Accounting

We answer your accounting questions.

Over 500 questions have been answered on our accounting blog.

accounting blog

November 11, 2009

What is the difference between financial accounting and management accounting?

Financial accounting has its focus on the financial statements which are distributed to stockholders, lenders, financial analysts, and others outside of the company. Courses in financial accounting cover the generally accepted accounting principles which must be followed when reporting the results of a corporation’s past transactions on its balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows, and statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.

Managerial accounting has its focus on providing information within the company so that its management can operate the company more effectively.  Managerial accounting and cost accounting also provide instructions on computing the cost of products at a manufacturing enterprise. These costs will then be used in the external financial statements. In addition to cost systems for manufacturers, courses in managerial accounting will include topics such as cost behavior, break-even point, profit planning, operational budgeting, capital budgeting, relevant costs for decision making, activity based costing, and standard costing.

Learn more about financial accounting and managerial accounting at AccountingCoach.com’s Accounting Career Center.

the accounting coach

About the Author: Harold Averkamp (CPA) has worked as an accountant, consultant, and university accounting instructor for more than 25 years.

He is the author of the 2010 Master Accounting Download Package which has been praised for it's ability to simplify accounting in a way that anybody can understand.



 Accounting Exams

Accounting Exams
Printable (PDF) Exams on 16 financial accounting topics and 19 managerial accounting topics. More Info...

     Accounting Bookkeeping Test

Bookkeeping Test
Test your bookkeeping skills. Printable (PDF) Bookkeeping Test with 175 total questions. More Info...

 Accounting Forms

Business Forms
Our Master Set of 80 Business Forms will assist you in preparing financial statements, financial ratios, break-even calculations, depreciation, standard cost variances, and more. More Info...


Comments

6 Responses to “What is the difference between financial accounting and management accounting?”

  1. baka on November 17th, 2009 10:48 am

    i have higher nationa diploma in accounting.from polytechnic but i dont know it the way i suppose to know it.

  2. KAMAL on January 10th, 2010 12:35 pm

    my name ’s mustapha and i’m study an accounting for GOLIS UNIVERSITY IN HARGIESA SOMALILAND i can’t understanding what is yhe trial balance and i like to tell thaa
    thanks for everything

  3. SUDHAKAR naidu on January 28th, 2010 4:25 am

    I am working as accounts executive but unable to know the systematic usage and accounting procedures. I want to learn by step by step. Since i have limited knowledge in it.

  4. Gina on March 3rd, 2010 11:58 am

    Can you tell what the difference between financial axxounting and tax accounting

  5. Hima on March 8th, 2010 8:11 pm

    Can you tell me what are the goals of financial management? Which includes profit maximization and wealth maximization?

  6. inncent on March 11th, 2010 11:28 am

    what are the different between cost accounting, management accounting and finanacial accounting

Leave a Reply