Last updated on Jan 15, 2024
- All
- Working with Investors
Powered by AI and the LinkedIn community
1
Identify the cash sources
2
Identify the cash uses
Be the first to add your personal experience
3
Calculate the net cash flow
Be the first to add your personal experience
4
Add the net cash flows
Be the first to add your personal experience
5
Compare the beginning and ending cash balances
Be the first to add your personal experience
6
Check for errors
Be the first to add your personal experience
7
Here’s what else to consider
Be the first to add your personal experience
A cash flow statement is a financial report that shows how much cash your business generates and uses in a given period. It helps you assess your liquidity, solvency, and profitability. But how do you reconcile the beginning and ending cash balances on a cash flow statement? Here are some steps to follow:
Top experts in this article
Selected by the community from 2 contributions. Learn more
Earn a Community Top Voice badge
Add to collaborative articles to get recognized for your expertise on your profile. Learn more
- Clint Engler CEO/Principal: CERAC Trader Strategies Inc. FL USA.....…
1
1 Identify the cash sources
The first step is to identify the cash sources that increase your cash balance. These are the inflows of cash from operating, investing, and financing activities. Operating activities are the core business operations that generate revenue and expenses. Investing activities are the purchases and sales of long-term assets, such as property, plant, and equipment. Financing activities are the transactions that affect your equity and debt, such as issuing shares, paying dividends, or borrowing money.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
-
Reconciling cash balances on a cash flow statement involves adding the net cash flow from operating, investing, and financing activities to the beginning cash balance. This should equal the ending cash balance reported on the balance sheet. Any discrepancies that highlight potential errors or timing differences will need further investigation.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
1
(edited)
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Load more contributions
2 Identify the cash uses
The second step is to identify the cash uses that decrease your cash balance. These are the outflows of cash from operating, investing, and financing activities. Operating activities include payments to suppliers, employees, taxes, and interest. Investing activities include acquisitions of other businesses, investments in securities, or loans to others. Financing activities include repayments of loans, repurchases of shares, or redemption of bonds.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
3 Calculate the net cash flow
The third step is to calculate the net cash flow from each category of activities. This is the difference between the inflows and outflows of cash. For example, if you received $100,000 from operating activities and paid $80,000 for operating expenses, your net cash flow from operating activities is $20,000. You need to do the same for investing and financing activities.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
4 Add the net cash flows
The fourth step is to add the net cash flows from each category of activities. This is the total change in your cash balance for the period. For example, if your net cash flow from operating activities is $20,000, your net cash flow from investing activities is -$10,000, and your net cash flow from financing activities is $5,000, your total change in cash is $15,000.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
5 Compare the beginning and ending cash balances
The fifth step is to compare the beginning and ending cash balances on your cash flow statement. The beginning cash balance is the amount of cash you had at the start of the period. The ending cash balance is the amount of cash you have at the end of the period. To reconcile them, you need to add the total change in cash to the beginning cash balance. For example, if your beginning cash balance is $50,000 and your total change in cash is $15,000, your ending cash balance should be $65,000.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
6 Check for errors
The final step is to check for errors in your cash flow statement. If your ending cash balance does not match the actual cash balance in your bank account, you may have made a mistake in recording or categorizing your cash transactions. You need to review your cash receipts and payments and make sure they are accurate and consistent with your income statement and balance sheet.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
7 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
Financial Management
Financial Management
+ Follow
Rate this article
We created this article with the help of AI. What do you think of it?
It’s great It’s not so great
Thanks for your feedback
Your feedback is private. Like or react to bring the conversation to your network.
Tell us more
Tell us why you didn’t like this article.
If you think something in this article goes against our Professional Community Policies, please let us know.
We appreciate you letting us know. Though we’re unable to respond directly, your feedback helps us improve this experience for everyone.
If you think this goes against our Professional Community Policies, please let us know.
More articles on Financial Management
No more previous content
- Here's how you can incorporate logical reasoning into financial analysis and interpretation. 3 contributions
- Here's how you can showcase your value and contribution to your boss and the organization.
- Here's how you can master discussing your budgeting and forecasting experience during an interview.
- Here's how you can effectively manage finances remotely using the best tools and software.
- Here's how you can enhance your financial data analysis skills.
- Here's how you can navigate negotiation strategies for executive-level compensation as a Financial Manager.
- Here's how you can effectively manage and allocate financial resources to drive organizational success.
- Here's how you can effectively respond to a question about your financial reporting experience. 1 contribution
No more next content
More relevant reading
- Cash Flow How do you use the cash flow per share ratio to value a business or a project?
- Business Management How do you calculate the current ratio?
- Cash Flow How do you interpret the difference between EBITDA and cash flow in terms of profitability and efficiency?