Relationship between Management and Financial Accounting

Management and financial accounting provide two approaches that are used for the purpose of monitoring, recording and explaining financial data.

In a simplified language, financial accounting is defined as the process of recording the assets, liabilities, expenses and revenues that are linked to business operations. Management accounting refers to the application of accounting and numerical methods to generate and interpret information that aims to help management in its role of promoting utmost efficiency, enabling future plans and assessing their implementation.

 

 

Relationship of Management Accounting and Financial Accounting

Accounting consists of procedures that make it possible to access important information that facilitates the decision-making process. Although management accounting and financial accounting follow similar principles, they are different in a number of ways.

Both forms of accounting are important for operating a business. It is essential to execute them during the early stages of setting up a business and use them alongside each other while making decisions that affect the business.

Also known as managerial, management accounting is generally used within the company to assist managers in the process of making vital financial decisions. Managers are expected to consider the company’s future, which is why managerial accounting is important for financial planning in advance and anticipating growth according to approximations of what is likely to occur.

Management accounting documents are only utilised internally by company staff like executives and managers. Management reports provide a breakdown of statistics and projections linked to business activities and how they affect the organisation. They are designed for use within the company and are not supposed to be viewed by external entities.

Financial accounting gives tax specialists and investors the solid facts pertaining to equity, assets and liabilities in order for them to be able to evaluate a company’s obligations and output. This type of accounting generates financial statements that are based on historical data, which is required by other professionals outside the company to assess how stable it is.

Since financial statements are reviewed externally, they must adhere to certain accounting principles. Subsequently, the reports must be produced according to specified rules and regulations to ensure that they are always solid and consistent.

 

Differences between Financial Management and Financial Accounting

The key differences between management and financial accounting are as follows:

Definition

Financial accounting is a form of accounting that deals with keeping track of the company’s financial data. Management accounting is a form of accounting that involves recording and reporting both non-financial and financial information pertaining to the company.

 

Users

The main difference between management and financial accounting is who the information is intended for. There are specific metrics and measures that might be more essential for how the business is run, which is a management function. These may exclude other financial information consisting of the financial transactions of the business but do not have a direct impact on business activities.

Users of the information from financial accounting include the organisation’s internal management as well as external entities whereas the users of information derived from management accounting are only within the organisation.

 

Reporting

Financial accounting is reported publicly while management accounting is viewed internally.

Accountants are responsible for compiling the financial reports that are distributed to various stakeholders outside the organisation. These reports present actual numbers along with profits and losses. They are not aimed at internal viewing and must therefore be correct and objective.

Management accounting reports are not distributed externally and do not have to follow the stipulated accounting guidelines. These reports usually contain information that is not pertinent for financial statements.

 

Presentation

Financial accounting primarily contains monetary data. On the other hand, management accounting entails both non-monetary and monetary data. For instance, a production manager may concentrate on the amount of time required to generate a specific output without considering revenues while a manger dealing with sales would be more interested in actual earnings.

 

Accounting Principles

One of the distinctions between financial management and financial accounting is that financial accounting abides by certain accounting standards while management is not stringent about the universal principles of accounting. The standards refer to rules and procedures that ensure the accuracy and consistency of financial statements or accounting information.

Financial accounting is important for providing creditors, tax specialists and investors with information about the organisation’s performance during a time period to give insight on the past and current situation. These reports are also used to prepare the organisation’s taxes, which is why they must be completely accurate.

 

Time Period

Financial statements are typically prepared annually at the end of a specified financial period whereas management reports are prepared according to the company’s requirements or whenever the need to do so arises.

 

Mandatory Requirement

Although financial accounting is a necessity for any flourishing business in order to facilitate auditing, management is not a mandatory requirement because it is not exposed to public scrutiny. Different terms and classifications of information that are used in management and financial accounting will vary among companies.

 

Preparing Reports

Similar financial reports are prepared and distributed to external entities such as trade unions, financial analysts, creditors and shareholders. When it comes to management accounting, the information that is provided is often diverse depending on factors such as departments and managerial levels.

 

Purpose

Financial accounting is based on the organisation’s overall performance and this information is shared with various stakeholders, including employees, suppliers, creditors, customers, shareholders and prospective investors. Management accounting addresses the needs of management and executives.

The purpose of management accounting is to give the company’s management information, which means that one user is targeted. On the other hand, the purpose of financial accounting is to give information to different users.

 

Focus

Financial accounting mainly focuses on past events and outcomes while management accounting focuses on the future in regards to the possibilities and likelihood of certain occurrences later on.

Financial management concentrates on processes instead of financial metrics such as profitability and cash flow, which are the domain of financial accounting.

Responding rapidly to changes in the market usually gives an organisation a competitive edge. Therefore, an aggressive approach to financial management enables informed decisions. However, responding fast to financial information that is produced in accordance with standard accounting principles might not be feasible due to the level of precision required.

 

Historical Factors

Financial accounting handles historical data in addition to processing current information. The accounting period is an important aspect of accounting procedures and standards that makes sure the information is collected and reported consistently. This means that anyone who is aware of general accounting practices will be able to comprehend it.

Financial accounting does not consist of projections or future expectations. While the reports may be valuable in the future for making predictions, financial management is more useful for looking ahead. Companies that can accurately predict what will happen in the market have a competitive advantage, which is why effective financial management is crucial.

Past transactions are important in financial accounting but are not a critical factor in management accounting as it is usually concerned with what is expected to happen in the future.

 

General Outlook of Financial Management and Financial Accounting

Accounting and management functions have been linked to each other for a long time. Distinguishing between the perspectives of managerial and financial accounting is necessary for understanding the purpose that each model serves.

Although management and financial accounting share a number of similarities in regards to how they are used and their functionality, it is important to note that they have distinct differences that are mainly based on target users, accounting principles and compliance.

Financial accounting complies with specific rules to sustain its publicly traded position. Since management accounting is intended for internal users, it can be adjusted to fulfil the needs of its audience. This often varies according to different departments and companies.

 

Final Thoughts

Accounting is essential for helping companies accomplish their objectives and goals by compiling, organising and reporting information about their activities. Consequently, it is fundamental for any thriving business.

Management accounting consists of providing information to managers in the business and aiding these managers in the process of managing and making important decisions. It is different from financial accounting that deals with preparing financial statements for both internal and external stakeholders that include customers, creditors, employees and suppliers.

While management accounting is very important for business, financial accounting also plays a major role. Companies use financial accounting to report information to external entities through financial statements that are the final result of documenting financial transactions.

External entities review the financial statements and make comparisons between the outcomes and their expectations in order for them to evaluate the company. It is necessary for these entities to be aware of the detailed data regarding the company’s financial wellbeing along with its future possibilities.

The relationship between management and financial accounting is based on the need for financial and managerial teams to work together to provide the information that facilitates planning, regulating and decision making in a business. Working together enables them to have what it takes to create a sustainable company.

 

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