What is Accrual Accounting? In financial accounting, accruals refer to the recording of revenues a company has earned but has yet to receive payment for, and expenses that have been incurred but the company has yet to pay. This method also aligns with the matching principle, which says revenues should be recognized when earned and…
What is Absorption Costing? Absorption costing is a costing system that is used in valuing inventory. It not only includes the cost of materials and labor, but also both variable and fixed manufacturing overhead costs. Absorption costing is also referred to as full costing. This guide will show you what’s included, how to calculate it,…
What are Notes Receivable? Notes receivable are a balance sheet item that records the value of promissory notes that a business is owed and should receive payment for. A written promissory note gives the holder, or bearer, the right to receive the amount outlined in the legal agreement. Promissory notes are a written promise to…
How are the 3 Financial Statements Linked? The 3 financial statements are all linked and dependent on each other. In financial modeling, your first job is to link all three statements together in Excel, so it’s critical to understand how they’re connected. This is also a common question for investment banking interviews, FP&A interviews, and…
What is Research and Development (R&D)? Research and Development (R&D) is a process by which a company obtains new knowledge and uses it to improve existing products and introduce new ones to its operations. R&D is a systematic investigation with the objective of introducing innovations to the company’s current product offerings. It achieves this by…
What are Variable Costs? Variable costs are expenses that vary in proportion to the volume of goods or services that a business produces. In other words, they are costs that vary depending on the volume of activity. The costs increase as the volume of activities increases and decrease as the volume of activities decreases. The…
What are Credit Sales? Credit sales refer to a sale in which the amount owed will be paid at a later date. In other words, credit sales are purchases made by customers who do not render payment in full, in cash, at the time of purchase. To learn more, check out CFI’s Credit Analyst Certification program….
What is a Working Capital Cycle? The working capital cycle for a business is the length of time it takes to convert the total net working capital (current assets less current liabilities) into cash. Businesses typically try to manage this cycle by selling inventory quickly, collecting revenue from customers quickly, and paying bills slowly to…
What is “Below the Line”? Below the Line refers to items in a profit and loss statement that are income or expense items that are not normally incurred in a company’s day-to-day operations. It includes exceptional and extraordinary items that relate to another accounting period or do not apply to the current accounting period. Categorizing…
What are Product Costs? Product costs are costs that are incurred to create a product that is intended for sale to customers. Product costs include direct material (DM), direct labor (DL), and manufacturing overhead (MOH). Understanding the Costs in Product Costs Product costs are the costs directly incurred from the manufacturing process. The three basic…
