Understanding Cash Flow Statement in Accountancy

Understanding the Cash Flow Statement in Accountancy

The cash flow statement, one of the three financial statements in accountancy, is a valuable tool that helps businesses, investors, and creditors to evaluate the health of a company's financial position by showing how cash is generated and used during a specific period. This article will delve into the three main activities reported on the cash flow statement: operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.

Operating Activities

This section reports the cash inflows and outflows related to a company's primary operations, such as sales, expenses, and changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable. Operating activities are the lifeblood of a business, driving its revenue and covering its operating expenses. Common sources of cash inflows under operating activities include:

• Collections from customers on accounts receivable (A/R)
• Cash paid by the customers (reduction in A/R)
• Cash received from returns and allowances
• Cash received from interest and dividends

On the outflow side, cash is spent on expenses such as accounts payable (A/P), wages, rent, taxes, etc. The operating cash flow is computed by deducting total operating cash outflows from total operating cash inflows. A positive operating cash flow means the business is generating enough cash from its primary activities to sustain itself, which is a positive sign.

Investing Activities

This section reports the cash inflows and outflows related to a company's investments in long-term assets, such as land, buildings, equipment, and intangible assets. This section is crucial for understanding how a business is investing its cash in long-term projects and assets. Common sources of cash inflows related to investing activities include:

• Proceeds from the sale of long-term assets
• Gains on the sale of long-term assets

On the outflow side, cash is spent on purchases of long-term assets and investments. The cash flow from investing activities is computed by deducting total investing cash outflows from total investing cash inflows. A positive investing cash flow means the business is generating or selling enough long-term assets to sustain itself.

Financing Activities

This section reports the cash inflows and outflows related to a company's sources and uses of equity and debt. It helps to understand how a business raises and uses capital from its creditors and shareholders. Common sources of cash inflows related to financing activities include:

• Proceeds from issuance of common stock
• Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
• Proceeds from long-term borrowings
• Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

On the outflow side, cash is spent on dividend payments, redemptions of preferred stock, repayment of long-term borrowings, and employee stock purchase plans. The cash flow from financing activities is computed by deducting total financing cash outflows from total financing cash inflows. A positive financing cash flow means the business is raising or retaining enough capital to sustain itself.

In Conclusion

The cash flow statement is a valuable tool for determining whether a company is generating enough cash from its operations to cover its expenses, investing in long-term assets, and raising or retaining adequate capital to sustain itself. Understanding the three main activities reported on the cash flow statement—operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities—can help stakeholders assess a company's financial health and its ability to generate cash for future operations.