Nov 1, 2024
What Do Your Financials Really Look Like?
It's essential to ensure your monthly financials accurately reflect your business's financial health and performance.
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FlowFi
Product Marketing Manager
It's essential to ensure your monthly financials accurately reflect your business's financial health and performance. Here are some common reasons why they might be different from what you expect:
Timing Differences: Accrual accounting records revenues and expenses when they are incurred, not when cash actually changes hands. This can lead to discrepancies between cash flow and profitability.
Incomplete Records: Missing or incomplete transactions—especially expenses or revenues that haven't been recorded—can skew your financial reports.
Recording Errors: Simple mistakes in data entry or categorization can lead to incorrect figures in your financial statements.
Non-Recurring Items: One-time expenses or revenues, like large purchases or unexpected gains, can distort monthly figures.
Accounting Adjustments: Adjustments made by your accountant for depreciation, amortization, or accruals may affect your bottom line.
Comparative Periods: Comparing to prior months or years might reveal trends or anomalies that need investigation.
To get a clearer picture:
Reconcile Accounts: Ensure all bank statements, credit card statements, and other financial records reconcile with your books.
Review Transactions: Double-check that all transactions are categorized correctly and none are missing.
Consult Your Accountant: If you're unsure, your accountant can help identify discrepancies and adjust your financial statements accordingly.
Analytical Review: Look beyond the numbers; understand the drivers behind changes in your financials to spot any anomalies or unexpected trends.
By addressing these points, you can ensure your monthly financials provide an accurate representation of your business's financial position and performance.