accounting and information systems function The functional area of business responsible for providing information to the other areas to enable them to do their jobs and for reporting the results to interested parties
accounting system A system used to identify, analyze, measure, record, summarize, and communicate relevant economic information to interested parties
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) The professional organization for all certified public accountants that is actively involved in the development of accounting standards and sets auditing standards for public accounting firms
auditing The process of examining a company's financial records by a CPA to ascertain whether they comply with generally accepted accounting principles
bond A certificate that represents the debt of a company
business The exchange of goods, services, and money on an arm's-length basis, that results in mutual benefit or profit for both parties involved
business entity concept The concept that requires that an accounting system reflect information that identifies and summarizes only those economic events that pertain to a particular entity
certified public accountant (CPA) An accountant who can attest to the presentation of financial information of a publicly held company
chief financial officer (CFO) A member of top management to whom the controller, treasurer, and internal auditor report
controller The company's chief accounting officer
corporation A business entity that is legally separate and distinct from its owners
dividends A distribution of corporate profits
double taxation A situation in which the profits of corporations are taxed twice— once at the business level and, again, at the stockholder level if the profits are distributed as dividends
external stakeholders Parties outside an organization who have an interest, or stake, in the organization, such as stockholders, creditors, suppliers, customers, and the general public
finance function The function responsible for managing the financial resources of the company
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) The standard-setting body responsible for developing accounting standards for reporting to external financial statement users
fiscal year A year-long period that encompasses a natural business cycle and allows a business to prepare its required accounting information during its slowest business period
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) The Statements of Financial Accounting Standards, bulletins, opinions, and principles that direct acceptable accounting practice
going concern concept The concept that assumes that, absent information to the contrary, the business will continue into the foreseeable future
human resources management function The function responsible for ensuring that capable employees are given the opportunity to succeed in the workplace
initial issue The original sale of stocks or bonds to investors
internal auditor A private accountant responsible for assessing the company's internal control system
internal stakeholders Parties inside the organization who have an interest, or stake, in the organization, such as employees and management
International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) The group that is leading the way toward standardization of international accounting for external reporting
limited liability The condition which indicates that investors are not personally liable for the debts of the business
limited liability partnership (LLP) A partnership in which the individual partners are responsible only for their own acts and the acts of those individuals under their control
limited partnership A partnership composed of one or more general partners and one or more limited partners
management accountant An individual who provides information to internal stakeholders
manufacturing firm A company that produces products from raw materials for sale to consumers
marketing function The function responsible for determining the wants and needs of consumers and devising a system for distributing the goods and services they demand
merchandising company A company that obtains and distributes goods to consumers
monetary unit concept The concept that asserts that money is the common measurement unit of economic activity
mutual agency A situation in which each partner has the power to act for all other partners
mutual fund An investment company that pools the money from many individual investors and invests it for a common goal
partnership A business owned by two or more individuals who agree to share both the risks and rewards of business
partnership agreement An agreement that stipulates the rights and obligations of each partner and describes how to divide the partnership profits
periodicity concept The concept that requires that the profits of the business be determined at regular intervals throughout the life of the business
private accounting Accounting in the individual business unit
production and operations management function The function that is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the operations of business
public accounting A variety of accounting services provided by an accounting firm for many different types of businesses
rate of return A return on investment stated as a percentage of the investment
return of investment The return of the amount invested
return on investment The return, or profit, received on the owner's investment
reward Possible future benefits of an action
risk Possible future sacrifices of an action
S corporation A small business corporation owned by no more than 35 individuals in which the profits earned by the business are not subject to income tax at the corporate level
secondary market An exchange where bonds and stocks are bought and sold after the initial issue
service firm A company that provides senders to customers
share of stock A certificate that represents ownership in a corporation
sole proprietorship A business owned by one person whose personal possessions are at risk
Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)Pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board
stock exchanges Exchanges for buying and selling stocks; for example, New York, American, and various regional exchanges
treasurer The individual responsible for investing the company's money and securing financing from creditors
Uniform Partnership Act The act that governs the rights and obligations of partners when a partnership agreement does not exist
History of education in Chinà
The history of education in China began with the birth of Chinese civilization. The nobles often set up the educational establishments for their offspring. The Shang Hsiang was a legendary school to teach the youth nobles. It may have been the origin of education in China.