5 min

Management Accounting vs. Financial Accounting: A Guide

If you are a small business owner, then you are likely still learning all the ins and outs of running your own business. That includes understanding the difference between cost accounting and management accounting. This article is designed to give you a clear picture of the differences between the two types of accounting and some advice on which one should be considered when managing your finances.

Alice BLED • Libeo

Published on Jan 12, 2023 | Updated on Feb 2, 2023

Summary

1. What is the difference between management accounting and financial accounting?a. Which is better: Financial Accountant or Management Accountant?b. Which is easier: Management Accounting or Financial Accounting?2. Which is the best type of accounting for decision-making?3. What is the importance of financial accounting?

What is the difference between management accounting and financial accounting?

Management accounting and financial accounting are two sets of accounting practices that are used by organizations to determine their financial performance.

Management accounting, also known as managerial accounting or cost accounting, is the process of collecting and analyzing financial data to make business decisions. Management accounting focuses on how companies use their money and how they can get better results from their resources. Financial accounting, on the other hand, is more concerned with reporting to stakeholders and investors what has happened in a company over a particular period of time (usually a year).

Which is better: Financial Accountant or Management Accountant?

One is not better than the other: they are two different jobs.

Management accountants are responsible for providing data and information related to operating expenses while Financial Accountants prepare reports on assets and liabilities of an organization.

Management Accountants measure performance by tracking sales volume, costs incurred in production or services provided by the company. A typical example of a job description for a management accountant would include cost analysis, revenue recognition analysis, breakeven analysis, budgeting and forecasting techniques. Whereas Financial Accountant responsibilities include budgeting, managing tax payments and performing internal audits.

Which is easier: Management Accounting or Financial Accounting?

The answer to this question depends on what you mean by "easier." If you are comparing financial accounting with management accounting, then management accounting is easier.

The reason is that financial accounting is focused on preparing reports for external users like investors, lenders and regulators. The information in these reports must be accurate and consistent with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles).

Financial accountants typically have a bachelor's degree in finance or accounting with specializations in one of these areas depending on where they work (public accounting firms or large corporations). They also need several years of experience working with both management and financial information before they can become certified public accountants (CPAs).

However, it does not mean that management accounting is an 'easy' job. Management accounting requires considerable training as well as experience in order to understand how various factors impact your business' success (or failure).

REPLAY WEBINAR

FIRESIDE CHAT : THE FUTURE OF ACCOUNTING

Watch our replay webinar, get an overview of what challenges SMBs currently face and how technology can help to tackle them.

Access the replay

Which is the best type of accounting for decision-making?

Management accounting and financial accounting are two sides of the same coin. In other words, they are both important because they provide information that is necessary for making strategic decisions.

Financial accounting is a system that provides information to help managers, investors, and other people make decisions about how to allocate resources. Some examples of how financial accounting is used within companies are:

What was our return on investment last year?
How much did we spend on advertising last quarter?
What was our total revenue last month?

On the other hand, management accounting help make better decisions by focusing on what should happen in the future by answering questions like:

How many units will we sell next quarter if we change our price by 10%?
How many widgets should we produce if we want to maximize profits?

What is the importance of financial accounting?

The importance of financial accounting for a small business owner is to ensure that their business is not only profitable but also able to sustain itself. Financial accounting helps a small business owner identify areas where he or she can save money and improve profits, which leads to better cash flow.

The main function of financial accounting is to provide information about the financial status of a company. It is also of great help in tax accounting and the preparation of statutory accounts and financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement).

Additionally, financial statements can be used as part of a loan application package when borrowing money from banks or other lending institutions. This is why many entrepreneurs hire accountants or bookkeepers for their businesses — so that they can have someone else crunch the numbers for them and provide them with all of the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their businesses' futures.

Article

Accounts Payable Automation: The Ultimate Game Changer For Accounting Firms

Accounts Payable automation is one of the most important features accounting firms have adopted. How can AP automation streamline your accounting firm's processes?

Read full article