Trial Balance

  

Categories: Banking

You’d think this was a scene from The Crucible. But unfortunately, way duller.

It's when accountants set off to balance their books, checking that assets equals liabilities, that all the expenses they think they had...they actually had. And cash flow from operations really does equal the amounts they’re taking for D&A plus net income (and other stuff). So they do a pre-balancing check…balance. It’s a trial. A test. An adjudication of the numbers. Who is guilty? Who is innocent? Which number goes to "re-check jail" and which number is now free for the full auditable balance?

That’s what the court is asking, anyway, in a trial balance. And we rest our case.

Related or Semi-related Video

Finance: What is a Consolidated Balance ...3 Views

00:00

Finance a la shmoop what is a consolidated balance sheet? okay people

00:08

this is a tale of two balance sheets it was the best of times right here and all [Lemonade stand balance sheet appears]

00:13

that cash no debt,, yeah and it was the worst of times and pretty much the

00:17

opposite and then one magical mergy day the two companies possessing these

00:23

two divergent balance sheets decided to you know merge it was a lovely ceremony [Bride and groom holding hands]

00:29

the bride wore white the groom stepped on the glass so then the balance sheets

00:33

were consolidated that is they were merged or combined or fully brought

00:37

together liabilities plus liabilities assets plus assets so the few dollars in

00:43

cash here in the worst of times balance sheet

00:47

well that was tacked on to the cash in the best of times balance sheet and the

00:51

same happened with long term liabilities and short and eventually after the

00:56

wedding night was you know consummated these two balance sheets had merged and [Man and girl standing by their lemonade stands]

01:00

consolidated and looked like this and that's what happens when companies merge

01:06

everything including their balance sheets consolidate let's hope they

01:10

generate lots of tiny cash flows and credits in the future....Mazel Tov

Up Next

Finance: What is a Balance Sheet?
47 Views

What is a balance sheet? A balance sheet is a financial document that public corporations are required to use. It shows their assets and liabilitie...

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)