts, and users who seek to enhance their relevance, reliability, comparability, transparency, timeliness, and usefulness.