Differences Between Accounting Concepts And Conventions
Accounting is the language of business,
which is used as a means of communicating financial information to the company’s
stakeholders, regarding the performance, profitability and position of the
enterprise and which will help them in rational decision making. The financial statement of a business organization is based on various concepts and conventions.
Definition of Accounting Concept
Accounting Concepts can be defined as the basic accounting assumption, which acts as a basis for
the preparation of financial statement of a company. These are the basis for formulating the accounting principles, methods and procedures, to
record and present the financial transactions of business. They provide an integrated structure and rational approach to the accounting
process. All financial transaction that occurs in a business is interpreted taking into
consideration the accounting concepts, which serve as a guide to accounting methods.
Types Of Accounting Concepts
The types of accounting concepts are explained below:
1. Business Entity Concept
The Business entity concept assumes that the business enterprise is independent of its owners. i.e every business organisation is separated from its owner. You can sue the business without suing the owner and vice versa.
2. Money Measurement Concept
The money measurement concept states that only those transaction which can be expressed in monetary terms
are recorded in the books of accounts.
3. Cost concept
This concept states that all the assets of the business are recorded in the accounts at the price they were bought.
4. Going Concern Concept
The Going concern concept
assumes that the business will have a perpetual succession, i.e. the business will not come to an end.
5. Dual Aspect Concept
This concept is the
primary rule of accounting, which states that every transaction effects two
accounts. The debit side (receiver) and the credit side (giver).
6. Realization Concept
In the realization concept, revenue should be only be recorded by the firm when it is realized.
7. Accrual Concept
The Accrual concept of accounting states that revenue is to be recognized as revenue when they become receivable, while
expenses should also be recognized when they are due for payment.
8. Periodicity Concept
This concept
states that financial statement should be prepared at the
end of the financial year.
9. Matching Concept
The matching concept states that, the revenue of a business for the period, should also match the expenses.
Definition of Accounting Convention
Accounting Conventions can be defined as the practice adopted by an enterprise over a period of time,
that rely on the general agreement between the accounting bodies and helps in
assisting the accountant during the period of preparation of financial statement of
the company.
The accountancy bodies of the world may
modify or change any accounting convention for the purpose of improving quality of financial information.
Types Of Accounting Conventions
Below are the basic conventions in accounting:
1. Consistency
This convention states that Financial statements
can be compared only when the accounting policies are followed consistently by
the business organization over the period. However, changes can only be implemented in special
circumstances.
2. Disclosure
The disclosure principle state
that the financial statement of a business should be prepared in such a way that it fairly reveals all the material information to the users, so as to help them in
taking a rational decision making.
3. Conservatism
This accounting convention holds that the company should not eagerly wait incomes and gains, but make provision for
all expenses and losses.
4. Materiality
The materiality concept states that only those items
to be disclosed in the financial statement which has a significant economic
effect.
The Differences Between Accounting Concept and Convention
The difference between accounting
concept and convention are stated below:
- Accounting concept are the accounting assumptions which the accountant of a firm follows while recording transactions and preparing final accounts. On the other hand, accounting conventions are referred to as procedures and principles that are generally accepted by the accounting bodies all over the world and adopted by the firm to guide their accountants during the time of preparing the financial statement.
- Accounting concept is nothing but a theoretical notion that is applied while preparing financial statements while accounting conventions are procedure which must be followed to give a true and fair view of the financial statement.
- Accounting concept is set by the accounting bodies while accounting conventions emerge out of common accounting practices, which are generally accepted by agreement.
- The accounting concept is basically related to the recording, classifying and interpretation of transactions and maintenance of accounts while accounting conventions lay more emphases on the preparation and presentation of financial statements.
- There is no possibility of biases in the adoption of accounting concept, whereas the possibility of biases in accounting conventions is high.
Both accounting concepts and principles play a role in finance. I am Piyush Yadav (from askanydifference.com) and would like to say that the section Major Differences Between Accounting Concept and Convention in the above article is great because of the bullet point list which is easy to understand.
The last point about the possibility of bias is very unique and I also didn't know about it. Thanks.