Steps
Step 1
Business Understanding & Data Collection
The core task of this step is to understand the enterprise business background and collect original vouchers and related data needed for accounting. By understanding the business model, organizational structure, and financial systems, establish comprehensive knowledge of the accounting environment.
• Collect original vouchers (invoices, receipts, bank statements, inventory receipts/issues, etc.), organize and classify them, establish voucher list, verify authenticity, legality and completeness of vouchers
• Understand enterprise accounting policies and estimates, including revenue recognition policy, inventory valuation method, fixed asset depreciation policy, bad debt provision policy, etc., prepare accounting policy manual
• Set up chart of accounts and account system, establish general ledger and subsidiary ledgers based on accounting standards and business characteristics, initialize opening balances, perform trial balance
Deliverable: Business understanding and data collection document (including original voucher list, accounting policy manual, chart of accounts, opening trial balance) | Quality standard: Original vouchers true, legal and complete, appropriate accounting policy selection, standardized account setup
Step 2
Accounting Treatment & Adjustments
The core task of this step is to perform accounting treatment based on enterprise economic transactions, prepare journal entries, post to ledgers, and make end-of-period adjustments. Includes daily business accounting, period-end adjustments, reconciliation and closing.
• Daily business accounting: prepare journal entries based on verified original vouchers, post to general and subsidiary ledgers, including accounting for purchases, sales, expense reimbursements, cash receipts and payments and other daily transactions
• Period-end adjustments: accrue fixed asset depreciation, intangible asset amortization, bad debt provisions, inventory write-downs, recognize interest income and expenses, accrue and allocate salaries and taxes
• Reconciliation and closing: perform voucher-ledger reconciliation, ledger-ledger reconciliation, ledger-physical reconciliation (bank reconciliation, inventory count, fixed asset count, receivables/payables reconciliation), prepare bank reconciliation statement
Deliverable: Accounting treatment working papers (including journal entry summary, period-end adjustments, bank reconciliation, inventory count sheets) | Quality standard: Accurate accounting treatment, correct adjusting entries, complete reconciliation work
Step 3
Financial Statement Preparation
The core task of this step is to prepare financial statements, including balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, statement of changes in equity, and notes. Ensure financial statements are true, complete and accurate in accordance with accounting standards.
• Prepare balance sheet: fill based on general and subsidiary ledger balances, classify current vs non-current assets and liabilities, calculate total assets, total liabilities and total equity, verify Assets = Liabilities + Equity
• Prepare income statement: fill based on current period profit/loss account balances, step-by-step calculate operating revenue, operating profit, total profit, net profit and EPS, verify articulation between net profit and profit distribution
• Prepare cash flow statement: use direct method to prepare operating, investing and financing cash flows, use indirect method in supplementary information to reconcile net profit to operating cash flow, verify net increase in cash
Deliverable: Financial statements (including balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, statement of changes in equity, notes) | Quality standard: Correct statement preparation, verified articulation, complete note disclosures
Step 4
Financial Analysis & Reporting
The core task of this step is to conduct financial analysis, write financial reports, and evaluate the enterprise's financial position, operating results and cash flows. Use ratio analysis, trend analysis, structural analysis and other methods to reveal the quality and trends.
• Financial ratio analysis: calculate solvency ratios (current ratio, quick ratio, debt-to-asset ratio, interest coverage), efficiency ratios (AR turnover, inventory turnover, total asset turnover), profitability ratios (gross margin, net margin, ROE, ROA)
• Trend analysis and structural analysis: perform multi-period comparative analysis (MoM, YoY), analyze trends; conduct structural analysis (asset structure, capital structure, revenue structure, cost structure)
• Write financial analysis report: summarize financial position and operating results, identify problems and risks, propose improvement suggestions, prepare professional financial analysis report
Deliverable: Financial analysis report (including ratio analysis, trend analysis charts, structural analysis, comprehensive evaluation and recommendations) | Quality standard: Scientific analysis methods, accurate indicator calculation, in-depth insightful analysis
Step 5
Working Papers & Archiving
The core task of this step is to organize accounting working papers and archives, complete archiving work to ensure accounting records are complete, standardized and traceable. Properly maintain accounting materials in accordance with accounting archive management regulations.
• Organize accounting working papers: including accounting policy notes, trial balance, adjusting journal entries summary, statement preparation working papers, financial analysis working papers, etc., ensuring each paper has sufficient supporting evidence
• Bind accounting vouchers and ledgers: bind journal entries with original vouchers in order, bind general ledger, subsidiary ledgers, journals as required, prepare table of contents and index
• Establish accounting archives: including accounting vouchers, accounting books, financial statements, other accounting materials, maintain for required retention period, prepare archive custody list
Deliverable: Accounting archives (including vouchers, ledgers, financial statements, working papers, archive custody list) | Quality standard: Standardized complete archive organization, clear indexing, custody complies with regulations