A financial report is a document that provides stakeholders with visibility into the company’s assets, liabilities and equity. A well-written financial report should highlight metrics like revenue, expenses and cash flow and provide actionable insights that can help inform business decisions.
To prepare a financial report, you’ll need to collect all relevant data for the reporting period, including sales invoices, purchase orders, expense receipts, bank statements and payroll records. Then, you’ll need to reconcile the beginning and ending accounting balances of each general ledger account. You should also consider your audience and regulatory requirements, such as adhering to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
The most common type of financial report is the balance sheet, which lists a company’s assets (cash and cash equivalents, inventory, marketable securities, accounts receivable, equipment and so on), liabilities (accounts payable, loans payable and debt obligations) and equity (common stock, retained earnings) at a given point in time. A well-written balance sheet should be accurate and follow the accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity. It’s also important to classify assets and liabilities as current (expected to be converted to cash or paid within one year) or noncurrent.
Creating financial reports is critical to maintaining transparency and accountability with investors, creditors and other stakeholders. For example, if your financial report shows that you’re struggling with cash flow, it might prompt your management team to rethink strategies like negotiating better payment terms with vendors or reducing inventory levels. To make your financial reports more engaging, use visuals to compare trends or break down complex metrics. For instance, charts and tables can help simplify data presentation, while still providing all the necessary information for your audience.
