Guidance

Director information hub: Financial statements

What is a financial statement and why should directors maintain them?

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Understanding balance sheets

Financial statements

As it sounds, a financial statement is a statement or record of the financial position of your company.

The information in your financial statements should include:

  • your balance sheet, which is your overall financial position
  • profit and loss account, which details your income and expenditure

Balance sheet

Your balance sheet is snapshot of what your company’s financial position is at any given time. Your balance sheet shows:

  • company assets
  • company liabilities
  • shareholders equity

Profit and loss (income)

This statement details the amount of money your company has earned over a 12-month period as well as the money you’ve spent in that time

Cashflow

Your cashflow is the money coming in and out of the business day-to-day.

A positive cashflow is an indicator that your company is in a healthy state.

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Published 7 July 2023