Difference Between Accounting and Finance

Accounting is the art of keeping the record of business events and transactions in a systematic manner. It helps in determining the financial position and profitability of the company at the end of the financial year. It is not exactly the same as finance. Technically, finance is a part of economics that is concerned with resource allocation and management of funds. While accounting is a sub-domain of finance.

The two differ in the sense that accounting is all about recording the flow of money in and out of the business. While finance is related to how an individual or a firm manages its assets and liabilities.

This post presents all the differences between accounting and finance. Along with that, you will also get to learn the basics of the two subjects.

Content: Accounting Vs Finance

1. Comparison Chart
2. What is Accounting?
   • How does accounting generate financial information?
   • Process
   • Objectives
   • Functions
3. What is Finance?
   • Types
   • Organization of Finance Function
4. Key Differences
5. Relationship
6. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

What is Accounting?

Accounting refers to a process with a series of steps related to keeping a track of business activities of financial nature. After that, presenting the same to its users. In this, we keep a date-wise record of the financial transactions. After that. we classify, summarize, analyse and interpret them. And then, the results of these financial transactions are communicated to users.

As language acts as a means of communication. Accounting being the business language that communicates financial information to its users. Hence, the basic objective of accounting is to determine profit or loss, for a particular period. This enables users to know the financial condition of the firm on the specified date.

How does accounting generate financial information?

1. Identifying: Ascertaining what transactions to record. This includes observation and selection of such events which are financial in nature.
2. Recording: Entering financial transactions in a systematic manner, as and when they occur. And to do so, we use Journal or subsidiary books.
3. Classifying: After the recording of data, the transactions of similar nature or type are grouped together. For this purpose, the firm opens various accounts in a ledger which is a secondary book. Thereafter, the posting of transactions in those accounts takes place.
4. Summarizing: It involves the preparation and presentation of the classified data. The classification takes place in a manner that is useful to the users. In this step, the firm prepares financial statements.
5. Analysing: Analysis is the systematic classification of data provided in the financial statements. Unless the figures stated in the financial statements are presented in a simplified manner, they won’t mean anything.
6. Interpreting: It involves explaining the meaning and importance of relationships created through data analysis. Therefore, analysis and interpretation of the financial statement help the users to make a rational judgement.
7. Communicating: Preparation, presentation and communication of accounting information is in the form of accounting reports. These reports are submitted to the management and users. The users of the financial statement include all the stakeholders:
   • Creditors
   • Debtors
   • Lenders
   • Suppliers
   • Investors
   • Shareholders
   • Employees

Also Read: Difference Between Bookkeeping and Accounting

Accounting Process

It is a seven-step process:

• Identification of Transaction
• Preparation of Documents
• Recording in Journal
• Ledger Posting
• Preparing Trial Balance
• Passing Adjusting Entries
• Preparation of final accounts, i.e. Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement

Objectives of Accounting

Accounting aims to:

1. Systematically record all the monetary transactions
2. Determine the outcome of the recorded transaction
3. Determine the financial position of business
4. Provide information to the users for making sound judgement
5. Know the company’s solvency status

Functions of Accounting

1. Measurement: It measures the performance of the enterprise in the past. Also, it discloses its financial position in the current scenario.
2. Forecasting: With the help of past information one can forecast future performance and trends.
3. Decision Making: For sound and rational decision making, accounting provides useful data to all the users.
4. Comparison & Evaluation: Using the accounting information, one can compare past and present performance. Also, it helps in the evaluation of the financial results.
5. Control: It plays a crucial role in identifying the loopholes in the operational system. In addition, it gives feedback about the effectiveness of the steps implemented to curb those loopholes.
6. Government Regulation and Taxation: As we all know that for some entities maintenance of books of accounts is mandatory. This is because it helps the government in exercising control. Besides, it helps in the collection of taxes and auditing as well.

Also Read: Difference Between Accounting and Accountancy

What is Finance?

In the layman language, finance is all about money management, in a way that it is available at the time when it is required. From the enterprise point of view, finance indicates all the economic resources, which a company uses and mobilizes so as to grow it over time.

Also, it is a process of arranging funds for any kind of expenditure and spending money. It involves the allocation of funds in such a way that it can reap the highest return over time. It is not just about managing funds but also multiplying them to the best in interest. For this purpose, all the risks and uncertainties are taken into account.

Types of Finance

1. Personal Finance: It is the activity of managing the finances of an individual. Also, it involves assisting the individual in achieving the desired financial goals.
2. Corporate Finance: It is related to funding the expenses of the enterprise and developing a capital structure for the company. It includes sourcing and application of funds in a manner that increases the value of the firm in long term.
3. Public Finance: This branch is concerned with government revenue, expenditure, debt and its impact on the whole economy. It is how the central, state and local government of the country manages its revenue and expenses to provide public utility services.

Organization of Finance Function

It refers to the division of finance functions and establishing an efficient organization. The organization of finance function varies from one firm to another. This is due to the difference in the size and nature of the organization, and type of financing operations.

The company’s CFO, i.e. Chief Financial Officer is not just responsible for the management of day to day finances. Rather, he/she is also responsible for drafting policies and decision making. In a large organization, the CFO divides the finance functions into two separate functions. These are management of finance and management of financial control.

Treasurer

The responsibility of the treasurer is to look after the procurement and application of funds. In addition, he performs the following functions:

• Cash Management: It involves the management of cash receipts and disbursements to/from the business. It also involves procuring finance from different sources and timely payment of business obligations.
• Credit Management: It involves the ascertainment of the credibility of customers and making arrangements for the timely collection of credit sales.
• Asset Management: This is all about the arrangement for procurement, disposal, and insurance of assets.
• Securities Management: It is related to the investment of surplus funds of the business into various securities.
• Banking Relations: Maintenance of banking relations like operating the company’s current account.

Controller

The controller has to manage the funds and look after accounting for the same. Besides, he performs the given functions:

• Planning & Budgeting: It involves financial planning, budgeting, sales forecasting, inventory control and so forth.
• Financial Accounting: It is that system of accounting that involves recording and reporting monetary transactions.
• Cost Accounting: Setting up of cost accounting system to determine the cost of production.
• Data Processing: It is all about data collection and data analysis.
• Internal Auditing: This function is related to internal audit and internal control of the firm
• Annual Reports: Preparation of annual reports and all other reports which the firm’s top management requires for sound decision making.

Also Read: Difference Between Public finance and Private finance

Relationship

As accounting is a part of finance, it is obvious that finance is a broader concept. Finance makes use of the accounting data, like income statements, cash flow statements and balance sheets to make a sound financial decision. That is to say, it helps in allocating the funds of business in such a manner that will reap the best out of them.

Conclusion

Therefore, in finance, we combine accounting data and business intelligence. Accounting is related to the recording and reporting monetary transactions. However, finance is all about taking decisions relating to buying/selling assets, investing, making a budget and so forth.

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