Accounting Vocabulary

Vocabulary with Examples



  • Assets = valuable resources owned by a company that have economic value

    Example: The company's assets include cash, equipment, and real estate property.

  • Liabilities = financial debts or obligations owed to outside parties

    Example: Bank loans and unpaid invoices are listed under current liabilities.

  • Equity = the remaining value of an asset after deducting total liabilities

    Example: The founders retained 60% of the company's equity following the investment round.

  • Accounts Receivable = money owed to a business by customers for products or services delivered

    Example: The accounting team followed up on overdue accounts receivable to improve cash flow.

  • Accounts Payable = money owed by a business to vendors or suppliers for goods received

    Example: We must settle our accounts payable before the end of the month to avoid penalty fees.

  • Depreciation = the gradual reduction in the financial value of an asset over time

    Example: Machinery and office equipment are subject to annual depreciation.

  • Balance Sheet = a financial statement showing assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time

    Example: Please review the balance sheet before the quarterly review meeting.

  • Income Statement / Profit & Loss (P&L) = a report showing a company’s revenues and expenses over a period

    Example: Our net profit increased significantly compared to last year's income statement.

  • Cash Flow Statement = a record of how much cash enters and leaves a business

    Example: Even though we show a profit, our cash flow statement indicates we are low on liquid funds.

  • Revenue = the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods or services

    Example: The tech sector experienced a major boost in advertising revenue this quarter.

  • Overhead / Overhead Costs = ongoing business expenses not directly tied to creating a product or service

    Example: We need to cut down our administrative overhead to improve profit margins.

  • Compliance = the act of obeying rules, regulations, or laws

    Example: Failure to maintain compliance with local tax laws can result in severe penalties.

  • Deduction = an expense that can be subtracted from taxable income to reduce overall tax owed

    Example: Make sure to log all business travel expenses so we can claim them as deductions.

  • Fiscal Year = a 12-month period chosen by a company for tax and accounting purposes

    Example: Our fiscal year ends on March 31st.

  • Cash Flow = the net movement of money coming in and going out of a business

    Example: Maintaining positive cash flow is essential for meeting daily operational expenses.

  • Gross Profit = revenue minus the direct cost of goods sold before deducting general expenses

    Example: Higher material costs led to a slight reduction in our gross profit margin.

  • Net Income = total earnings left over after subtracting all operating expenses, interest, and taxes

    Example: The annual financial report showed a significant increase in net income.

  • Audit = an official examination of an organization's financial records and statements

    Example: External auditors are visiting our office next week to examine the tax records.

  • General Ledger = the primary record used to track all financial transactions of a company

    Example: The junior accountant is reconciling the general ledger today.

  • Reconcile = to compare financial records to make sure they match

    Example: Can you reconcile the bank account before closing for the day?

  • Allocate = to officially distribute resources or costs to specific budgets or departments

    Example: We need to allocate more funds to the marketing department.

  • Forecast = to predict future financial trends based on historical data

    Example: Management asked us to forecast next year's sales growth.

  • Write Off = to cancel a bad debt or record an asset as a loss

    Example: The client went bankrupt, so we had to write off their unpaid invoice.

Vocabulary with Examples



  • Assets = valuable resources owned by a company that have economic value

    Example: The company's assets include cash, equipment, and real estate property.

  • Liabilities = financial debts or obligations owed to outside parties

    Example: Bank loans and unpaid invoices are listed under current liabilities.

  • Equity = the remaining value of an asset after deducting total liabilities

    Example: The founders retained 60% of the company's equity following the investment round.

  • Accounts Receivable = money owed to a business by customers for products or services delivered

    Example: The accounting team followed up on overdue accounts receivable to improve cash flow.

  • Accounts Payable = money owed by a business to vendors or suppliers for goods received

    Example: We must settle our accounts payable before the end of the month to avoid penalty fees.

  • Depreciation = the gradual reduction in the financial value of an asset over time

    Example: Machinery and office equipment are subject to annual depreciation.

  • Balance Sheet = a financial statement showing assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time

    Example: Please review the balance sheet before the quarterly review meeting.

  • Income Statement / Profit & Loss (P&L) = a report showing a company’s revenues and expenses over a period

    Example: Our net profit increased significantly compared to last year's income statement.

  • Cash Flow Statement = a record of how much cash enters and leaves a business

    Example: Even though we show a profit, our cash flow statement indicates we are low on liquid funds.

  • Revenue = the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods or services

    Example: The tech sector experienced a major boost in advertising revenue this quarter.

  • Overhead / Overhead Costs = ongoing business expenses not directly tied to creating a product or service

    Example: We need to cut down our administrative overhead to improve profit margins.

  • Compliance = the act of obeying rules, regulations, or laws

    Example: Failure to maintain compliance with local tax laws can result in severe penalties.

  • Deduction = an expense that can be subtracted from taxable income to reduce overall tax owed

    Example: Make sure to log all business travel expenses so we can claim them as deductions.

  • Fiscal Year = a 12-month period chosen by a company for tax and accounting purposes

    Example: Our fiscal year ends on March 31st.

  • Cash Flow = the net movement of money coming in and going out of a business

    Example: Maintaining positive cash flow is essential for meeting daily operational expenses.

  • Gross Profit = revenue minus the direct cost of goods sold before deducting general expenses

    Example: Higher material costs led to a slight reduction in our gross profit margin.

  • Net Income = total earnings left over after subtracting all operating expenses, interest, and taxes

    Example: The annual financial report showed a significant increase in net income.

  • Audit = an official examination of an organization's financial records and statements

    Example: External auditors are visiting our office next week to examine the tax records.

  • General Ledger = the primary record used to track all financial transactions of a company

    Example: The junior accountant is reconciling the general ledger today.

  • Reconcile = to compare financial records to make sure they match

    Example: Can you reconcile the bank account before closing for the day?

  • Allocate = to officially distribute resources or costs to specific budgets or departments

    Example: We need to allocate more funds to the marketing department.

  • Forecast = to predict future financial trends based on historical data

    Example: Management asked us to forecast next year's sales growth.

  • Write Off = to cancel a bad debt or record an asset as a loss

    Example: The client went bankrupt, so we had to write off their unpaid invoice.

Test: Fill in the gaps



1. Unpaid invoices from clients are recorded as ______ on the financial record.

2. The quarterly ______ showed that revenue was high, but operating costs reduced total profitability.

3. After deducting all operating costs and taxes from our revenue, we determined our final ______.

4. The company bought heavy machinery, which is considered a fixed ______ on the balance statement.

5. Outstanding loans and debts to suppliers represent the company's major ______.

6. The accounting firm was brought in to conduct an independent financial ______.

7. We calculate the ______ of our equipment each year to account for wear and tear.

8. All daily sales transactions are logged directly into the company's ______.

9. The business had trouble paying its short-term bills due to poor ______.

10. We must pay our vendors promptly to keep our ______ up to date.

11. Deducting the cost of goods sold from sales revenue leaves us with the company's ______.

12. Shareholder ______ increased significantly after the profitable second quarter.

13. Please review the latest ______ to check our total revenue and operating expenses over the past quarter.

14. We track our incoming cash and outgoing payments every month using our ______.

15. The tech sector experienced a major boost in advertising ______ this quarter.

16. We need to cut down our administrative ______ like rent and utilities to improve profit margins.

17. Failure to maintain strict ______ with local tax laws can result in severe financial penalties.

18. Make sure to log all business travel expenses so we can claim them as tax ______.

19. Our company's ______ ends on March 31st for tax and reporting purposes.

20. Can you ______ the bank statement with our general ledger before closing for the day?

21. We need to ______ more funds to the marketing department for next month's campaign.

22. Management asked our team to ______ next year's sales growth based on current market trends.

23. Because the client went bankrupt, we had to ______ their unpaid invoice.



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