Course Description

There are generally two different ways to keep the books – cash and accrual basis. The method of accounting you choose is important because it dictates when you show income and recognize expenses. So which one is best for you and your business? That’s exactly what this course is all about! In this session, we will discuss the key differences between cash and accrual accounting. We will talk about why the cash basis is normally easier but may be misleading. We will also discuss what you typically see on most business tax returns – and why your method of accounting choice could make a big difference in your tax liability!

Learning Objectives

  • Identify when a transaction should be recorded on the accounting records under the cash method

  • Recognize when income is recognized and an expense must be accrued on the accounting records under the accrual method.

  • Identify what account should not appear on the financial records if the accrual method is being used.

Additional Required Materials

  • Level: Basic

  • Field of Study: Accounting

  • Who Should Attend: Small business owners who want to better understand financial and accounting records, as well as bookkeepers who are just getting started.

  • Required Knowledge: None

  • Advanced Prep: None

Instructor

CPA, CPCU, MST, MBA David Peters

David Peters is the Founder and Owner of Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting in Richmond, VA. He has over fourteen years of experience in financial services, including 3 years in the hedge fund industry and six years in the insurance industry. David was the first-ever Chief Financial Officer at Compare.com - a position he held for over three years. He is a national CPE Instructor/Discussion Leader for the AICPA, Surgent, and Kaplan. He regularly teaches courses in accounting, finance, insurance, and ethics throughout the United States. He holds four Masters degrees and contributes regularly to various CPA publications, including NCACPA’s Interim Report, SCACPA’s CPA Report, and VSCPA’s Disclosures. He was also a co-author of the 2018 Virginia CPA Ethics course – a required course for all CPA’s licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.