Accounting Info

Mistakes in posting, calculation, and trial balancing can lead to complications. Some of these errors will affect the trial balance statement whereas some others do not. Most of the errors will be revealed at the time of preparation of trial balance. Sometimes, it happens that an error will get counter-balanced by another error. In such cases, the error will not be disclosed by the trial balance. Such types of errors constitute what bookkeepers call the compensating errors. There are errors affecting only a single account as well as those affecting two or more accounts. The mistakes and errors ought to be spotted and rectified. These mistakes are corrected either with the help of journal entries or by posting some explanatory notes in the accounts concerned.

Rectification of bookkeeping errors can be carried out at two stages; before the formulation of final accounts or after the making of these accounts. The right method of correction is done by passing the journal entry in a way by which the correction is made by giving effect to the posted entry that must have been passed. But, in certain cases the correction cannot be carried out by taking the help of journal entry. In normal cases, while undertaking the procedure of rectification, the required amount is put on the debit column or on the credit side of the account concerned.

When it comes to errors affecting both the sides of multiple accounts, rectification of these types of errors can often be made possible with the help of an entry made in the journal. While making good these errors, what is done is that the amount is debited in one account or multiple accounts, whereas a similar amount is credited to the other accounts. It is always prudent to find out and rectify the errors just before the final accounts for the year are made. In some cases, when the bookkeepers, even after doing considerable amount of search, fails in their efforts to spot the errors, or when the said bookkeepers are in a hurry to make the final accounts, they transfer the amount at stake to a newly opened account called the ‘suspense account’. In the following accounting period, when the errors get detected, these are corrected by making reference to the suspense account. Once, the errors are rectified, the newly opened suspense account has to be closed.

One must not forget that only those kinds of errors that affect the trial balance can be corrected by resorting to the suspense account. Since the trial balance is affected by errors which can be corrected with the help of suspense accounts, to calculate the discrepancy, a table will have to be prepared. The net profit is affected only by those accounts that get transferred to profit and loss account during the process of preparation of final accounts. In other words, the mistakes that happen in nominal accounts and goods accounts are the parties that affect the net profit. Errors that get into these accounts will result in the increase or decrease of the profit netted.

Forensic accounting incorporates the elements of accounting, auditing and investigation for analyzing information that forms the basis of legal discussion, debate, and at times, dispute resolution. Various legal issues, like employee theft, insurance fraud, securities fraud, and such others may require this investigation.

Here are a few of the important questions, and there answers, in this regard.

What are the tasks involved in the proceeding? The chief responsibilities of a professional forensic accountant are as follows –

Investigation and analysis of complex financial evidence and development of computerized applications for it

Preparation of documents (reports, exhibits, etc) for communicating the findings

Assistance in legal proceeding (preparation of visual aids, providing testimonial at court, etc)

Which cases may require such services? Various types of legal issues may require this:

Criminal investigations

Business or other insurance claims

Business or employee fraud investigations

Shareholders or partnership legal disputes

Matrimonial disputes

Who needs such services? Lawyers, government agencies, police forces, courts, banks, insurance companies, businesses and such other entities may need to get forensic accounting investigation.

How does the professional approach the investigation? There are certain steps involved in the procedure. However, the specific details depend on the assignment the professional is handling. Here are the details.

Meeting with the client – is necessary to understand the parties involved in the case, the facts and the issues of dispute.
Assessing conflict of interests – is required to assess whether they are representing two entities with adverse interests.
Performing an initial investigation – is essential to get the foundation of the investigation right.
Developing a plan – based on the initial investigation, this is necessary to assess the objective and the way to attain it.
Getting the relevant evidence – may involve finding documents, individuals, and such other essentials related to the case.
Analyzing the evidence – involves tasks like tracing assets, calculating economic damages, performing sensitivity analysis and so on.
Preparing the report – is necessary to communicate the findings of the investigation along with other details like scope and objective, tools and techniques, and so on.

How do you find such a professional? It is wise to let your lawyer find and appoint such an accountant, as he/she is more aware of reputed and reliable professionals for the task. The key considerations are, however, quite simple – qualification and experience is all that you need to look out for when choosing one for the job.

Businesses are looking for a specific type of employee in their financial recruitment drive. Accounting jobs, banking jobs and other employment opportunities require a particular kind of person in addition to the relevant qualifications. Usually a degree is required for accounting jobs, but other types of financial careers in banking, whether it be a teller at a bank or an administrator, may only require a diploma to meet the criteria for a position.

The more senior the role, the more qualifications are required in addition to experience in the field, whether it be in the same company or a different institution or competitor. Companies have different policies regarding giving internal applicant preference or employment equity. Many jobs require specialist qualifications to perform a specific type of business and many require experience within the working environment such as completion of articles or secondment in addition to a tertiary qualification.

Accounting jobs also require certain characteristics along with a head for figures. Meticulousness, ability to work under pressure and accuracy is required. Accounting jobs require more hard work at certain times of the tax year, but office hours are generally adhered to in an accounts office. Banking jobs are competitive with many banks head hunting their ideal candidates and salaries vary depending on the seniority of the position, specialist roles and the bank’s size, budget, profitability and reputation in the market. Working in finance can be highly pressurized and banking jobs, in particular, have many rules and codes that must be adhered to. Because there is a high risk associated with handling cash, there are more safety procedures than in many companies that use commodities or services.

Workers may be subjected to daily security checks or changing passwords more often than employees in other industries and more employee confidentiality is required which will change the code of conduct. There are all internal policies of banking jobs and they may outsource hiring and recruitment responsibilities. There are many employment agencies that banks and other financial institutions work through instead of using their human resources department to head hunt or identify potential candidates in a recruitment drive. Employment agencies sort the candidates according to the employer’s needs in order to save time in the hiring process. Time is money in the business world and anybody looking for work should upload their CV to an employment site or join an agency as well as responding to suitable job advertisements in the media. Working in banking institutions is specialized and a strong interest in financial planning and the business economy is required. There is no room for error and the ability to work with numbers is crucial. Financial recruitment is all about the numbers and good references from previous employers and a business qualification is important to secure a position in the financial sector. A passion for figures is also useful when working with banks.

If you are thinking about pursuing a career in the world of finance, you can have the benefit of choosing to work for a large well established company or start a company of your own. Most financial planners make the choice of becoming sole proprietors due to the freedom of being your own boss offers; quite clearly, you set your own work hours, and as far as income is concerned, you set the limit.