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What is the difference between financial accounting and management accounting?

Author:
Harold Averkamp, CPA, MBA

Definition of Financial Accounting

Financial accounting has its focus on the financial statements which are distributed to stockholders, lenders, financial analysts, and others outside of a corporation or other organization. Because of the many users, the financial statements must comply with the generally accepted accounting principles, known as GAAP or US GAAP.

Definition of Managerial Accounting

Managerial accounting is focused on assisting management in the operation of the company. This will include analyzing a company’s costs, assisting in financial decisions, profit planning, calculating break-even points, capital budgeting, and calculating the costs of existing products in order to value the company’s inventory and to determine the cost of goods sold (both to be used on the financial statements).

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  • Debits and Credits
  • Adjusting Entries
  • Financial Statements
  • Balance Sheet
  • Income Statement
  • Cash Flow Statement
  • Working Capital and Liquidity
  • Financial Ratios
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Accounts Receivable and Bad Debts Expense
  • Depreciation
  • Payroll Accounting
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About the Author

Harold Averkamp

For the past 52 years, Harold Averkamp (CPA, MBA) has
worked as an accounting supervisor, manager, consultant, university instructor, and innovator in teaching accounting online. He is the sole author of all the materials on AccountingCoach.com.

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