The accounting cycle is the holistic process of recording and processing all financial transactions of a company, from when the transaction occurs, to its representation on the financial statements, to closing the accounts. One of the main duties of a bookkeeper is to keep track of the full accounting cycle from start to finish. The cycle repeats itself every fiscal year as long as a company remains in business.
The accounting cycle incorporates all the accounts, journal entries, T accounts, debits and credits, adjusting entries over a full cycle.
Accounting Cycle Diagram
Steps in the accounting cycle
#1 Transactions
Transactions: Financial transactions start the process. If there are no financial transactions, there would be nothing to keep track of. Transactions may include a debt payoff, any purchases or acquisition of assets, sales revenue, or any expenses incurred.
#2 Journal Entries
Journal Entries: With the transactions set in place, the next step is to record these entries in the company’s journal in chronological order. In debiting one or more accounts and crediting one or more accounts, the debits and credits must always balance.
#3 Posting to the General Ledger (GL)
Posting to the GL: The journal entries are then posted to the general ledger where a summary of all transactions to individual accounts can be seen.
#4 Trial Balance
Trial Balance: At the end of the accounting period (which may be quarterly, monthly, or yearly depending on the company), a total balance is calculated for the accounts.
#5 Worksheet
Worksheet: When the debits and credits on the trial balance don’t match, the bookkeeper must look for errors and make corrective adjustments that are tracked on a worksheet.
#6 Adjusting Entries
Adjusting Entries: At the end of the company’s accounting period, adjusting entries must be posted to account for accruals and deferrals.
#7 Financial Statements
Financial Statements: The balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement can be prepared using the correct balances.
#8 Closing
Closing: The revenue and expense accounts are closed and zeroed out for the next accounting cycle. This is because revenue and expense accounts are income statement accounts, which show performance for a specific period. Balance sheet accounts are not closed because they show the company’s financial position at a certain point in time.
