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Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements best distinguishes between financial accounting and managerial accounting?
A
Managerial accounting is primarily concerned with preparing financial statements for external reporting.
B
Financial accounting is only used by managers within the organization.
C
Managerial accounting must comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), while financial accounting does not.
D
Financial accounting focuses on providing information to external users, while managerial accounting is intended for internal decision-making.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the key distinction between financial accounting and managerial accounting. Financial accounting is designed to provide information to external users such as investors, creditors, and regulatory agencies, while managerial accounting focuses on providing information to internal users like managers for decision-making purposes.
Step 2: Recognize that financial accounting must comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), ensuring consistency and comparability for external reporting. Managerial accounting, on the other hand, does not have to follow GAAP or IFRS and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the organization.
Step 3: Note that financial accounting involves preparing standardized financial statements, such as the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, which are used by external stakeholders to assess the financial health of the organization.
Step 4: Understand that managerial accounting includes tools like budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis, which are used internally to support strategic planning, operational control, and performance evaluation.
Step 5: Based on the explanation above, identify the correct statement: 'Financial accounting focuses on providing information to external users, while managerial accounting is intended for internal decision-making.' This aligns with the fundamental purpose of each type of accounting.