Financial Statements Introduction
Financial statements generally take the form of records of the financial performance of a business. They provide information about the profitability and general financial health of the organisation. A company’s financial records usually consist of:

  • Income Statement
  • Balance Sheet
  • Cash Flow Statement

An income statement, also called a Profit and Loss Statement, shows how a company’s sales or revenue translate into profit (net income) over a specific period (normally one year). It’s a record of how much a company has earned, what expenses it has paid and the resulting profit or loss.

A balance sheet, also known as a statement of financial position, is a summary of what an entity is worth at a particular point in time. It summarizes what a business owns (its assets), what it owes (its liabilities) and its net worth (its equity or capital). While the income statement is a summary over a period of time (usually a year), the balance sheet is a summary at just one point in time. The balance sheet is a “snapshot” of a company’s health

A cash flow statement is a summary of a company’s ingoing and outgoing money over a specific period (normally one year). It is such a valuable report because it shows the cashflow strength of a business unlike the income statement which contain non-cash items.

The Importance of Financial Statements
Financial statements are crucial instruments used by a company’s management and investors for analysis and decision-making. They pore over the numbers and create every ratio imaginable in an effort to create the most accurate financial story possible. Without financial statements knowledgeable management and investment simply wouldn’t be possible.