Fun Stuff104 views·Updated May 22, 2026·3 pages

Bookkeeping Certification Exam Guide

Leighaina Clement@leighainaclement_yorw

Accounting is all about tracking, organizing, and understanding the financial... Show more

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# Accounting Cycle

1. Analyze transactions
2. Record transactions in journal
3. Post to ledger
4. Prepare unadjusted trial balance
5. Prepa

The Accounting Cycle & Key Concepts

The accounting cycle follows nine key steps that businesses use to track their finances: 1) analyze transactions, 2) record in journal, 3) post to ledger, 4) prepare unadjusted trial balance, 5) prepare adjusting entries, 6) prepare adjusted trial balance, 7) prepare financial statements, 8) prepare closing entries, and 9) create post-closing trial balance.

The fundamental accounting equation states that Assets = Liabilities + Equity. This equation can be rearranged to find any component: Assets - Liabilities = Equity or Liabilities = Assets - Equity. When recording transactions, remember DEALER: Debits increase Dividends, Expenses, and Assets while Credits increase Liabilities, Equity, and Revenue.

Two main accounting methods exist: cash basis (recording revenue when cash is received and expenses when cash is paid) and accrual basis (recording revenue when earned and expenses when incurred). Most businesses use accrual accounting because it gives a more accurate picture of financial performance.

💡 Real-World Connection: The W2 form your employer shares summarizes your yearly earnings and tax payments, while the W4 form you complete when starting a job helps determine tax withholding from your paycheck.

Financial statements tell different stories about a business: the balance sheet shows wealth at a specific date, the income statement summarizes revenue and expenses over time, the cash flow statement tracks money movement, and the statement of owners equity shows changes in shareholders' investment.

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Managing Business Transactions & Accounts

When managing business transactions, specific documents serve different purposes. For example, if a customer returns a product or you give a refund, you'll create a credit memo to document this change. Understanding FED withholding allowances and FICA (Medicare and social security) is crucial for payroll accounting.

Businesses organize their assets and liabilities based on timeframes. Current assets include cash, debtors, and inventory that can be quickly converted to cash, while long-term assets include fixed items like property and equipment. Similarly, current liabilities are obligations expected to be paid within a year (creditors, payroll expenses), and long-term liabilities include bonds and mortgage loans.

Reconciliation is a critical monthly process that compares your records against bank statements to ensure accuracy. You'll need to reconcile prepaid expenses, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and inventory. Watch for issues like NSF checks (not sufficient funds), uncleared checks, and uncleared deposits when reconciling.

💡 Test Tip: Remember that the accounting cycle includes all revenues and expenses, and operates under key assumptions like accrual basis and going concern (the business will continue operating).

The general ledger organizes all accounts (assets, liabilities, income, and expenses), while the journal records daily transactions with date, description, account name, and amount. Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of goods sold from sales revenue.

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Advanced Accounting Principles

The accounting equation $Assets = Liabilities + Equity$ forms the foundation of accounting and can be rearranged to solve for any component. When working with this equation, remember that equity represents ownership interest, essentially what would remain if all liabilities were paid off.

When using T-accounts (the visual representation of ledger accounts), watch out for common problems: omissions (forgotten transactions), improper recording, and incorrect categorization. The rules for debits and credits are crucial: debits decrease liability, revenue, or equity accounts while credits increase them. Conversely, debits increase asset or expense accounts while credits decrease them.

Financial statements serve different purposes in accounting. The income statement displays revenues, gains, expenses, and losses during a specific period, revealing both operating and non-operating activities. The statement of equity shows changes in earned profits, dividends, shareholder contributions, and payouts.

💡 Remember This: Assets appear on the balance sheet, and royalty income increases equity since it represents earnings for the business.

Understanding these relationships helps you analyze business performance and make informed decisions about a company's financial health. Mastering these concepts will prepare you for both accounting classes and real-world financial analysis.

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Fun Stuff104 views·Updated May 22, 2026·3 pages

Bookkeeping Certification Exam Guide

Leighaina Clement@leighainaclement_yorw

Accounting is all about tracking, organizing, and understanding the financial information of a business. This summary breaks down essential accounting concepts, from the accounting cycle to financial statements, helping you grasp how businesses record and report their financial activities.

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The Accounting Cycle & Key Concepts

💡 Real-World Connection: The W2 form your employer shares summarizes your yearly earnings and tax payments, while the W4 form you complete when starting a job helps determine tax withholding from your paycheck.

of 3

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Managing Business Transactions & Accounts

💡 Test Tip: Remember that the accounting cycle includes all revenues and expenses, and operates under key assumptions like accrual basis and going concern (the business will continue operating).

of 3

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Advanced Accounting Principles

💡 Remember This: Assets appear on the balance sheet, and royalty income increases equity since it represents earnings for the business.