Match revenues and expenses

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 131 views

Introduction

As the year comes to a close, companies are busy preparing their year-end financial statements. This process involves updating all account balances to reflect transactions that have taken place during the year. However, before finalizing the financial statements, companies must make year-end adjusting entries to ensure that the financial statements accurately reflect the company's financial position and performance. In this article, we will discuss the importance of year-end adjusting entries and provide a step-by-step guide on how to prepare them.

What are Year-End Adjusting Entries?

Year-end adjusting entries are journal entries made at the end of the year to adjust the company's financial statements to reflect the true financial position and performance of the company. These entries are necessary because the company's accounting records may not accurately reflect the financial position and performance of the company due to various reasons such as:

Accruals: Expenses that have been incurred but not yet paid, such as salaries and wages, rent, and utilities.
Prepaid expenses: Expenses that have been paid in advance, such as insurance premiums and rent.
Depreciation: The decrease in value of assets over time, such as buildings, equipment, and vehicles.
Amortization: The decrease in value of intangible assets, such as patents and copyrights.

Why are Year-End Adjusting Entries Important?

Year-end adjusting entries are important because they ensure that the company's financial statements accurately reflect the company's financial position and performance. Without these entries, the financial statements may not be reliable, and investors, creditors, and other stakeholders may make decisions based on inaccurate information. Year-end adjusting entries also help to:

Match revenues and expenses: By matching revenues and expenses, companies can accurately reflect their profitability and cash flows.
Accurately reflect the company's financial position: By adjusting the company's financial statements, companies can accurately reflect their assets, liabilities, and equity.
Comply with accounting standards: Year-end adjusting entries are required by accounting standards, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Year-End Adjusting Entries

Preparing year-end adjusting entries involves the following steps:

Step 1: Identify the Need for Adjusting Entries

The first step in preparing year-end adjusting entries is to identify the need for these entries. This involves reviewing the company's accounting records and identifying any discrepancies or irregularities that may require adjusting entries.

Step 2: Determine the Type of Adjusting Entry

Once the need for adjusting entries has been identified, the next step is to determine the type of adjusting entry required. This may involve:

Accruals: Accruals are adjusting entries that recognize expenses that have been incurred but not yet paid.
Prepaid expenses: Prepaid expenses are adjusting entries that recognize expenses that have been paid in advance.
Depreciation: Depreciation is an adjusting entry that recognizes the decrease in value of assets over time.
Amortization: Amortization is an adjusting entry that recognizes the decrease in value of intangible assets.

Step 3: Calculate the Amount of the Adjusting Entry

Once the type of adjusting entry has been determined, the next step is to calculate the amount of the adjusting entry. This involves:

Accruals: Accruals are calculated by multiplying the expense by the number of days in the period.
Prepaid expenses: Prepaid expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense by the number of days in the period.
Depreciation: Depreciation is calculated by multiplying the cost of the asset by the depreciation rate.
Amortization: Amortization is calculated by multiplying the cost of the intangible asset by the amortization rate.

Step 4: Record the Adjusting Entry

Once the amount of the adjusting entry has been calculated, the next step is to record the adjusting entry. This involves:

Journal entry: A journal entry is made to record the adjusting entry.
General ledger: The adjusting entry is posted to the general ledger.

Step 5: Review and Reconcile the Financial Statements

Once the adjusting entries have been recorded, the final step is to review and reconcile the financial statements. This involves:

Reviewing the financial statements: The financial statements are reviewed to ensure that they accurately reflect the company's financial position and performance.
Reconciling the financial statements: The financial statements are reconciled to ensure that they accurately reflect the company's financial position and performance.

Conclusion

Year-end adjusting entries are an essential part of the financial statement preparation process. These entries ensure that the company's financial statements accurately reflect the company's financial position and performance. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, companies can ensure that their financial statements are accurate and reliable.