• Regardless of the size of the business, accounting is a necessary function for decision making, cost planning and economic performance measurement.

  • An accountant can handle basic accounting needs, but a certified public accountant (CPA) should be used for larger or more complex accounting tasks.
  • Two important types of accounting for businesses are management accounting and cost accounting. Management accounting helps management teams make business decisions, while cost accounting helps business owners decide how much a product should cost.
  • Professional accountants follow a set of standards known as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) when preparing financial statements.
  • Accounting is an important function of strategic planning, external compliance, fundraising and operations management.