Accountants provide valuable services that allow companies to track, communicate, and manage their financial operations. Their work is at the core of modern financial markets and is relied upon by investors and regulators alike.
Amazon QuickBooks integration helps Keep your orders, sales summaries, cash balances, and more right in your accounting platform. Many accounting firms are moving away from an hourly fee model and embracing a fixed fee approach that provides better client value.
Financial Statements
Financial statements are a vital piece of information for business owners and managers. They provide insight into how much a company is earning and spending, what its assets are worth, and how it’s managing its cash flow. Financial statements are often a requirement for regulatory compliance and are examined by government bodies, banks, and investors.
There are four main types of financial statements: balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and statements of shareholders’ equity. A balance sheet shows the amount of assets, liabilities, and stockholders’ equity at a specific time.
The income statement illustrates a company’s profitability under accrual accounting rules. The net income calculated is used in the balance sheet as an ending retained earnings figure. The cash flow statement shows the money a company exchanges with its external environment over time. The statement of shareholders’ equity shows how shareholder investments have changed within a given time frame. Financial statements may also include notes that clarify individual line items in the statement. For example, a note may explain an adjustment to a fixed asset impairment or disclose that the company is in litigation.
Payroll
Payroll processing is a critical activity that requires meticulous attention to detail. It includes ensuring that paychecks are accurate, timely, and compliant with government regulations. A misstep can result in employees getting upset or, worse, hefty fines from government agencies.
This is where accounting services come in. Accounting services in Minneapolis help businesses streamline the payroll process and reduce or eliminate errors. They also help to ensure that all statutory compliances are met, including filing returns and depositing taxes such as TDS, EPF, etc.
Often, these services are charged a small fee, but the time saved by eliminating costly errors and non-compliance sanctions can make it well worth the investment. Moreover, it allows businesses to allocate their internal resources towards more crucial responsibilities like customer attraction and retention. Payroll service providers calculate wages, deductions, and other payslip components, then prepare and deliver employee checks or direct deposits. They also maintain records of past pay periods and assist with year-round tax and record-keeping compliance. It makes them an ideal partner for busy SMEs.
Inventory
Whether you have a restaurant, bar, or other commercial operation, inventory is your stock of current assets with monetary value. It’s important to differentiate between raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods inventories. Managing the balance is crucial to order fulfillment, production planning, and supply chain management.
The inventory process involves counting and comparing physical inventory with the data-derived product quantity on hand (QOH) in records. It is called a stock take and usually happens at the end and beginning of each accounting period. In between, interim counts are essential, such as cycle counts or spot checks. These smaller inventories help find small stockings. Efficient inventory management ensures that products are always available when needed, preventing overstocking or understocking issues.
You can use inventory tracking methods such as first in, first out (FIFO), which stocks new merchandise behind older stock and sells the oldest items first, or last in, first off (LIFO). Your accounting service should be familiar with these processes to help you determine what method works best for your business.
Valuation Reports
Valuation reports are used by business owners, their lawyers, and other professionals when they are preparing to sell or buy a company; raising bank or investor equity; pursuing a legal claim or settling an IRS-related reporting or tax event. Utilizing tools like a valuation calculator can enhance the precision and efficiency of these reports, aiding in accurate assessments of a company’s worth.
Whether a calculation report, summary report, or complex valuation engagement, the resulting document should be clear and concise and provide enough information to permit intended users to understand the data, reasoning, and analyses supporting the valuator’s conclusion of value. Valuation reports are typically accompanied by a statement of the valuator’s confidence level in their conclusion of value.
It is also not unusual for a valuation assignment to require “normalizing” adjustments to the company’s historical financial statements. These could include one-time expenses, nonrecurring income, or even compensation exceeding market rates for various reasons.
Advisory Services
Advisory services may seem self-explanatory, but this professional role requires much hard work and training. Accountants who provide these services must be familiar with their client’s business models and processes. In addition to identifying clients’ pain points, they must suggest ways to help them grow.
Accounting firms must develop their knowledge of industry-specific processes, risk factors, accounting technology, and process expertise to provide advisory services. Having these skills helps accountants deliver a wide range of solutions, including budgeting, goal setting, cash flow forecasting, product pricing testing, key performance indicator dashboards, and strategic planning.
Integrating advisory services with existing client accounts can reduce tax season burnout and give a definite competitive edge to accounting firms. To achieve this, the firm must shift its mindset and culture and invest in suitable cloud-based software.
