As you devour this article, remember that the rest of it contains valuable information related to simple accounting training and in some way related to 2007 IRA catch up, construction business software, and fact accounting software or financial and managerial accounting for your reading pleasure.
The General Ledger Creates an Audit Trail, Dont let the word audit strike fear in your heart; I am not talking about a tax audit. Although, if you are called to respond to an outside audit for any reason, a well-maintained general ledger is essential.
If you find it difficult to determine someone’s expertise in a field with which you are unfamiliar, here are some solutions, Have them interviewed by an expert. Your own CPA will probably be glad to interview a few for you, carefully check references from past jobs. Ask detailed questions on exactly what they did in the accounting function. Compare the answers with what they say they did, ask them some accounting questions. It may sound odd that you (of all people) should be asking such questions. However, even if you can’t judge the technical merit of the answers, you can get a feel for how comfortable they are with the subject and the authority with which they answer.
We segregate liabilities into short-term and long-term categories on the balance sheet. This division is nothing more than separating those liabilities scheduled for payment within the next accounting period (usually the next twelve months) from those not to be paid until later. We often separate debt like this, it gives readers a clearer picture of how much the company owes and when.
