Financial information definition — AccountingTools (2024)

What is Financial Information?

Financial information is data about the monetary transactions of a person or business. This information is use to derive estimates of credit risk by creditors and lenders. Examples of financial information are credit card numbers, credit ratings by third party credit analysis firms, financial statements, and payment histories.

Anyone using financial information has a duty to keep the information secure, since it could be used by third parties to engage in identity theft.

How is Financial Information Used?

Financial information is usually summarized into an organization’s financial statements, which are then perused by financial statement users to discern the financial position, financial results, and cash flows of the reporting entity. In this context, financial information can be used in the following ways:

  • To alter operations. The managers of a business use financial information to decide whether changes should be made to operations, perhaps to invest in certain product lines, shut down others, scale back hiring, and so forth.

  • To grant credit. Financial information is used by lenders and creditors to decide whether a business is in a position to pay back a loan or pay an invoice. Updates to financial information may be used to restrict existing credit or an existing loan.

  • To invest. Investors use financial information to decide whether to invest funds in a business, or to sell off their interests in an existing business.

  • To pay taxes. Financial information is used to complete tax returns and decide how much money a business must pay to the relevant taxing authorities.

Related AccountingTools Courses

Credit and Collection Guidebook

Effective Collections

Financial information definition —  AccountingTools (2024)

FAQs

Financial information definition — AccountingTools? ›

Financial information is data about the monetary transactions of a person or business. This information is use to derive estimates of credit risk by creditors and lenders.

What is the financial information system in accounting? ›

A Financial Information System (FIS) is a software system that helps manage the finances and business aspects of a company. These systems store, process, and analyze financial data, enabling companies to track income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and other financial details in real time.

What is the legal definition of financial information? ›

Personal Financial Information means an individual's personal credit, charge or debit card information; bank account information; band, credit or financial statements; account or PIN numbers and other information relating to an individual's personal finances.

What is financial information quizlet? ›

Financial information is any record or data related to an individual's or business's financial activities. Give at least three examples of personal financial information. bills (rent, utilities, wireless, etc.)

What is basic financial information? ›

There are four basic types of financial statements used to do this: income statements, balance sheets, statements of cash flow, and statements of owner equity. You probably also know that bookkeeping can be a headache.

What is the difference between accounting information and financial information? ›

Finance and accounting operate on different levels of the asset management spectrum. Accounting provides a snapshot of an organization's financial situation using past and present transactional data, while finance is inherently forward-looking; all value comes from the future.

What is the difference between accounting information system and financial information system? ›

It includes modules for general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and other accounting functions. On the other hand, a financial information system provides more strategic financial information to decision-makers, including financial analysts, managers, and investors.

Which items are included in the definition of financial information? ›

Financial statements contain information about assets owned by a company, debt owed by a company, revenue, expenses, and information about financing provided by shareholders.

What is an example of financial information? ›

Examples of financial information are credit card numbers, credit ratings by third party credit analysis firms, financial statements, and payment histories. Anyone using financial information has a duty to keep the information secure, since it could be used by third parties to engage in identity theft.

What are the three pieces of financial information? ›

The income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows are required financial statements. These three statements are informative tools that traders can use to analyze a company's financial strength and provide a quick picture of a company's financial health and underlying value.

What is reliable financial information? ›

The reliability principle aims to ensure that all transactions, events, and business activities presented in the financial statements is reliable. Information is considered reliable if it can be checked, verified, and reviewed with objective evidence.

Which items are included in the definition of financial information quizlet? ›

Financial information​ - includes items such as the footnotes to the financial​ statements, the letter to the​ owners, management's discussion and​ analysis, the​ auditors' report, the management​ report, and press releases.

How is financial information presented? ›

Financial statements present primary financial information in the statement of financial position, statement of financial performance, statement of changes in net assets and other primary financial statements such as the appropriation statement, cash flow statement, and notes thereto.

What is considered non financial information? ›

Non-financial reporting, put simply, is a form of transparency reporting where businesses formally disclose certain information not related to their finances, including information on human rights.

What are the characteristics of financial information? ›

FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) lists six qualitative characteristics that determine the quality of financial information: Relevance, Faithful Representation, Comparability, Verifiability, Timeliness, and Understandability.

How important is financial information? ›

Financial statements play a crucial role in assessing the financial health and performance of a company. They provide valuable information to stakeholders such as investors, lenders, and managers, helping them make informed decisions about investment opportunities, creditworthiness, and strategic planning.

What is financial information system example? ›

A: Some typical examples of FIS are accounts payable and receivable systems, budgeting software, financial forecasting systems, cash management systems, and financial consolidation systems.

What are main purposes of financial information systems? ›

Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS) support the automation and integration of public financial management processes including budget formulation, execution (e.g. commitment control, cash/debt management, treasury operations), accounting, and reporting.

What are the types of financial and accounting information systems? ›

An accounting information system comes in three types – Manual, Legacy and Modern/Integrated systems. Modern/Integrated systems are windows-based technologies that are considered to be much more user-friendly than legacy accounting systems.

What are the five 5 basic components of an accounting information system? ›

There are five main components in an accounting system. Each part has a different job and accomplishes different step in the financial reporting process. The five components are source documents, input devices, information processors, information storage, and output devices.

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