Three major financial statements: How are they interconnected?

Accounting is the language of business, and the information on an organization's financial statements is the foundation of corporate accounting. Properly understanding how the 3 financial statements are linked is crucial for the management, investors, and lenders to assess the company's financial position.

What are financial statements?

Financial statements are a collection of reports and documents that provide information about an organization's financial performance and position. They are typically prepared periodically (such as monthly, quarterly, or annually) and are intended to provide stakeholders with an overview of the organization's financial health.

Financial statements are essential for investors, creditors, and management to make informed decisions about an organization's financial performance, investment potential, and creditworthiness.

There are 3 major financial statements, namely:

• Income statement
• Balance sheet
• Cash flow statement

The 3 financial statements each offer unique details with information that is all interconnected and, together, provide a comprehensive portrayal of the company's business activities.

The 3 financial statements - explained with examples

Income Statement

The income statement displays a company's revenues and expenses over a specified period, typically one year. The income statement begins with the company's revenue and subtracts all expenses to determine the net income.

This statement helps investors and analysts to understand a company's profitability.

Example of an Income Statement

ABC Company - Income statement

As of December 31, 2022

Revenue:	Sales 500,000 Other revenue 20,000 Total revenue = 520,000
Expenses:	Cost of goods sold 250,000 Salaries and wages 100,000 Rent and utilities 30,000 Advertising and marketing 20,000 Depreciation 10,000 Interest expense 5,000 Other expenses 15,000 Total expenses = 430,000
Net Income:	Total revenue - Total expenses (520,000 - 430,000) = 90,000

The Balance Sheet

This statement accurately depicts the financial position of a company at a specific time, typically the end of a fiscal quarter or year. It displays the assets, liabilities, and equity of a company.

A balance sheet helps investors and analysts to understand a company's financial health.

Example of a Balance Sheet:

ABC Company

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2022

Assets	Liabilities and Equity
Cash 50,000 Accounts receivable 30,000 Inventory 80,000 Prepaid expenses 5,000 Total current assets 165,000 Property, plant, and equipment: Land 50,000 Building 200,000 Less: accumulated depreciation (30,000) Net property, plant, and equipment 220,000 Total assets = 385,000	Liabilities: Accounts payable 20,000 Accrued expenses 10,000 Notes payable 50,000 Total current liabilities 80,000 Long-term debt 120,000 Total liabilities 200,000 Stockholders' equity: Common stock 100,000 Retained earnings 85,000 Total stockholders' equity 185,000 Total liabilities and equity = 385,000

Cash Flow Statement

The cash flow statement displays a company's cash inflows and cash outflows over a specified period. This statement includes operating cash flows, investing cash flows, and financing cash flows.

The cash flow statement helps investors and analysts understand how a company generates and uses its cash, which is critical to understanding its ability to pay its bills, reinvest in the business, and pay dividends to shareholders.

Example of a Cash Flow Statement:

ABC Company - Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended December 31, 2022

Operating Activities:
Net income 90,000 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 10,000 Decrease in accounts receivable 5,000 Increase in inventory (20,000) Increase in prepaid expenses (2,000) Increase in accounts payable 5,000 Increase in accrued expenses 3,000 Net cash provided by operating activities 91,000
Investing Activities:
Purchase of property, plant, and equipment (50,000) Net cash used in investing activities (50,000)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from notes payable 50,000 Repayment of long-term debt (20,000) Net cash provided by financing activities 30,000
Cash at the beginning of the year 20,000 Cash at the end of the year 91,000 Net increase in cash = 71,000

How are the 3 financial statements linked?

The 3 financial statements - Income Statement, the Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement - All these 3 financial statements are interconnected and provide different perspectives of a company's financial performance. They are essential for understanding and analyzing a company's performance from numerous angles.

The income statement provides in-depth insight into the core activities that generate earnings for the firm, whereas the balance sheet and cash flow statement prioritize the firm's capital management in terms of both assets and structure.

The 3 financial statements are linked in the following manner:

The Income Statement displays a company's revenues and expenses over a specific period, typically one year. It calculates the net income or loss of a company. This net income or loss is eventually transferred to the Balance Sheet under the Stockholders' Equity section as Retained Earnings.

The Balance Sheet provides an accurate picture of the company's financial position at a specific time, typically the end of a fiscal quarter or year. The Balance Sheet contains three sections: Assets, Liabilities, and Stockholders' Equity.

Here, the Retained Earnings calculated from the Income Statement are recorded in the Stockholders' Equity section of the Balance Sheet.

The Cash Flow Statement depicts the cash inflows and cash outflows for a company over a specified period. The Cash Flow Statement includes operating, investing, and financing activities. Here, the net income from the Income Statement is used to calculate the operating activities section of the Cash Flow Statement.

Changes in the Balance Sheet's current asset and liability accounts are also used to calculate the Cash Flow Statement's operating activities section.

Summary

The three financial statements are interconnected and provide different aspects of a company's financial performance. While the Income Statement shows profitability, the Balance Sheet shows financial position, and the Cash Flow Statement shows how the company generates and uses cash.

Eventually, the interconnected reporting of all these 3 financial statements is crucial for the management, investors, and lenders to better understand and analyze a company's performance.

In conclusion, understanding the three financial statements — Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement—is essential for maintaining the financial health of any business. These statements provide comprehensive insights into a company's performance, financial position, and cash flow.

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