Adjusting entry creation, posting adjusting entries to a worksheet, creating financial statements from the trial balance

Adjusting entries, posting adjusting entries to a worksheet, financial statement creation from an adjusted trial balance, and reversing entries will be covered in this course.

The adjusting entry process is a fundamental bookkeeping and accounting process but is often the accounting process most misunderstood.

Because of the name of accounting adjusting entry process we are led to believe that we are adjusting errors made by the accounting department. In other words, we may get the idea that the adjusting process would not be needed if the accounting department did their work perfectly through the period. This assumption of the adjusting process fixing errors is not the primary purpose for the adjusting process.

The adjusting process is a necessary part of the accounting cycle and one that is built into the accounting system. In other words, we plan for the adjusting process, and part of the plan is to enter normal accounting transactions in such a way that we will most easily be able to make adjustments at the end of the time period.

The adjusting process helps significantly with the understanding of accrual concepts because the adjusting process focuses on timing differences, on when revenue and expense should be recognized.

We enter adjusting entries as of the end of the period. Adjusting entries will have a balance sheet component and an income statement component.

Once the adjusting entries are complete, we can use the adjusted trial balance to create the financial statements, the balance sheet, the income statement, and the statement of equity. Who will we be learning from?