ACCOUNTING CYCLE

STEPS IN ANALYZING TRANSACTION

1. Read the transaction to understand what is happening and how it affects the business. Example, the business has more Revenue, or has more Expenses, or has more Cash, or Owes less to Creditors.
2. Identify the accounts involved, and decide whether the accounts are increased or decrease. Look for Cash first; you will quickly recognize if Cash is coming in or going out.
3. Decide on the Classifications of the accounts involved. (for Example, Equipment is something the business owes, and it's a liability; Rent is an Expense.
4. After recording the transaction, make sure the accounting equation is in balance.

THE FIVE CLASSIFICATIONS:
Accounts Category Normal Balance Increase Decrease
1. ASSETS DEBIT DEBIT CREDIT
2. LIABILITIES CREDIT CREDIT DEBIT
3. OWNER'S EQUITY
CAPITAL CREDIT CREDIT DEBIT
WITHDRAWALS DEBIT DEBIT CREDIT
4. REVENUE CREDIT CREDIT DEBIT
5. EXPENSES DEBIT DEBIT CREDIT

STEPS IN THE ACCOUNTING PROCESS
1. Record the transactions of a business in a JOURNAL book of original entry - the day - by day record of the transactions of a firm). Entry should be based on some source document or evidence that a transaction has occurred, such as an invoice, a receipt, or a check.
2. Post entries to the accounts in the LEDGER. Transfer the amounts from the JOURNAL to the Debit or Credit column of the specified accounts in the LEDGER. Use a cross reference system. Accounts are placed in the LEDGER according to the account numbers assigned to them in the CHART OF ACCOUNT.
3. Prepare a TRIAL BALANCE. Record the balances of the LEDGER accounts in the appropriate Debit or Credit column of the Trial balances form. Prove that the total of the debit balances equals the total of the credit balances.
RECORDING BUSINESS TRANSACTION
To repeat Business transactions are events that have a direct effect on the operations of an economic unit or enterprise and are expressed in terms of money. Each business transaction must be recorded in the accounting records. As one records business transactions, one has to change the amounts listed under the headings Assets, Liabilities, and Owners Equity. However, the total of one side of the fundamental accounting equation should always equal the total of the other side.
SUMMARY OF TRANSACTIONS
Summarizing each individual ledger account and listing these accounts and their balances to test for accuracy in recording the transactions.
1. Name of the company
2. Title
3. Date
4. Account Name (In order - Chart of Account)
5. Two Column Debit - Credit
CHART OF ACCOUNTS
A numbering system of accounts that list account titles and accounts numbers to be used by a company.
Before recording transactions for new business, the accountant must first think of all the possible types of transactions that the company will carry out. Based on this variety of possible transactions, the company's accountant makes a list of account titles to be use to record the company's transactions.
Chart of Account - Is the official list of the ledger accounts in which transactions of a business are to be recorded. Assets are listed, Liabilities, Owners Equity, Revenue, and Expenses.
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