Summary and Details Of Accounting Concepts, Principles & Practices

In an earlier article on the objective of the syllabus, candidates for the GCE AS level or A level accounting are required to have a good grip of the accounting concepts, practices and practices.

Below is a SNAPSHOT or SUMMARY of the Accounting Concepts, Principles & Practices for the easy reference of the candidates. For more details, worked examples and illustrations, please click to the individual concept.

Accounting Period Concept

• Also known as Time Period where business operation can be divided into specific period of time such as a month, a quarter or a year(accounting period). Final accounts are prepared at the end of the accounting period ie one year. Internal accounts can be prepared monthly, quarterly or half yearly.

Accrual Concept

• Requires all revenues and expenses to be taken into account for the period in which they are earned and incurred when determining the profit/(loss) of the business. The net profit/(loss) is the difference between the revenue EARNED and the expenses INCURRED and not the difference between the revenue RECEIVED and expenses PAID.

Business Entity Concept

• Also known as Accounting Entity convention which states that the business is an entity or body separate from its owner. Therefore business records should be separated and distinct from personal records of business owner.

Consistency Concept

• According to this convention, accounting practices should remain unchanged from one period to another. For example, if depreciation is charged on fixed assets according to a particular method, it should be done year after year. This is necessary for purpose of comparison.

Dual Aspect Concept

• Double entry system. For every debit, there is a credit entry of an equal amount.

Full Disclosure Concept

• Financial statements should provide sufficient or relevant information to influence users’ decision making.

Going Concern Concept

• The business will follow accounting concepts and methods on the assumption that business will continue its operation to the foreseeable future or for an indefinite period of time.

Historical Cost Concept

• Business should report its activities or economic events at their actual cost. For example, fixed assets are recorded at their cost in accounts except for land which can be revalued due to application.

Materiality Concept

• The accountant should attach importance to material details and ignore insignificant details otherwise accounting will be burdened with minute details. Only items that are deemed significant for a given size of operation.

Matching Concept

• Profit is recognized by matching the income of the period with all expenses incurred in earning such income

Money Measurement Concept

• Also known as Monetary unit. Transactions related to the business, and having money value are recorded in the books of accounts. Events or transactions which cannot be expressed in term of money do not find a place in the books of accounts.

Objectivity And Subjectivity

• Objectivity is following rules of the industry and based on objective evidence and subjectivity is to follow ones own rules and methods

Prudence/Conservatism Concept

• Take into account unrealized losses, not unrealized profit/gains. Assets should not be over-valued, liabilities under-valued. Provision are example of prudence or conservatism concept. Also under this prudence/conservatism concept, stock/inventory is value at lower cost or market value. This concept guides accountants to choose option that minimize the possibility of overstating an asset or income.

Substance Over Form

• Real substance takes over legal form namely we consider the economic or accounting point of view rather than the legal point of view in recording transactions.

Realization Concept

• Revenue is recognized when goods are sold either for cash or credit namely the debtor accept the goods or services and the responsibility to pay for them.