LESSON 17 ACCOUNTING Accounting is frequently called the “language of
business” because of its ability to communicate financial
information about the organization . Various interested parties,
such as managers, potential investors, creditors, and the
government, depends on a compony’s accounting system to
help them make informed financial decisions. An effective
accounting system, therefore, must include accurate collecting,
recording, classifying, summarizing, interpreting, and reporting
of information on the financial status of an organization.
In order to achieve a standardized system, the
accounting process follows accounting principles and rules.
Regardless of the type of business or the amount of money
involved, common procedures for handling and presenting
financial information are used. Incoming money (revenues) and
outgoing money (expenditures) are carefully monitered, and
transactions are summarized in financial statements, which
reflect the major financial activities of an organization.
The work of accountants is rather sofisticated. People
who specialize in the field of accounting are known as
bookkeepers and accountants. Bookkeepers deal in taxes and
different business transactions of the company. The
accountant’s responsibility is to analyze and interpret the
financial data and make it understandable for users. In the
United States, accountants are usually classified as private,
government, and public. Private accountants work solely for
private companies or corparations that hire them to maintain
financial records, and governmental accountants work for
governmental agencies. Both private and governmental
accountants are paid on a salary basis, whereas public
accountants receive fees for the services. Public accountants
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work independently and provide accounting services such as
auditing and tax computation to companies and individuals.
Many accountants have special certificates after they
pass examinations in Institute of Accountants. Certified
accountants in England are called chartered accountants. In the
USA the certified accountants are called certified public accountants (CPA).
Through effective application of commonly accepted
accounting systems, accountants provide accurate and timely
financial information that is necessary for organizational
decision-making. No expansion or recorganization is planned
without them. New products and advertising campaigns are also
prepared with the help of the accountant.