AccountingQA Latest Questions

Ishika Pandey
Ishika PandeyCurious
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Yes, a creditor is a liability. Creditors are treated as current liability. A creditor is a person who provides money or goods to a business and agrees to receive repayment of the loan or the payment of goods at a later date. The loan may be extended with or without interest. Creditors may be secureRead more

    Yes, a creditor is a liability. Creditors are treated as current liability.

    A creditor is a person who provides money or goods to a business and agrees to receive repayment of the loan or the payment of goods at a later date. The loan may be extended with or without interest.

    Creditors may be secured creditors or unsecured creditors. In the case of secured creditors, some collateral is usually pledged to them. In the case of a default, they can sell or otherwise dispose of the collateral in any manner to recover the money due to them.

    In the case of unsecured creditors, no collateral is pledged against the amount due to them. In the case of a default, they can approach a Court to enforce repayment but cannot sell any asset of the company by themselves.

    Why are Creditors treated as a liability?

    An asset is something from which the business is deriving or is likely to derive economic benefit in the future. The business has legal ownership of that asset which is legally enforceable in a court of law. For example, Plant and Machinery, accrued interest, building, etc

    A liability is a legal obligation of the business. It may be in the form of outstanding payments or loans or the owner’s share of the company that the company has to pay them as and when demanded.

    As the company has a legal obligation to pay money to the creditor, they are treated as a liability. Most creditors are to be repaid within 1 year and are hence classified as current assets.

    Treatment and Importance of Creditors

    Creditors are mostly treated as current liabilities. They are shown under the head “current liabilities” of the balance sheet of a company.

    The significance/importance of creditors is as follows:

    • The amount due to creditors affects the current and acid test ratio of a company significantly.
    • It affects the short-term cash requirements of a company.
    • It affects the credit policy of the company. A company can extend longer credit periods to customers if it can avail longer credit periods from its suppliers.
    • Having too many creditors or a large amount due to creditors can affect investor sentiment negatively regarding the business.

    We can conclude that the creditor being a person to whom the business is legally liable to pay a certain sum of money after a certain period of time has to be classified as a liability.

    Creditors play a major role in determining the success of a business. They act as a major constituent of the supply cycle of the business and affect the cash flows of the business. They are shown under the head “current liabilities” of the balance sheet of a company.

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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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I am looking for accounting entries asked in interviews.

  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student

    Interviews can appear daunting. But don't worry we are here for you. Here is a comprehensive list of journal entries and other technical and behavioral questions mostly asked in interviews. Journal entries for the following situations are most frequently asked: A cashier is absconding with cash wortRead more

    Interviews can appear daunting. But don’t worry we are here for you. Here is a comprehensive list of journal entries and other technical and behavioral questions mostly asked in interviews.

    Journal entries for the following situations are most frequently asked:

    • A cashier is absconding with cash worth 10,000.
    • Bad debts worth ₹10,000 have been recovered.
    • The Head Office received ₹ 5,000 from its Branch.
    • Issue of bonus shares worth 5,00,000
    • Depreciation on land
    • Contra Entries
    • Inventory used for personal purposes
    • Personal car transferred to inventory

    Besides these, there are certain general questions that are almost always asked. You must be well prepared for these questions. For example,

    • Introduce yourself
    • Why do you want to join this company?
    • Why do you not want to join our competitors? ( prepare one or two specific competitors)
    • Why do you think you are fit for this role?

    Behavioral Questions

    Behavioral questions seek to evaluate your personality and access how you would act or react in certain situations.

    Here are some of the most frequently asked behavioral questions:

    • Tell me about an experience where you faced stress and how you handled it.
    • How do you react when team members do not agree with you?
    • How do you react when you do not agree with the team leader?
    • What is the biggest challenge that you have ever faced in your life and how did you handle it?
    • Tell me about a time when you had to take a leadership role.
    • Tell me about a time when you took initiative.
    • Tell me about a time when you failed and how you handled it.
    • Tell me about a time when you used your problem-solving skills
    • Tell me about the biggest mistake you have committed in life.
    • Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.
    • Have you ever worked with a team before?
    • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
    • Tell me about the biggest mistake you committed in your life.

    Technical questions

    Technical questions are those that test your academic knowledge of accounting. They intend to assess your conceptual understanding and clarity of the subject. Here’s a list of technical questions related to accounting most frequently asked in interviews:

    • What is working capital?
    • What is AS 1? ( Prepare all AS)
    • What is the P/E ratio?
    • A company takes a loan of ₹5,00,000 to buy an asset. State the impact on the cash flow statement and balance sheet.
    • A company issues debentures worth ₹10,00,000. State the impact on the cash flow statement and balance sheet.
    • What is the difference between a trial balance and a balance sheet?
    • Differentiate between dormant and inactive accounts.
    • What is Acid-Test Ratio?
    • How can we estimate bad debts?
    • How can a company improve its market capitalization?
    • What is GAAP?
    • Why do we need AS?
    • What are fictitious assets?
    • What is the difference between provision and reserve?
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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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  2. Razeen_Nakhwa

    Accrual accounting is an accounting method where revenue or expenses are recorded when a transaction occurs vs. when payment is received or made.  The most common accrual accounting examples are sales on credit, purchases on credit, rent paid, electricity expense, depreciation, audit fees, and otherRead more

    Accrual accounting is an accounting method where revenue or expenses are recorded when a transaction occurs vs. when payment is received or made.  The most common accrual accounting examples are sales on credit, purchases on credit, rent paid, electricity expense, depreciation, audit fees, and other such things.

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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student
    This answer was edited.

    Accrued expenses are those expenses that have already been incurred but not paid. The business has already received the benefit of these goods or services but is yet to pay for them. For example, X Ltd took an insurance policy on 30th September 20XX. The premium is to be paid annually on 30th SeptemRead more

    Accrued expenses are those expenses that have already been incurred but not paid. The business has already received the benefit of these goods or services but is yet to pay for them.

    For example,

    • X Ltd took an insurance policy on 30th September 20XX. The premium is to be paid annually on 30th September every year for the next 20 years.
    • While preparing the financial statements for the year 20XX – 20XX+1, the business will recognize insurance premiums for the period 30th September, 20XX to 31st March 20XX+1 as an accrued expense. The premium would be actually paid on September 20XX+1.
    • As we can see, the company has already incurred the insurance premium for the period 30th September, 20XX to 31st March 20XX+1.
    • Thus, it has to recognize the same as an expense of that period only even though it will be actually paid in the next accounting period.

    Why does the concept of accrued expenses arise in accounting?

    The concept of accrued expenses arises in accounting because accounting records transactions on an accrual and not cash basis.

    Accounting on an accrual basis implies recording transactions as and when they are incurred while recording transactions on a cash basis means recording them as and when cash is actually paid for receiving those services.

    For example,

    • X Ltd ordered 5 televisions from LG. It received the delivery of all 5 televisions on 1st March, 20XX. However, it received the invoice for those televisions on 31st April, 20XX.
    • Now, the question arises as to whether while preparing the financial statements on 31st March, 20XX, X Ltd will recognize the cost of those 5 televisions as a purchase expenditure.
    • If X Ltd were recording transactions on a cash basis, they would not have recognized the cost of those 5 televisions as a purchase expenditure in the financial statements prepared on 31st March 20XX as the payment had been made in the next financial year.
    • Thus, in that case, that purchase would be recorded in the financial statements of the next year.
    • However, accounting is done on an accrual basis. As per accrual basis, as the event of purchase has occurred during the financial year ending 31st March 20XX, it must be recorded in financial statements for that period only.
    • Thus, due to the accrual basis, X Ltd will record that expenditure in the financial statements prepared on 31st March 20XX even though cash has been paid in the next financial year.

    Treatment of Accrued Expenses

    Accrued expenses are classified as current liabilities. That is because the business has a short-term obligation to pay these expenses. The other party has a legal right to receive the amount due. In other words, accrued expenses become payable in the near term.

    As current liabilities, accrued expenses are carried in the balance sheet on the liabilities side. They are also recognized in the income statement as an expense as per the concept of accrual basis of accounting.

    Conclusion

    Accrued expenses are the expenses for which the business has already received the benefit of goods or services but which are payable in an accounting period other than the one in which such benefit is received.

    As per the accrual basis of accounting, they are recognized in the year in which the expense is incurred. The expense is carried forward as a current liability until the period in which it is actually paid.

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Simerpreet
SimerpreetHelpful
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  2. SidharthBadlani CA Inter Student

    No, forensic accounting and auditing are not the same thing. Forensic accounting is a much more detailed task that is normally done when fraud or other illegal activity is suspected. The evidence collected by forensic accountants is used in the court of law. Forensic accounting is mostly done when aRead more

    No, forensic accounting and auditing are not the same thing. Forensic accounting is a much more detailed task that is normally done when fraud or other illegal activity is suspected.

    The evidence collected by forensic accountants is used in the court of law. Forensic accounting is mostly done when a suit has already been filed or is likely to be filed.

     

    How Forensic Accounting Differs from Auditing?

    Auditing means an inspection of financial statements done by experts with a view to obtaining reasonable assurance as to whether or not the financial statements correctly state the financial position and financial performance of the entity during the period under audit.

    Forensic accounting is the use of accounting skills to detect any fraud, embezzlement or other illegal activity that may have occurred within the entity.

    This is how forensic accounting differs from auditing:

    • Forensic accounting is different from auditing in that forensic accounting is done with an intention to identify and uncover frauds while auditing is normally done to provide the users of financial statements reasonable assurance that the statements are correct and true.
    • Auditing usually identifies only those misstatements that are material. Materiality is the one of the main concerns of auditors. However, in forensic auditing every type of misstatement is scrutinized as material. The forensic accountants try to identify fraud in every misstatement.
    • Forensic accounting is usually done only when fraud and other illegal activities are suspected and some suit has been filed or is likely to be filed while auditing of annual financial statements is mandatory for firms meeting certain threshold limits of turnover/gross receipt/revenue.

    Importance of Forensic Accounting

    • Forensic accounting is used to detect frauds, forgery, misappropriation of assets and other illegal activities.
    • The evidence collected during forensic accounting can be used in a court of law. Often, those conducting forensic accounting are also called upon to testify as experts in a court.
    • Forensic accounting identifies loopholes in the internal controls of an entity that has been or may be exploited for conducting frauds and other illegal activities.
    • Forensic accountants suggest different measures that an entity can take to make it’s internal controls more effective and prevent illegal activities in the future.

    Conclusion

    Forensic accounting and auditing are very different from each other. While auditing is done to identify only material misstatement, forensic accounting is done with an objective of detecting possible fraud or other illegal activity. Auditing of financial statements is mandatory for firms exceeding certain threshold limits of turnover/gross receipts/revenue while financial accounting is usually done when a suit for fraud, embezzlement etc has been filed or is likely to be filed.

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