Financial statements are prepared according to agreed upon guidelines. In order to understand these guidelines, it helps to understand the objectives of financial reporting. The objectives of financial reporting, as discussed in the Financial Accounting standards Board (FASB) Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts No. 1, are to provide information that
Helps existing and potential investors and creditors and other users to assess the amounts, timing, and uncertainty of prospective net cash inflows to the enterprise
Separate Valuation each asset or liability must be valued separately.
Materiality, only items material in amount or in their nature will affect the true and fair view given by a set of accounts. Historical Cost, tTransactions are recorded at the cost when they occurred. Realization, revenue and profits are recognized when realized. Duality, every transaction has two effects.