Branches of AccountingAccounting 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. AccountancyBody 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 AccountingThe 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. |