UNIT – 1 : CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

1. Meaning

Financial Accounting is the process of identifying, recording, classifying, summarizing and interpreting business transactions to prepare financial reports like Trading Account, Profit & Loss Account and Balance Sheet.

Simple interpretation:

Business हर दिन पैसे कहाँ खर्च कर रहा है और कहाँ से कमा रहा है — उसका पूरा हिसाब किताब Financial Accounting रखता है।


2. Features

Financial accounting has some key characteristics:

  1. Deals only with financial transactions
    • Non-monetary items like employee efficiency are not recorded.
    • Only money-based activities recorded in books.
  2. Records transactions in systematic manner
    • Using Journal → Ledger → Trial Balance → Final Accounts
  3. Prepared for a specific period
    • Monthly, Quarterly or Yearly reports.
  4. Reports external parties
    • Investors, Government, Banks rely on these reports.
  5. Based on actual transactions, not estimates
    • Real purchase & sale numbers are recorded.

3. Objectives (Elaborated)

ObjectiveExplanationReal Example
Maintain RecordsTo keep systematic booksSales ₹5,000 entry recorded on that date
Find Profit/LossThrough P&L accountNet Profit = ₹2,00,000 means business is good
Show Financial PositionThrough Balance SheetAssets > Liabilities = strong business
Provide Legal ProofRequired for tax, auditGST filing requires proper accounts
Aid Future DecisionsHelps in expansion, budgetingIf profit is low → increase price or reduce cost
Evidence in disputeUsed in court/settlementSupplier non-payment proof

4. Terms Used in Accounting (Very Important)

TermMeaningExample
AssetsResources ownedCash, Building, Machines
LiabilitiesPayablesLoans, Creditors
CapitalOwner’s investmentOwner invested ₹2,00,000
DrawingsMoney withdrawn by ownerPersonal use withdrawal ₹5,000
ExpenseCost for running businessSalary, Rent
IncomeRevenue earnedSales revenue
DebtorsCustomers who owe moneySold goods on credit
CreditorsSuppliers to whom business owesGoods purchased on credit

Assets Classification

TypeDefinitionExamples
Fixed AssetsLong-term use (not for resale)Machine, Land
Current AssetsConvert into cash within 12 monthsStock, Debtors, Cash
TangiblePhysically touchableFurniture
IntangibleNo physical formPatents, Goodwill

Liabilities Classification

TypeMeaningExamples
Current LiabilitiesPayable within 1 yearCreditors
Long-term LiabilitiesPayable after 1 yearBank Loan, Debentures


5. Bookkeeping and Accounting — Deep Explanation

BasisBookkeeping (Primary Stage)Accounting (Advanced Stage)
MeaningRecording financial transactionsInterpreting & analysing financial data
ProcessJournal + Ledger posting onlyTrial balance + final accounts
PurposeMaintain basic dataFind profit & financial status
Example TaskEntry: Purchase A/c Dr To CashPreparing P&L, Ratio analysis

Bookkeeping is foundation
Accounting is interpretation + reporting.


6. Differences: Financial, Cost & Management Accounting

Financial Accounting

  • External users based
  • Shows profit and position of whole business

Cost Accounting

  • Calculates per-unit cost for production
  • Used for pricing and control

Management Accounting

  • Uses financial + cost data
  • Helps managers make decisions, budgeting, planning

7. Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS)

Issued to ensure uniform accounting treatment in India.

StandardRelated to
AS-1Disclosure of Accounting Policies
AS-2Inventory Valuation (used later)
AS-6Depreciation Accounting
AS-3Cash Flow Statement
AS-10Fixed Assets

Why required?
→ Standardization, reliability, transparency.


8. Double Entry System (Backbone of accounting)

Every transaction has two effects — Debit & Credit

Debit what comes in, Credit what goes out

Example:
Bought furniture ₹10,000 cash

Furniture A/c Dr 10,000
   To Cash A/c       10,000

Asset increases → Debit
Cash decreases → Credit


9. Golden Rules of Accounting (Full Depth)

Type of AccountDebit WhenCredit WhenExample
Personal A/cReceiverGiverPaid salary to Ramesh → Ramesh A/c Dr
Real A/cWhat comes inWhat goes outBought machine → Machine A/c Dr
Nominal A/cExpense/LossIncome/GainRent paid → Rent A/c Dr

10. Complete Accounting Cycle

Transaction → Voucher → Journal →
Ledger → Trial Balance → Final Accounts

Example: Sale made → entry in Sales book → posted to Ledger → totals checked in Trial Balance → final accounts made at year end.

PART – B : Structure of Business Firms


1. Users of Accounting Information (Explained in depth)

Different people use accounting information for different purposes.

UsersWhy they use accounts?Example
Owners/ShareholdersTo know profit & financial positionReturn on investment
ManagementDecision making, planning, controlReduce cost, increase sales
InvestorsBefore investing moneyCheck financial statements
Creditors/SuppliersTo judge creditworthinessWill they pay bills on time?
BanksFor loan approvalCheck liquidity & repayment capacity
GovernmentFor tax calculation (GST/IT)Compliance & regulation
EmployeesJob security & bonus decisionsProfit sharing basis
PublicCompany contribution to societyCSR activities

2. Capital vs Revenue Expenditure

This is very important in exams.

📌 Capital Expenditure

Expenses that give long-term benefit (more than 1 year).

Examples:
✓ Purchase of machinery
✓ Building construction
✓ Furniture purchase
✓ Installation cost of machine (also capitalized)

🔸 Shown in Assets side of Balance Sheet.


📌 Revenue Expenditure

Day-to-day expenses needed for running business.

Examples:
✓ Salary, Rent, Electricity
✓ Repair & maintenance
✓ Office expenses
✓ Raw material purchase

🔸 Shown in P&L Account debit side.


Key Difference Table

BasisCapitalRevenue
BenefitLong term (>1 year)Short term (<1 year)
NatureNon-recurringRecurring
Place in FinancialsBalance SheetProfit & Loss A/c
ExampleMachine boughtSalary paid

3. Capital & Revenue Receipts

📌 Capital Receipts

  • Non-recurring income
  • Not from the regular business operations
  • Increase liabilities or reduce assets

Examples:
✓ Loan received from bank
✓ Issue of shares/debentures
✓ Sale of fixed assets


📌 Revenue Receipts

  • Regular income from normal business
  • Recurring
  • Affects Profit & Loss account

Examples:
✓ Sales income
✓ Commission received
✓ Interest income


Difference Table

Capital ReceiptRevenue Receipt
Not from core businessMain business income
Non-recurringRecurring
Shown on liability sideShown in P&L A/c credit side

4. Accounting Principles & Conventions (Very Detailed)

Accounting Principles = Fundamental rules to record transactions

A) Accounting Principles

PrincipleDetailed MeaningExample
Business EntityBusiness ≠ OwnerOwner withdraws ₹10,000 → drawings
Money MeasurementRecord only things measured in moneyEmployee skill not recorded
Going ConcernBusiness expected to continueAssets depreciated gradually
Cost ConceptRecord at purchase price, not market priceMachinery bought for 1,00,000, even if now worth 1,50,000
Matching ConceptMatch expenses with related revenueSalary of 2024 recorded in 2024
Dual AspectEvery transaction has 2 effectsBought goods for cash → Goods+Cash change

B) Accounting Conventions

ConventionMeaningExample
ConsistencySame methods used every yearFIFO used this year → next year also FIFO
ConservatismAnticipate no profit but provide for lossesDebtors doubtful → create provision
Full DisclosureShow true & full informationNotes to accounts reveal extra info
MaterialityRecord only significant itemsCalculator purchase treated as expense

Helps maintain uniformity, reliability & comparability.


5. Fundamental Accounting Equation (Expanded)

Assets = Liabilities + Capital

Every transaction affects both sides, keeping equation balanced.

Examples:

Example 1:

Started business with cash ₹5,00,000

Assets = 5,00,000
Capital = 5,00,000
✔ Equation holds


Example 2:

Purchased furniture ₹50,000 cash

Assets: Furniture +50,000, Cash −50,000
Total assets unchanged
No effect on capital
✔ Equation holds


Example 3:

Took bank loan ₹2,00,000

Assets +2,00,000
Liabilities (Loan) +2,00,000
✔ Equation still equal


Example 4:

Made profit ₹30,000

Capital increases by profit

Capital = Opening Capital + Profit − Drawings

So new capital = old capital + 30,000

✔ Equation remains balanced

PART – C : DEPRECIATION (AS–6) + INVENTORY VALUATION (AS–2)


1. DEPRECIATION (AS–6)

📌 Meaning

Depreciation is the gradual reduction in value of fixed assets due to use, time passage, wear & tear.

A machine bought today won’t have the same value after 5 years — that reduction is depreciation.


📌 Why does depreciation occur? (Causes)

CauseExplanation
Wear & tearUsage reduces efficiency
TimeValue falls naturally over time
ObsolescenceNew technology replaces old
AccidentDamage reduces life
Expiry of legal rightPatent expires after 10 years

📌 Why do we charge depreciation? (Need)

  • To show true book value of asset
  • To calculate true profit (profit would be overstated without depreciation)
  • To create fund for replacement
  • Required by law and accounting standards

📌 Methods of Depreciation (AS–6)

  1. Straight Line Method (SLM)
  2. Written Down Value Method (WDV)

1️⃣ Straight Line Method (SLM)

Depreciation is same every year.

Depreciation per year = (Cost − Scrap Value) / Useful Life

Example:
Machine cost = ₹1,00,000
Scrap value = ₹10,000
Life = 5 years

Depreciation = (1,00,000−10,000)/5 = ₹18,000 per year

YearOpening ValueDepreciationClosing Value
11,00,00018,00082,000
282,00018,00064,000
364,00018,00046,000

2️⃣ Written Down Value Method (WDV)

Depreciation is charged on reducing balance each year, amount decreases every year.

Depreciation = Rate × Book Value

Example:
Cost = ₹1,00,000, Dep. rate = 10%

YearOpening ValueDepreciation (10%)Closing Value
11,00,00010,00090,000
290,0009,00081,000
381,0008,10072,900

⭐ Difference between SLM & WDV

BasisSLMWDV
Depreciation amountSame every yearReduces every year
profitHigher initially, lower laterLower initially, increases later
UseBuildings, furnitureMachinery, vehicles

Machine Account Format (Exam-style)

Dr. Machinery Account Cr.

DateParticularsAmountDateParticularsAmount
1/4/20XXTo Bank A/c1,00,00031/3/20XXBy Depreciation18,000
31/3/20XXBy Balance c/d82,000

Next year:

|1/4/20XY|To Balance b/d|82,000|31/3/20XY|By Depreciation|18,000|
| | | |31/3/20XY|By Balance c/d|64,000|


📘 2. INVENTORY VALUATION (AS–2)

Inventory means stock of raw materials, WIP and finished goods.

Proper valuation is required because:

📌 Closing stock shown in Balance Sheet
📌 Affects gross profit & net profit
📌 Wrong valuation → wrong profit

AS–2 allows FIFO, Weighted Average methods only (LIFO used for learning, mostly not allowed legally now).


Methods of Inventory Valuation


1️⃣ FIFO (First In First Out)

Goods purchased first are issued first.

Used when — stock is perishable, food industry.

Example:

DatePurchase/IssueUnitsRate
Jan 1Purchase100₹10
Jan 5Purchase100₹12
Jan 10Issue150?

Issue 150 units = 100 from ₹10 + 50 from ₹12

Cost of Issue = (100×10) + (50×12)
= 1000 + 600 = ₹1600

Remaining stock = 50 units @₹12

Profit higher when prices rising.


2️⃣ LIFO (Last In First Out)

Latest goods issued first.

Example (same data):

Issue 150 units = 100 from ₹12 + 50 from ₹10

Cost = (100×12) + (50×10) = 1200 + 500 = ₹1700

Remaining = 50 units @₹10

Profit lower during inflation → good for tax saving.


3️⃣ Weighted Average Method

Average rate = Total Cost ÷ Total Units

Example:

PurchaseUnitsRate
100 units₹10
200 units₹15

Total cost = 100×10 + 200×15 = 1000+3000=4000
Total units = 300
Average rate = 4000/300 = ₹13.33 per unit

If issue = 150 units → 150×13.33 = ₹1999.5 ~ ₹2000


Comparison Table

MethodProfitClosing Stock ValueBest When
FIFOHigh (inflation)HighPerishables
LIFOLow (inflation)LowCost control
Weighted AvgModerateModerateStable pricing required

UNIT–1 Summary for Last Minute Revision

🔹 Financial Accounting = recording + reporting
🔹 Bookkeeping vs Accounting
🔹 IAS (AS–2 & AS–6 important)
🔹 Capital & Revenue concepts
🔹 Accounting Principles & Conventions
🔹 Depreciation = SLM & WDV formulas + examples
🔹 Inventory = FIFO, LIFO, Weighted Average

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top