Users of Accounting Information | Financial Accounting (2024)

The accounting process provides financial data for a broad range of individuals whose objectives in studying the data vary widely. There are three primary users of accounting information: internal users, external users, and the government (which is a specific form of an external user). Each group uses accounting information differently and requires the information to be presented differently.

Internal Users

Users of Accounting Information | Financial Accounting (1)Internal users are owners and managers involved in the day-to-day operations of the business and in long-term strategic planning. They are the ones who are making decisions such as whether to lease or buy equipment or to keep the old equipment and simply keep repairing it. They also decide what products or services to produce and how much of each to supply. They decide on the price to charge to customers, and they want to know how much it costs to make a product.

External Users

The external users of accounting information fall into five groups; each has different interests in the company and wants answers to unique questions. The groups and some of their possible questions are:

  • Prospective and current board members or investors. Has the company earned satisfactory income on its total investment? Should an investment be made in this company? Should the present investment be increased, decreased, or retained at the same level? Can the company install costly pollution control equipment and still be profitable?
  • Creditors and lenders. Should a loan be granted to the company? Will the company be able to pay its debts as they become due?
  • Employees and their unions. Does the company have the ability to pay increased wages? Is the company financially able to provide long-term employment for its workforce?
  • Customers. Does the company offer useful products at fair prices? Will the company survive long enough to honor its product warranties?
  • General public. Is the company providing useful products and gainful employment for citizens without causing serious environmental problems?

Government

The government is a separate type of external user that is also interested in a company’s performance, mainly for purposes of collecting the proper amount of tax, but also for other regulatory purposes. In fact, a single company may be reporting to several state and local governments and even to foreign governments, depending on where they are doing business.

Practice Question

Users of Accounting Information | Financial Accounting (2024)

FAQs

Users of Accounting Information | Financial Accounting? ›

There are three primary users of accounting information: internal users, external users, and the government (which is a specific form of an external user). Each group uses accounting information differently and requires the information to be presented differently.

Who are the users of financial accounting information? ›

Examples of internal users are owners, managers, and employees. External users are people outside the business entity (organization) who use accounting information. Examples of external users are suppliers, banks, customers, investors, potential investors, and tax authorities.

Who are the 10 users of accounting information? ›

Users of Accounting Information
  • Owners/Shareholders.
  • Managers.
  • Prospective Investors.
  • Creditors, Bankers, and other Lending Institutions.
  • Government.
  • Employees.
  • Regulatory Agencies.
  • Researchers.

What is financial information users? ›

A Financial Information User (FIU) is any regulated entity in the financial services sector, such as banks, lending companies, registered investment advisors, etc., licensed by the RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, or any other regulator who may request your financial data from Financial Information Providers (FIPs) to offer you a ...

What are the uses of accounting information? ›

Accounting information is used by management to evaluate and analyse the organisation's financial performance and position. It is used to make crucial decisions and take appropriate actions to improve the overall performance of the business in terms of profitability, financial position, and cash flows.

Who are the primary users of financial information? ›

Primary users of the financial statements are considered existing and potential investors, creditors, and lenders. Primary users obtain financial statement information and allow them to understand the overall health of the company such as its net cash flow status etc.

Who are the main users of financial statements? ›

The users of financial statements include present and potential investors, employees, lenders, suppliers and other trade creditors, customers, governments and their agencies and the public. They use financial statements in order to satisfy some of their different needs for information.

Who are the six-six users of accounting information? ›

The public, the government and its agencies, management, employees, lenders, suppliers, and other creditors in the business world are among the users of accounting information.

Who is not a user of accounting information? ›

Answer: Officers and Employees are not External users of accounting information, rather they are internal users of accounting information. The person who directs, coordinates, and manages an organization's internal operations is referred to as an internal user.

What are 5 elements of financial statements? ›

The major elements of the financial statements (i.e., assets, liabilities, fund balance/net assets, revenues, expenditures, and expenses) are discussed below, including the proper accounting treatments and disclosure requirements.

What users of financial information may be classified into? ›

Users of financial statements can be classified as internal or external. Internal users include management who use accounting information to make operational decisions regarding purchases, cash levels, and performance targets.

What are the 5 financial information? ›

Here's why these five financial documents are essential to your small business. The five key documents include your profit and loss statement, balance sheet, cash-flow statement, tax return, and aging reports.

What is the financial information in accounting? ›

Simply put, financial information is anything related to the financial activities and performance of a business. Most often, this information is collected through financial statements or reports that cover a specific aspect of a business's finances, such as cash flow and profitability.

What is a user of accounting? ›

There are three primary users of accounting information: internal users, external users, and the government (which is a specific form of an external user). Each group uses accounting information differently and requires the information to be presented differently.

What are the 4 types of accounting information? ›

Types of accounting information may be classified into four categories:
  • Operating information.
  • Financial accounting information.
  • Management accounting information and.
  • Cost accounting information.
Oct 24, 2016

Who uses accounting information system? ›

An accounting information system (AIS) is used by companies to collect, store, manage, process, retrieve, and report financial data. AIS can be used by accountants, consultants, business analysts, managers, chief financial officers, auditors, and regulators.

Who are the users of financial accounting information quizlet? ›

External users of financial information may include the following: owners, creditors, potential investors, labor unions, governmental agencies, suppliers, customers, trade associations, and the general public.

Who is financial accounting information available to? ›

The financial statements are used by interested external parties such as investors, creditors, suppliers, customers, competitors, the government, and the press.

Who uses information from an accounting system? ›

An accounting information system (AIS) is a system that a business uses to collect, store, manage, process, retrieve, and report its financial data. This data can then be used by accountants, consultants, business analysts, managers, chief financial officers (CFOs), auditors, regulators, and tax agencies.

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