Accounting Cheat Sheet

AccountingPlay.com
Apps | Downloads | Books

by John Gillingham, CPA All Rights Reserved

DIAGRAM OF T-ACCOUNTS

METHODS & ORGS

Balance Sheet as of 12/31/2100

=

Liabilities

Equity

Income Statement, year ended 12/31/2100

T-Account
Debit

Revenue

Expense

Credit

Profit or loss recorded

to Retained Earnings

Assets

Accrual basis Follows the matching principle and recognizes

transactions as they occur (GAAP Method)

Cash basis Recognizes transactions when cash or equivalents have been exchanged (Not GAAP)

US-GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles system
established by FASB that governs financial reporting

IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards Financial
reporting standard adopted widely outside of US
(No LIFO permitted, different FMV valuation permitted)

= Net income increases RE

ACCOUNTING EQUATION
Equation
Assets = Liabilities + Equity
Equity = Assets - Liabilities
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
Beginning inventory
+ Purchases
Ending inventory
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Increases & Decreases

Bolded: Natural balance

INVENTORY
Journal Entry
debit credit
Cash
100
Common stock
100
Receive cash for common stock

Gross Profit
Revenue x
Revenue
(1 - Gross profit
rate)
-
COGS
Gross Profit
COGS

DEBITS & CREDITS

Increase

Decrease

debit
credit

credit
debit

Liability

credit

debit

Equity
Contra equity

credit
debit

debit
credit

Balance Sheet
Asset
Contra asset
Contra assets: Accumulated depreciation,
Allowance for doubtful accounts

Contra equity: Treasury stock

Income Statement
Revenue
Most transactions: Typically credits
Expense
Most transactions: Typically debits

credit

debit

debit

credit

Valuation at lower of cost or market

Higher ending inventory = Lower Cost of Goods Sold
Lower Cost of Goods Sold = Higher Net Income
FIFO First In First Out
Early purchases come out of inventory first
LIFO Last In First Out
Early purchases tend to stay in inventory

Average cost Total cost / Quantity = Cost per unit

Perpetual inventory tracked in real time
Periodic inventory tracked by counting at end of period

Price
Rising
Falling

Net Income Comparison

FIFO
Higher
Lower

LIFO
Lower
Higher

Average
Middle
Middle

Rule: In a period of increasing inventory costs, FIFO

method results in higher net income compared to LIFO

Price
Rising
Falling

Cost of Goods Sold Comparison

FIFO
Lower
Higher

LIFO
Higher
Lower

Average
Middle
Middle

Accounting Cheat Sheet

AccountingPlay.com
Apps | Downloads | Books

by John Gillingham, CPA All Rights Reserved

PRINCIPLES, GUIDELINES, ASSUMPTIONS

Comparability

Financial statements must be comparable period to period

Conservatism

Considers all risks | strict rules

Consistency

Same accounting methods year to year

Constraints

Information has a cost/benefit and is material

Cost principle

Keep costs at purchase price or lower (lower of cost or market)

Economic entity

Maintain separate records for each entity

Full disclosure

Provides detailed information in addition to financial statements

Going concern

Assume business is going to and has capability to continue

Matching

Recognize cost the same time as benefit

Materiality

Significance to the overall financial picture

Monetary unit

Currency is used to record transactions and is assumed to be constant

Relevance

Financial reporting has predictive, feedback, and timeliness value

Reliability

Financial reporting is neutral, valid, and verifiable

Revenue recognition

Conditions of how an organization records revenue

Time period

Report financial activity in specific time periods

TEST VOCABULARY
Cost basis

Original cost of investment minus prior accumulated depreciation

Disposition

Sale, scrapping, or removal of an item, typically an asset

Gross | Net

Gross = total number | Net = gross number minus expenses

Goodwill

Purchase price less tangible value of physical assets purchased

Net asset value

Cost basis minus accumulated depreciation (prior total depreciation)

NSF

Non-sufficient funds, typically a returned check

Principal

The amount, typically of a loan

Unrealized gain | loss

Investment that has increased | decreased in value, but not yet sold

Unrealized calculation

Basis minus fair market value (FMV)

INTEREST FORMULAS
Monthly interest
P X (r / 12)
Compound interest
A = P(1 + (r/n))^nt

A = Amount, P = Principal, r = Rate
n = compoundings per period, t = number of periods

BANK RECONCILIATION

Balance per bank
+ Deposits in transit
Outstanding checks
+/- Errors, fees, returned items

Balance per books

BUSINESS TYPES
Sole Proprietorship One owner, no liability protection
Partnership Two or more owners, no liability protection
Limited Partnership Two or more owners, liability protection
LLC Limited Liability Company Liability protection, flexible
Corporation Liability protection, double taxation issues

Accounting Cheat Sheet

AccountingPlay.com
Apps | Downloads | Books

by John Gillingham, CPA All Rights Reserved

TECHNICAL INVENTORY AND COSTING

FOB shipping point

Buyers books at year end, title passes when goods delivered

FOB destination

Sellers books at year end, title passes when goods received

Raw materials

Direct costs of materials manufactured such as steel

Overhead costs

Costs typically thought of as expenses that are added to cost of goods

Work in process (WIP)

Goods in the process of being manufactured (assets)

ASSET SALES
Sale of inventory

Increase AR, Increase sales, Decrease inventory, Increase cost of goods sold

Debits and credits

Debit AR, Credit sales, Credit inventory, Debit cost of goods sold

Sell appreciated stock

Increase cash, Increase realized gain, Decrease stock

Debits and credits

Debit cash, Credit realized gain, Credit stock

Sell stock for a loss

Increase cash, Increase realized loss, Decrease stock

Debits and credits

Debit cash, Debit realized loss, Credit stock

Sell depreciated asset, gain

Increase cash, Decrease asset, Decrease accumulated depreciation, Increase gain

Debits and credits

Debit cash, Credit asset, Debit accumulated depreciation, Credit gain on sale

Sell depreciated asset, loss

Increase cash, Decrease asset, Decrease accumulated depreciation, Increase loss

Debits and credits

Debit cash, Credit asset, Debit accumulated depreciation, Debit loss on sale

BONDS
Bonds Financial instrument (agreement) issued by a company to borrow money from investors at a specified term (time) and rate
Issuer Company that is raising the money
Face value Amount that is repaid at the end of term
Stated coupon rate Interest that bond pays investor
Effective interest Rate of interest investor receives if the bond is purchased at a discount or premium
Premium Amount company is paid in excess of face value, often paid when coupon rate is greater than market rate
Premium = Price paid for bond - face value
Discount Amount below the face value paid for a bond often occurs when coupon rate is less than market rate
Discount = Face value - price paid for bond

Depreciation terms

Depreciation methods

Cost

Price paid for asset (may include costs to

install)

Straight line

Rate = (Cost - Salvage value / Useful life)

Book value

Cost - Accumulated depreciation

Declining

Book value x Depreciation rate

Salvage value

Estimated scrap value at the end of asset

life

(Accelerated method)

Rate = Straight line rate x Applicable %

Accelerated methods

Methods resulting in greater depreciation

during earlier years

MACRS / ACRS / DDB

Accelerated depreciation methods

Depreciation

Expense taken on a physical asset over time

Amortization

Expense taken on an intangible asset over

time

Applicable % = 150% for 150 DB and

200% for double declining
Sum-of-years-digits (Cost - Salvage value) X Applicable
fraction
(Accelerated method)

Applicable fraction = Years of estimated

life remaining / Sum of years digits

Accounting Cheat Sheet

AccountingPlay.com
Apps | Downloads | Books

by John Gillingham, CPA All Rights Reserved

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
BALANCE SHEET
As of 12/31/2100
Assets
Cash

1,497

Accounts receivable

400

Allowance for doubtful accounts

(90)

Equipment

200

Accumulated depreciation

(40)

Inventory
Total Assets

1,967

Liabilities
Accounts payable

Wages payable

300

Note payable

405

Dividends payable
Total Liabilities

705

Equity
Common stock

1,010

Treasury stock

(175)

Retained earnings

427

Total Equity

1,262

Liabilities + Equity

1,967

BALANCE SHEET FEATURES

Balance sheet (statement of financial position) shows the
ending balances of assets, liabilities, and equity at the end of the
accounting period
Mechanics Assets always equal liabilities plus equity, (which forms
the accounting equation)

ASSETS
Current assets To be used within one year of the balance sheet date
or longer, if the operating cycle is greater
Current assets Cash and equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory,
prepaid expenses to be used within a year
Long-term assets Expected benefit greater than one year
Examples: property, plant, equipment, intangible assets (copyrights,
trademarks, goodwill)
Accounts receivable (AR) Cash due from customers who have
purchased goods or received services not yet paid for
Inventory Goods for sale or manufacture, valued under GAAP at
lower of cost or market
Prepaid expense Expenses paid in advance, considered an asset until
used (such as a two year insurance policy)
Accumulated depreciation | amortization The sum of all prior
depreciation | amortization (contra asset) increases with a credit and
offsets the value of depreciable assets reported at cost

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities Obligations due in one year or less
Long-term liabilities Debts owed to creditors, due in more than one
year from the balance sheet date
Accounts payable (AP) Money owed to creditors and vendors
Notes payable Debts owed to banks or other creditors based on
written agreements
Accrued expenses Expenses incurred before the end of the
accounting period, but not yet paid for
Deferred revenue Cash received in advance, but not yet
earned
Long-term bonds payable Money borrowed to finance company
operations, due in more than one year
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Common stock Sold to investors for ownership of a
corporation
Preferred stock Investors receive dividends before common
stockholders and usually do not have voting rights
Additional paid-in capital Investment received by corporation,
in excess of par value per share (APIC = Issuance price - Par
value)
Par (stated) value Per share amount on stock certificates, also
referred to as legal capital (no relation to market value)
Retained earnings Sum of all previous profit and losses, less
dividends
Treasury stock Stock repurchased by company
Dividends Corporate profits paid to shareholders from retained
earnings (not an expense)

Accounting Cheat Sheet

AccountingPlay.com
Apps | Downloads | Books

by John Gillingham, CPA All Rights Reserved

INCOME STATEMENT

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FEATURES

Year ended 12/31/2100

Year ended 12/31/2100

Cash flows from operating activities:

Income
Revenue

930

Net income

Cost of goods sold

(10)

Adjustments to reconcile cash used for operations

Gross profit

920

Depreciation and amortization

Expense

40

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Bad debt

90

Depreciation

Accounts receivable

40

Inventories

Interest

Utilities

50

Wages

300

Total Expense

485

Net Income (Profit)

435

Accounts payable
Allowance for doubtful accounts

(400)
10
90

Accrued expenses

300

Total adjustments

40

435
Net cash used in operating activities

INCOME STATEMENT FEATURES

Income statement (profit and loss) shows the performance
of a business by reporting revenue earned minus expenses
incurred to equal net income or loss (profit or loss)
Mechanics Reports the business activity for a specific period
of time and results in net income or loss, which gets recorded
to retained earnings at the end of the accounting period
REVENUE AND EXPENSE
Revenue recognition Recognize (book into accounting record)
revenue when it is earned and realizable
Expense recognition Expenses are recognized when incurred,
as goods are used and services received
Net income or loss Revenue minus expenses results in net
income or net loss also referred to as profit or loss
Net income increases retained earnings and net loss
decreases retained earnings

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FEATURES

Statement of cash flows Shows the flow of cash in and out of
the business
Mechanics Starts with beginning cash from the prior period
and reconciles to ending cash in the current period showing
the changes
Usefulness Shows actual changes in cash on a cash basis,
instead of the accrual basis which does not necessarily reflect
the flow of cash
Indirect method of preparation uses the changes in accrual
basis accounts
Direct method of preparation (uncommon) presents specific
cash flows such as cash received from customers and paid to
suppliers

475

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of property and equipment

(200)

Net cash used in investing activities

(200)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from notes payable

500

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

1,000

Purchase of treasury stock

(175)

Principal on loan payment

(95)

Dividend paid

(8)

Net cash provided by financing activities

1,222

Net increase in cash and equivalents

1,497

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning

Cash and cash equivalents, ending

1,497

Accounting Cheat Sheet

AccountingPlay.com
Apps | Downloads | Books

by John Gillingham, CPA All Rights Reserved

STATEMENT OF OWNERS EQUITY FEATURES

Statement of owners' equity shows sources of capital (business funding), additional paid in capital and common stock breakdown, changes
in retained earnings, and treasury stock (stock repurchased)
Mechanics The statement starts with beginning balances and reconciles to ending period balance

STATEMENT OF OWNERS' EQUITY

As of 12/31/2100
Common stock

Retained earnings

Treasury stock

Total

Balance
December 31, 2099

10

Net income for 2100

Common stock issued

10
435

435

1,000

1,000

Treasury stock

(175)

Dividends

(8)

(175)
(8)

Balance
December 31, 2100

1,010

427

(175)

1,262

Accounting Cheat Sheet

AccountingPlay.com
Apps | Downloads | Books

by John Gillingham, CPA All Rights Reserved

COMMON JOURNAL ENTRIES

1,000

Make $30 cash sale, 1 unit, cost $10

Cash
Revenue
Cost of goods sold
Inventory

500

Repurchase $175 of company stock

Treasury account
Cash

Year ended 12/31/2014

debit
Receive 1,000 investment for common stock
Cash
Common stock
Receive $500 loan
Cash

credit

1,000

500
Note payable

Purchase $200 equipment

Equipment
Cash

200

Collect $500 credit sale

Cash
Accounts receivable
Establish $90 Allowance for doubtful accounts
Bad debt expense
Allowance for doubtful
Record utilities expense $50 after receiving bill
Utilities expense
Accounts payable
Pay utility company $50 in cash for prior bills
Accounts payable
Cash
Accrue $300 in wage expense
Wage expense
Wages payable
Make $100 payment on note payable with cash:
$5 interest $95 principal
Interest expense
Note payable
Cash
Record $40 of depreciation expense
Depreciation
expense
Accumulated depreciation

10
10

175
175

930

Revenue
Bad debt
Cost of goods sold
Depreciation
Interest
Utilities
Wages

900
900

Revenue

30

Close out income statement accounts to income

summary

200

Make $900 credit sale for services performed

Accounts
receivable

30

Income summary

435

Close income summary to retained earnings

Income summary
Retained earnings

435

90
10
40
5
50
300

500
500

435

90
90

Declare $8 dividend
Retained earnings

8
8

Dividends payable
50
50

Pay $8 dividend
Dividends payable

8
Cash

50
50

300
300

US $7.99

5
95
100

Visit Us At
www.AccountingPlay.com

40
40