In: Finance
What are the objectives of preparing financial statements? Explain in detail. (need 500-600 words)
Financial shareholders of a company massively rely on its financial statements to know its functioning. They represent the original state of affairs of the company.
The objectives of financial statements:
The primary objectives of financial
statements are to perform the right and fair value of the state of
affairs of the firm with the aid of its different reports such as
The income statement, Balance sheet, Cash flow statement, Funds
flow statements.
In brief, the financial statement's objectives are to provide
information about the financial condition, performance, and shift
in the financial position of a company that is beneficial to a
broad range of users in making economic conclusions.
(i) Understanding the
Profitability of Business:
Financial statements are needed to determine whether the enterprise
is earning sufficient profit and to identify whether the benefits
have grown or diminished as compared to the previous year. These
statements present an actual state of a company's economic assets
and liabilities. They help in predicting the extent of a company's
ability to obtain profits. Shareholders and investors can use these
data to make their financial conclusions. They aid conclusions
about the replacement of fixed assets and the extension of the
firm.
(ii) Understanding the Stability of the
Business:
Financial statements help to examine the business's situation about
the capability of the entity to repay its short and long-term
liabilities. These statements portray the effectiveness of a
company's administration. How well a company is functioning depends
on its profitability, which these statements present. They furnish
required information regarding the efficacy or otherwise of the
management regarding the precise utilization of the limited
sources. It also describes the cash position and the mix of debt
and equity accessible with the company.
(iii) Estimating the Growth
of the Business:
We can represent a significant judgment about the business growth
by analyzing data of two or more years of a business entity.
Improvement of sales with a concurrent increase in the profits
symbolizes a good indication for the growth of the company.
(iv) Assessing Financial Soundness of
Business:
Financial statements assist the entity in determining the stability
of the business and help to answer various aspects of whether it is
capable of purchasing assets from its sources and whether the
company can repay its external liabilities as and when they are
payable. These statements also produce information associating with
the company's cash flows. Investors and creditors can utilize this
data to predict the company's liquidity and cash necessities. They
assist the credit rating agencies in determining the rating of the
company.
(v) Constructing Comparison
and Selection of Proper Policy:
Financial statements assist the management in choosing the sound
business policy by creating an inter-firm connection. They also
serve readers of these statements to acknowledge the accounting
policies used in them. They promote decisions regarding the changes
in the method of acquisition, utilization, protection, and sharing
of limited sources. They present essential data to the government
for making proper decisions associating with duties, taxes, price
control, and for some legal and control objectives. They also
provide crucial data and information to the managers for in-house
reporting and the formulation of overall strategies.
(vi) Forecasting and
Preparation of Budgets:
They provide standards for the differences between the actual and
budgeted performances. They present essential information for
forecasts. The financial statement furnishes information about the
business irregularities so that the management can take remedial
measures to eliminate these weaknesses. Financial statements assist
the administration in making a forecast and preparing budgets in a
useful manner.
(vii) Interacting with
Various Parties:
They furnish certain information about the financial activities to
the engaged participants. Financial statements are developed by the
entities to report with different parties about their financial
situation. Hence, it concluded that knowing the fundamental
financial statements is a necessity for successful commercial
enterprise administration. They help evaluate the firm's earning
potential by providing a statement of financial position, a
statement of periodical earnings, and business activities to the
various involved persons. They also protect the interest of
shareholders who are not allowed to go through the firm's
day-to-day operations.
Conclusion
Financial statements are a significant factor in assuring that the
business's actual financial picture is shown to management and
external stakeholders as it opens a window for the public and
educated.
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