Glossaries
Featured terms
Abrechnungszeitraum
The time frame used for financial reporting, normally months, quarters or years.
Abschreibung
Process similar to depreciation, usually applied to intangible fixed assets.
Aktiengesetz
Legislation to control the activities and administration of limited liability companies.
Aktienurkunde
A document providing evidence of share ownership.
A
Abrechnungszeitraum
The time frame used for financial reporting, normally months, quarters or years.
Abschreibung
Process similar to depreciation, usually applied to intangible fixed assets.
Abschreibung
The process used to allocate the cost of an intangible asset to the accounting periods benefited
Accounting Principles Board (APB)
The private sector group charged with developing accounting standards from 1959 to 1973; primary authoritative pronouncements were known as "opinions"
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC)
Research tool deemed to be the primary authoritative source and reference guide on accounting standards
Accounting Standards Update (ASU)
The official notification issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of a new or modified accounting rule
Aktivität
An event that gives rise to the consumption of resources
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
(AICPA) an organization whose members are CPAs interested in advancing the accounting profession
Änderungen der Rechnungslegung
Changes from one acceptable method of accounting to another acceptable method; like straight-line depreciation to a declining balance approach
Anpassungsprozess
To analyze account balances and update them at the end of an accounting period to reflect the correct measure of revenues and expenses
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other
Berichtigte Probebilanz
A trial balance prepared after adjusting entries have been prepared and posted to the ledger
Bilanzgleichung
A financial relationship at the heart of the accounting model: Assets = Liabilities + Owners' Equity
Buchführungszyklus
The procedures needed to process transactions through an accounting system; including journalization, posting, adjusting, and preparing financial s...
Buchhalterische Rentabilität
A project evaluation tool that focuses on accounting income rather than cash flows; average annual increase in income by the amount of initial inve...
Degressive Abschreibungsmethoden
Several alternative depreciation approaches that result in relatively more depreciation in early years of use, and smaller amounts during later years
Effektiver Jahreszins
An interest rate reflecting what you'll actually pay, or earn, on your money after the effects of compounding are taken into account in order to normalize the interest rate.
Effektiver Jahreszins
The rate of interest you agree to pay on money borrowed, and a useful way to compare how much interest you would pay on loans from different providers. The higher the APR, the more you will pay.
Erreichbare Standards
A standard that takes into account normal spoilage and inefficiency; intended to allow workers to reach the established benchmarks
Fälligkeitsanalyse der Forderungen
Analysis used to estimate the uncollectible accounts; involves stratification of receivables based upon age
Forderungen aus Lieferungen und Leistungen
Amounts due from customers, also described as a trade debtors.
Fortgeführte Anschaffungskosten
The approach mandated for held-to-maturity securities; investments are reported at their cost with any premium or discount amortized over the life ...
Gesamtergebnisrechnung
A concept of income by which virtually all nonequity-based transactions and events are captured and reported in the income statement; the preferred...
Geschäftsbericht
Most organisations are required to produce an annual report on their activities and enclose the accounts of the company's performance over the past year.
Hauptversammlung
A meeting of the members (shareholders) of a company at which the board of directors lay the company's accounts and report for shareholders' approval. Other business is also conducted such as election of directors, auditors remuneration, etc.
Jahresabschluss
Also known as financial, company or statutory accounts. Businesses must produce an annual set of accounts detailing business finances.
Konten
Financial statements prepared at the end of a period to reflect the profit of loss or the period and financial position at the end of the period.
Konto
A record that is kept for each asset, liability, equity, revenue, expense, and dividend component of an entity
Kostenstelle
The costs assigned to a particular activity
Kostentreiber
Event that causes consumption of an activity
Künstliche Intelligenz (KI)
Computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence
Noch zu verrechnende Erträge
Revenues that have been earned and recorded, but are not as yet collected
Periodengerechte Buchführung
The accounting process whereby revenues are measured and recorded as earned, while expenses are recorded as incurred
Periodisierungsgrundsatz
The effects of transactions and other events are recognised when they occur (and not as cash or its equivalent is received or paid) and they are recorded in the accounting records and reported in the financial statements of the periods to which they relate (see also matching).
Prozesskostenrechnung
Alternative costing method for strategic management; divides production into activities, defines costs for activities, and allocates costs to objec...
Prozesskostenrechnung
(ABC) A costing system for situations where overhead is high and/or a variety of products are produced; costs are traced to activities and then act...
Prüfung
An official inspection of a company's accounts.
Rechnungswesen
A set of concepts and techniques that are used to measure and report financial information about an economic unit
Rente
Level streams of payments; with each payment being the same, and occurring at a regular interval
Renten
Streams of level (i.e., the same amount each period) payments occurring on regular intervals
Rückgestellte Aufwendungen
Unpaid expenses that have already been incurred
Rückstellung
Expenses and revenues that gradually accumulate throughout an accounting period
Satzung
Document setting out the relative rights of shareholders in a limited liability company.
Verbindlichkeiten aus Lieferungen und Leistungen
Amounts due for payment to suppliers of goods or services, also described as trade creditors.
Vermögenswerte
The economic resources owned by an entity; entailing probable future benefits to the entity
Vollkostenrechnung
Also known as full costing -- a costing method where inventory absorbs direct costs and variable and fixed factory overhead
Vorschüssige Rente
Also known as an annuity in advance; involves a level stream of payments, with the payments being made at the beginning of each time period
Wertberichtigungsmethode
A method that estimates uncollectibles as a portion of total receivables and establishes an offsetting contra allowance account
Wirtschaftsprüfer
Professional accountants who check the books of account, ask for explanations from the directors and examine the report and accounts, verifying that they give 'a true and fair view' of the transactions.
Wirtschaftsprüfung
The examination of transactions and systems that underlie an organization's financial statements with the goal or reporting thereon
Zur Veräußerung verfügbare finanzielle Vermögenswerte
Investments in debt that are neither "held-to-maturity" or "trading;" a default category that is accounted for at fair value with changes in value ...
B
Aktivität auf Chargenebene
Activities that relate to each batch of production; independent of the number of units within that batch
Anleihe
A form of IOU issued by the company, or a government or other institution, offering to pay interest in return for borrowing your money, or to pay you little or no interest but instead issue the anleihes at a discount but pay you back in full sometime in the future, or to pay you back at some time in the future in a way that is financially interesting to you now.
Anleiheverbindlichkeiten
An obligation divided into transferable units requiring the issuer to make periodic interest payments and an eventual repayment of the face amount
Balanced Scorecard
A set of performance measures that are congruent with assessing improvement in financial, customer, and business process outcomes
Bankabstimmung
A control procedure to establish and verify the correct cash balance via identification of errors, irregularities, and adjustments
Barausgleich
Term used to describe additional monetary consideration that may accompany an exchange transaction
Basiszinssatz
Set by the Bank of England, this is the country's base rate of interest and influences the rate of interest on financial products and services.
Benchmarking
Measuring products or processes against industry standards, an essential part of total quality management
Big Data
Electronically warehoused information, capable of being mined and analyzed, containing the “who, what, when, where, and why” of all business activity
Bilanz
A financial statement that presents a firm's assets, liabilities, and owners' equity at a particular point in time
Bootstrapping
Building a company without external investment, often relying on personal savings and running with the lowest possible operating costs
Bottom-up-Budgetierung
A budget approach driven by the direct participation of lower-level employees
Buchwert
Cost minus accumulated depreciation; the net amount at which an asset is reported on the balance sheet
Buchwert je Aktie
Common stockholders' equity divided by common shares outstanding, to indicate stockholders' equity per share
Budget
A planning tool that outlines the financial plans for an organization; there are various types of budgets -- operating, capital, and financial
Budgetausschuss
A group of senior managers from each business unit charged with leading the budget preparation and review process
Budgetpuffer
The influence of behavior to "pad" a budget via misstating expected revenues and/or expenses; to create more favorable budget vs. actual performanc...
Business to Business (B2B)
(B2B) A system that enables data interchange between companies; sometimes sufficiently robust to permit automatic inventory replenishment, etc.
Forderungsausfall
The amount owed by a customer who cannot, or will not, pay for goods or services they have had.
Gewinnschwelle
The level of activity where revenues equal total expenses, producing a zero net income; also the point where the contribution margin is said to cov...
Kontoauszug
The document received from a bank which summarizes deposits and other credits, and checks and other debits to a bank account
Leitzins
In the UK it is set by the Bank of England, to control the money supply and inflation. Banks usually lend at anything from 2 per cent above leitzins and upward, and pay 2 to 3 per cent below leitzins on any deposits you have at the bank.
Unverwässertes Ergebnis je Aktie
The simplest earnings per share number; earnings available to common shares divided by weighted average shares, without factoring in potential dilu...
Vorstand
A group of people to whom the shareholders have delegated the task of running the day-to-day affairs of the company. They normally define the direction of the company and thus should have a dramatic influence on its performance. They are supposed to act in the best interest of the shareholders.
Wertverbesserung
Expenditures that improve or increase the service potential of an asset even beyond its original new condition; such costs may be capitalized by in...
C
Abschlussprozess
The process by which temporary accounts are "zeroed" out and the effects transferred to retained earnings
Aktiengesetz
Legislation to control the activities and administration of limited liability companies.
Aktivität auf Kundenebene
Activities that relate to each customer; independent of the volume of goods and services provided to the specific customer
Aktueller Betriebsansatz
A concept of income where income is limited to transactions related to central ongoing operations; not an acceptable approach for income theory
Änderung von Schätzungen
A revision of assumptions used in a related accounting calculation (e.g., change in estimated useful life of an asset); handled prospectively by re...
Belastung von Vermögenswerten
Used when all or some of the assets of an organisation have been used as collateral to secure a transaction of some kind (usually the borrowing of large sums of money). The charge operates in a similar way to that used by mortgage companies as they retain an interest in your house and must be repaid first out of any sale monies you make.
Bezahlte Abwesenheiten
Term to describe paid time off; vacations, sick leave, etc.
Cashflow
The movement of money into and out of a business over a specific period
Cashflow-Prognosen
Statements of cash expected to flow into and out of a business over a particular period.
Certified Financial Manager (CFM)
(CFM) a professional designation of competency in the field of financial management that is issued by the Institute of Management Accountants
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
(CMA) a professional designation of competency in the field of management accounting that is issued by the Institute of Management Accountants
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
An individual who is licensed by a state to practice public accounting
Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
(CGMA) sponsors a designation that distinguishes professionals who have advanced proficiency in finance, operations, strategy and management
Controller
The primary person responsible for the cost and managerial accounting functions
CPA
An individual who is licensed by a state to practice public accounting
Deckungsbeitrag
Revenues minus all variable expenses, whether related to production or selling and administration (not to be confused with gross profit)
Deckungsbeitragsrechnung
An internal report that identifies each segment's controllable elements; the contribution margin, controllable fixed costs, uncontrollable fixed co...
Eingefordert (Stammkapital)
The company has called upon the shareholders who first bought the shares, to pay for their shares.
Eingesetztes Kapital
Sometimes called total assets less current liabilities or total shareholders' funds plus long-term finance (the two calculations provide the same result). It is a measure of how much value is placed in the hands of the management of the company, hence ROCE (return on capital employed) is a key reaction in the control of performance.
Eventualverbindlichkeiten
Events that may or may not give rise to an actual liability because the outcome is uncertain; examples include lawsuits, environmental damage issue...
Fixe Verpflichtungskosten
Costs that arise from an organization's commitment to engage in operations; unavoidable elements like depreciation, rent, insurance, property taxes
Gegenkonto zum Aktivkonto
An account that is subtracted from a related account -- contra accounts have opposite debit/credit rules
Gemeinsame Fixkosten
Fixed costs that are incurred to support more than one business unit
Gesamtergebnis
Net income plus items of other gesamtergebnis (e.g., market value adjustments of available for sale securities)
Gläubiger
A person or firm that has lent your business money or to whom you owe money.
Gläubiger
Suppliers to whom we owe money.
Gutschrift
A document summarising the reduction in charge on an invoice (bill), usually because the customer has returned defective goods or has received inadequate service.
Gutschriftsanzeige
A seller-prepared document evidencing an approved return of merchandise for credit against an account
Haben
The nature of an action to an account to indicate an increase (liabilities, equity, and revenue) or decrease (assets, expenses, and dividends); usu...
Herstellungskosten der zur Veräußerung bestimmten Erzeugnisse
The amount of cost attributable to goods reaching the end of production; beginning work in process (wip) + (direct materials, direct labor, manufac...
Investitionsausgabe
Spending on non-current (fixed) assets of a business.
Investitionsausgaben
Ordinary and necessary costs incurred to place an item of property, plant, or equipment in its condition for intended use; such amounts are include...
Investitionsausgaben (CAPEX)
Funds used by the company to buy, maintain or improve its fixed assets such as buildings, vehicles, equipment, or land.
Investitionsentscheidung
Also known as capital budgeting; planning and decision making related to longer term projects and expenditures
Kapazitätsauslastung
The degree to which an organization's output capabilities are being deployed or utilized
Kapital
Anything invested into a company that has a tangible value or benefit to its own, such as a machinery, patents, or financial assets like cash.
Kapitalgesellschaft
A form of business organization where ownership is represented by divisible units called shares of stock
Kassenmäßige Rechnungslegung
An accounting approach where revenue is recorded when cash is received (no matter when "earned"), and expenses are recognized when paid (no matter ...
Kommission
To place inventory in the custody of another party without requiring them to purchase it, as a sales agent
Komplexe Kapitalstruktur
Companies with options, warrants, or convertible bonds and stocks that may result in the issuance of additional shares
Konsolidierung
To prepare financial reports for a parent and subsidiary company as a single economic unit
Kontenplan
A listing of the accounts of an entity, along with any identification coding
Körperschaftsteuer
Paid by UK companies on their profits.
Kosten-Volumen-Gewinn-Analyse
(CVP) Analysis focusing on the interplay of pricing, volume, variable and fixed costs, and product mix
Kostendruckinflation
Cost-push inflation occurs when production input costs, such as wages and raw materials, rise and producers pass the increased costs on to consumers through price rises.
Kostenflussannahme
An assumption about how costs are assigned to inventory in the accounting records
Kostenrechnung
The process by which an organization's cost is collected, assigned, and interpreted
Kostenstelle
An area of responsibility under the control of a manager who is responsible for costs incurred within the unit; the unit generally has little reven...
Kostenträger
The output for which costing information is to be determined under ABC; can be product or service related, or customer, market, etc.
Kostentreiber
The factor that is viewed as causing costs to be incurred within an organization
Kumulative Vorzugsaktie
Preferred stock that is entitled to a periodic dividend, and those dividends must be paid (eventually) before any monies can be distributed to comm...
Kündbare Anleihe
A bond that provides the issuer an option to reacquire the bonds before scheduled maturity at a preset price
Kündbare Vorzugsaktie
Preferred stock that can be repurchased by issuer for a preset price
Kuponanleihe
A bond that has detachable coupons that are exchanged for interest payments; historically popular but falling into disuse
Kurzfristige Verbindlichkeit
A liability which is expected to be settled in the entity's normal operating cycle, generally within 12 months after the balance sheet date.
Kurzfristige Verbindlichkeiten
Obligations that will be liquidated within one year or the operating cycle, whichever is longer
Liquidität 3. Grades
A measure of liquidity, calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities
Liquiditätsplan
An essential budget component detailing planned cash receipts, disbursements, and financing actions
Mindestkontoguthaben
An amount that must be left on deposit and cannot be withdrawn
Produktionskosten
Similar to cost of goods sold and used mostly in academic accounts.
Produktionskostenbericht
A report used in a process costing environment to tabulate the costs incurred within a particular stage/department
Rollierender Budget
A budget that is constantly updated; as one month/quarter is completed another is added to the set the projections
Sammelkonto
The total of all subcomponent account records for an account; e.g., the sum of all individual accounts receivable
Sicherheit
Security, usually for a loan. It is effected by enabling the giver of the loan the right to seize the asset that is being used as sicherheit and sell it if the terms of their loan are not met.
Skonto
A reduction in invoice price offered to customers to encourage prompt payment of invoices
Stammaktien
The residual equity interest in a corporation; last in liquidation but usually receiving the full benefits of any corporate growth
Stammkapital
A non-specific reference to the ownership interests of shareholders in a corporation
Stetigkeit
An enhancing quality of accounting such that deviations in outcomes from period to period should be the result of deviations in underlying performa...
Umlaufvermögen
An asset that is expected to be converted into cash within the trading cycle. Contrasting a Fixed asset that is held to use within the business long term.
Umlaufvermögen
Assets that will be converted into cash or consumed within one year or the operating cycle, whichever is longer
Umsatzkosten
See 'cost of goods sold'.
Umsatzkosten
The total cost attributed to units of inventory actually sold during a period
Umwandlungskosten
Cost components needed to change raw materials to finished goods, specifically direct labor and manufacturing overhead
Vergleichbarkeit
An enhancing quality of accounting such that even though different companies may use different accounting methods, there is still sufficient basis ...
Verkauf auf Kredit
A business entity sells goods or services and allows the customer to make payment at a later date.
Verpflichtungen
Promises to engage in some future action; not necessarily creating a recordable accounting liability but potentially necessitating enhanced disclosure
Vorsichtsprinzip
A general principle of accounting measurement; when in doubt, understate assets and income and overstate liabilities
Wandelanleihe
A bond that may be converted by the holder into stock of the issuing company
Wandelbare Vorzugsaktie
Preferred stock that can be exchanged for common stock at some preagreed ratio
Wirtschaftlicher Gehalt
The quality of an exchange transaction such that it changes the future cash flow potential of the entity
Zahlungsmittel
Items acceptable to a bank for deposit and free from restrictions for satisfying current debts; includes coins, currency, bank deposits, etc.
Zahlungsmitteläquivalente
Short-term interest-earning financial instruments that are deemed to be highly secure and will convert back into cash within 90 days
Zahlungsziel
The supplier agrees to allow the customer to make payment some time after the delivery of the goods or services. Typical trader credit periods range from 30 to 60 days but each agreement is different.
Zentrale Entscheidungsfindung
A business style where top leaders make and direct most important decisions
Zinseszins
Interest calculations that provide for periodic inclusion of accumulated interest into the base on which interest is calculated; "interest on the i..."
D
Abschreibung
The process used to allocate the cost of a long-lived property to the accounting periods benefited
Abschreibungsbasis
Cost minus salvage value; the amount of cost that will be allocated to the service life
Aufgegebene Geschäftsbereiche
The special income statement reporting of the impact of disposing or abandoning of a component of a business
Ausschüttungsquote
Dividend per share divided by earnings per share
Beitragsorientierter Plan
A type of pension plan where the benefits are based on amounts in trust for the benefit of the employee; employer contributions are usually a fixed...
Dashboard
Customized business software that delivers key real time business data in an easily monitored layout
Datenbank
An information storehouse, usually electronic, that can be queried to extract data meeting certain parameters. Enables singular data entry and mult...
Debitkarte
Transactions are equivalent to an electronically generated check that results in an almost immediate withdrawal of funds.
Degressive Abschreibungsmethode
An accelerated depreciation method by which a constant rate (that is a multiple of the straight-line rate) is multiplied by each period's beginning...
Derivate
Investments accounted for a fair value that generally derive their value from some other item; examples include commodity futures, options, and so ...
Dezentrale Entscheidungsfindung
A business style where top leaders concentrates on strategy, and leaves day-to-day operation and decision-making tasks to lower-level personnel
Direkte Abschreibungsmethode
A simple, non-GAAP, method that expenses uncollectible accounts only as they are determined to be uncollectible and are written off
Direkte Methode
The preferred method for preparing the statement of cash flows; operating cash flows are presented according to their direct source (e.g., cash rec...
Direkte Methode/Zuteilung von Servicekosten
An allocation process whereby service department costs are assigned directly to productive departments (compare to step method)
Direktor
A member of the board of direktors who bears the responsibility of managing the company on behalf of the shareholders.
Direktor(en)
Person(s) appointed by shareholders of a limited liability company to manage the affairs of the company.
Disagio auf Anleihen
The difference between face value and issue price of a bond, where the issue price is less; causes the effective yield to be higher than that stated
Dividende
Money paid by a company from its profits to its shareholders.
Dividenden
Amounts paid from profits of a corporation to shareholders as a return on their investment in the stock of the entity
Dividendensatz
Dividend per share divided by stock price; also called dividend yield
Doppelt-degressive Abschreibung
An accelerated depreciation method by which a constant rate (that is 200% of the straight-line rate) is multiplied by each period's beginning (cons...
Einzelkosten
A cost easily traced to a specific job; generally direct material and direct labor
Entnahmen
Cash taken for personal use, in sole trader or partnership businesses, treated as a reduction of ownership interest.
Entscheidungsabhängige Fixkosten
Fixed cost resulting from yearly spending decisions; proper planning can result in avoidance of these costs as necessary (e.g., advertising and tra...
Fertigungslohn
Gross wages paid to those who physically and directly work on the goods being produced
Fertigungslohn-Mengenabweichung
A variance comparing standard hours of direct labor to the actual hours worked; measured at the standard rate per hour [(standard hours - actual ho...
Fertigungslohn-Preisabweichung
A variance that reveals the difference between the standard rate and actual rate for the actual labor hours worked [(standard rate - actual rate) X...
Fertigungslohnbudget
A budget that details expected direct labor needs, along with the related costs of labor
Fertigungsmaterial
The costs of all materials that are an integral part of a finished product and that have a physical presence that is readily traced to that finishe...
Lastschriftsanzeige
A purchaser-prepared document evidencing a return of merchandise to a seller
Latente Steuern
Income & expenditure may be recognised at different time for accounting and tax purposes. Deferred tax is a way to balance this timing difference in the accounts.
Leistungsorientierter Plan
A type of pension plan where the benefits are a function of years of service, pay, and age; the ultimate employer cost is not known in advance
Materialbeschaffungsbudget
A budget that details expected direct material purchases, along with the related cash payments
Nachfragesog-Inflation
Occurs when demand is high, and suppliers increase prices until demand reduces.
Nichteinlösung eines Wechsels
To fail to pay a note at maturity
Passive Rechnungsabgrenzung
Income invoiced, or paid for, in advance of providing the service resulting in the income being deferred to a later accounting period, to when the service is provided.
Rückständige Dividenden
An omitted dividend on cumulative preferred stock that must eventually be paid before any monies can be distributed to common stockholders
Schuldner
A person or firm that owes money to your business.
Schuldner
The amount outstanding on customers' accounts.
Schuldverschreibung
A bond that lacks specific collateral; payment is only assured by the general faith and creditworthiness of the issuer
Soll
Entries in the debit column of a ledger account representing increases in assets or expenses, or decreases in liabilities or income.
Soll
The nature of an action to an account to indicate an increase (assets, expenses, and dividends) or decrease (liabilities, equity, and revenue); usu...
Substanzverringerung
The process used to allocate the cost of a natural resource asset to the accounting periods benefited
Unterwegsbefindliche Einzahlungen
Receipts entered on company records but not yet posted by the bank
Verwässernde Wertpapiere
Options, warrants, convertible bonds, convertible stocks, and other items that have the potential to increase the number of shares outstanding
Verwässertes Ergebnis je Aktie
An earnings per share number; adjusted to reflect the potential effect of dilutive securities
E
Äquivalente Einheiten
A measure of physical units expressed in terms of finished units
Arbeitnehmer
A person who works for a specific business and whose activities are directed by that business
Aufwand
Generally the running costs of a business.
Aufwendungen
The costs incurred in producing revenues
Belastung
A budgetary restriction occurring in advance of a related expenditure
EBIT
An analyst's calculation to reflect "earnings before interest and taxes"
EBITDA
An analyst's calculation to reflect "earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization"
Effektivzinsmethode
A theoretically preferable method for amortizing premiums and discounts on bonds; interest expense is a constant percentage of the bonds ever-chang...
Eigenkapital
Used by analysts to determine the financial health of a company. It also represents what would be left if all of a businesses' assets were liquidated and the debt paid off.
Einheit, Einheiten
Something that exists independently, such as a business which exists independently of the owner.
Enterprise Resource Planning-Systeme
(ERP) Comprehensive database software that tracks an almost endless array of business and accounting data
Equity-Methode
Method to account for stock investment when significant influence is present; changes in equity of the investee are recognized by the investor on a...
Ergebnis je Aktie
A measure of how much profit a company is making for its shareholders.
Ergebnis je Aktie
EPS; generally understood as the amount of income for each share of stock, but is actually better refined as basic and diluted EPS (see those defin...
ERP-System
A comprehensive software platform that integrates core business processes across an organization
Ertrag
A phrase that is often interchangeable with profits.
Erträge
A concept that relates to income from continuing operations plus/minus discontinued operations
Ex-Dividende
The event (date) when a transfer of stock ownership between shareholders will occur without the right for the purchaser to receive any previously d...
Grundsatz der wirtschaftlichen Einheit
Accounting information should be presented for circumscribed distinct economic units
Skaleneffekte
Efficiencies associated with increases in volume
Tauschgeschäft
Trading one asset for another; to be booked at fair value if the transaction has commercial substance
Unternehmenserhaltende Aktivität
Activities that relate to an entity's ability to operate; independent of business volume
F
Anlagevermögen
An asset that is held by an enterprise for use in the production or supply of goods or services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes on a continuing basis in the reporting entity's activities. Examples are equipment, vehicles, land and buildings.
Anlagevermögen
Assets that you intend to keep for longer than twelve months.
Beschäftigungsabweichung
A fixed overhead variance that compares the budgeted fixed overhead to the fixed overhead that is applied to production based on standard fixed ove...
Bilanzierung zum beizulegenden Zeitwert
Sometimes called "mark-to-market;" to record an investment at its fair value and recognize changes in value as they occur
Fertigerzeugnisse
Finished goods represent the cost of completed products awaiting sale to a customer
Fertigungsgemeinkostenbudget
A budget that details the anticipated factory overhead, including calculations related to the allocation of such amounts
FICA
Federal Insurance Contributions Act (also known as social security and Medicare); establishes a tax that employers must withhold and match for gove...
FIFO-Verfahren
FIFO; An inventory cost flow assumption based on the notion that the earliest costs are to be assigned to units sold
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
An organization charged with producing standards for financial reporting in the USA
Finanzbuchhaltung
An area of accounting that deals with external reporting to parties outside the firm; usually based on standardized rules and procedures
Finanzierungsleasing
A lease that effectively transfers the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee
Finanzierungstätigkeit
A cash flow category; including receipts from stock issues, bonds, notes and loans, -- and payments for loan repayment, acquisitions of treasury st...
Finanzmanagement
Planning, analysing, monitoring, organising, reviewing, and controlling a company's finances.
Fixkosten
Costs that vary over time rather than in proportion to throughput, e.g. Rent of premises, salaries etc.
Fixkosten
A total cost that is the same regardless of volume; total cost is constant and per unit cost decreases with volume increases
Fixkostenbudgetabweichung
A fixed overhead variance that compares actual fixed overhead to the budgeted fixed overhead
Flexibles Budget
A budget that covers a range of potential outcomes by relating expense levels to the potential revenues
Form 1099
A form required to be issued to an independent contractor reporting amounts paid; to assist with tax compliance issues (this form used to report ot...
Frei Bestimmungsort
Free on Board destination; meaning the transfer of ownership of inventory will occur when the goods reach their destination and the seller will inc...
Frei Versandstelle
Free on Board shipping point; meaning the transfer of ownership of inventory will occur when the goods are shipped and the purchaser will incur the...
FUTA
Federal Unemployment Tax levied on employer to provide funds for unemployed workers; rate is dependent on existence of SUTA and employer history of...
Geschäftsjahr
A one-year accounting period that does not correspond to a calendar year
Glaubwürdige Darstellung
A fundamental quality of accounting such that information must be truthful; complete, neutral, and free from error
Jahresabschluss
Core financial reports that are prepared to represent the financial position and results of operations of a company
Prognose
Prognose estimate of future performance and position based on stated assumptions and usually including a quantified amount.
Vollständigkeitsgrundsatz
All relevant facts that would influence investors' and creditors' judgments about the company are disclosed in the financial statements or related ...
Zukünftiger Wert
Or "compound interest;" amount that a current payment (or stream of payments) will grow in time; includes interest on previous interest based on fr...
G
Brutto
The total amount of money a company has earned in a period of time before deductions such as taxes.
Bruttogewinn
A calculated amount corresponding to net sales minus cost of goods sold
Bruttogewinn (oder Marge)
Sales minus cost of sales before deducting administration and selling expenses (see also gross margin).
Bruttolohn
Also known as gross earnings; this it is the total amount earned by an employee before any deductions
Bruttomethode
A method of recording purchases of inventory at invoice price
GAAP
Generally accepted accounting principles -- encompass the rules, practices, and procedures that define the proper execution of accounting
Geschäfts- oder Firmenwert
The excess of the purchase price of an acquired company over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired
Grundsatz der Unternehmensfortführung
Financial statements are prepared on this basis assuming that the business will continue operating into the foreseeable future.
Grundsatz der Unternehmensfortführung
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, accountants assume that a business will continue to operate well into the future
Hauptbuch
A record of the accounts comprising financial statements, and their respective balances
Rohertragsmethode
A technique that purports to estimate inventory and cost of goods sold by applying historic percentage relationships to observable sales information
Verfügbare Waren
A calculated amount corresponding to the beginning inventory plus net purchases; represents the total pool of inventory available during a period f...
Verschuldungsgrad
The proportion of borrowings to total financing (i.e. shareholders' funds plus total borrowing).
Waren unterwegs
Goods in the process of being transported to the buyer; ownership is based on freight terms
H
Anschaffungskostenprinzip
The concept that many transactions and events are to be measured and reported at acquisition cost
Bis zur Endfälligkeit gehaltene Finanzinvestitionen
Investments purchased with intent to hold to maturity; usually investment in debt; accounted for by amortized cost method
Hoch-Tief-Methode
A simple means for separating costs into fixed and variable components, based upon the difference between costs at the highest and lowest observed ...
I
Aktivierbare Anschaffungs- und Herstellungskosten
Product costs that attach to inventory
Ausgabepreis
The amount a company receives in exchange for the initial issue of debt or other financial instrument
Beteiligungsunternehmen
The company in which another has an investment
Börsengang
The first time stock in a corporation is offered to the investing public; registration and other requirements must be met; proceeds may flow to the...
Ertragsteuern
Taxes that are based on the amount income; for employees such amounts must be withheld by employers and remitted to the government
Forderungsabtretung
When a business sells its invoices to a third party, which will then add their own fee to the charges and seek the money from the debtor.
Freiberufler
One who performs a designated task or service for a company, and the company has the right to control or direct only the result of the work done
Gemeinkosten
A cost not easily traced to a specific job; generally categorized as factory or manufacturing overhead
Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung
A financial statement that summarizes the revenues, expenses, and results of operations for a specified period of time
Gewinnvortragskonto
A non-financial statement account used only to facilitate the closing process by summarizing and zeroing-out the revenue and expense accounts
Idealstandards
A standard that could only be achieved under perfect operating conditions; such standards are rarely expected to be achieved
Immaterieller Vermögenswert
Long-term asset that lacks physical existence; contract rights, copyrights, patents, trademarks, etc.
Immaterielles Anlagevermögen
An asset, such as a right, that cannot be touched (e.g. a trademark or Goodwill).
Indirekte Methode
An alternative method for preparing the statement of cash flows; operating cash flows are presented as a reconciliation of income to cash from oper...
Inflation
A percentage figure that represents how much prices of goods and services increased over a specific period.
Inkrementelle Budgetierung
A budgeting approach where the prior year experience sets a base line for a new budget; changes are made based on new information but the base need...
Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
(IMA) a professional association for management accountants that sponsors the CMA and CFM designations
Integration
Connecting different software systems to work together seamlessly
International Accounting Standards Board
An organization charged with producing accounting standards with global acceptance
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
The specific accounting rules developed by the International Accounting Standards Board
Interner Revisor
A person within an organization who reviews and monitors the controls, procedures, and information of the organization
Interner Zinsfuß
Also known as time-adjusted rate of return or IRR; discount rate causing present value of cash inflows to equal present value of the cash outflows
Investitionscenter
A evaluative unit where managers are accountable for cost and profit outcomes, including consideration of the amount of capital that is deployed to...
Investitionstätigkeit
A cash flow category; including receipts from disposal of investments and long-term assets -- and payments to acquire long-term assets and investments
Periodengerechte Steuerabgrenzung
Separately reported items like discontinued operations, prior period adjustments, and other comprehensive income, are to reported net of their spec...
Rechnung
A document from supplier to buyer summarising goods or services supplied and the price payable.
Rechnungspreis
List price less any trade discounts
Vorräte
Goods held for resale to others
Wertminderung
When the carrying amount of an asset is not recoverable from its future cash flow
Zahlungsunfähigkeit
When a company becomes unable to pay off its creditors, or its liabilities exceed its assets.
Zinsen
The charge imposed on the borrower of funds for the use of money
J
Auftragskalkulation
A costing approach whereby actual labor and material is tracked for each job or product
Auftragskalkulationsblatt
A document representing a compilation of cost data for a specific job
Journal
A chronological listing of the transactions and events of an organization, in debit/credit format
Journalisierung
The process of recording transactions and events into the journal
Just-in-Time-Lagerhaltung
Raw materials are received from supplies just as they are needed in the production process
Ramschanleihe
A bond that is issued by a company of low credit worthiness, and entails substantial risk of nonpayment; generally offers a high interest rate to c...
K
Kaizen
Japanese term used to describe a blitz like approach to study processes and install efficiency within an organization
Kanban
Japanese term which means some form of signal that a particular inventory is ready for replenishment
Kennzahl (Key Performance Indicator)
Measurable values that show how effectively a company achieves objectives
L
Beschränkte Haftung
Most commonly used to describe the limit of liability of a shareholder (member) to contribute to the assets of a company if it goes into liquidation.
Gebundenes Kapital
Usually the par value of the stock of a corporation
Gesamtkauf
A single price paid for a package of assets; the purchase price must be allocated to each of the components
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH)
Company where the liability of the owners is limited to the amount of capital they have agreed to contribute.
Grundstückseinrichtungen
Includes the cost of parking lots, sidewalks, landscaping, irrigation systems, and similar expenditures that are incurred to better land
Langfristige Finanzanlagen
Investments made for long-term holding purposes; including land for speculation, securities of other companies, etc.
Langfristige Verbindlichkeiten
Any obligation that is not current, and include bank loans, mortgage notes, and the like
Lean Production
Indicative of an environment where waste has been trimmed; entails a focus on standardization, speed, and quality, without compromising responsiven...
Leasing
Acquiring the use of an asset through a rental agreement.
Leasing/Leasingnehmer und Leasinggeber
Periodic payment from the user (lessee) of an asset to an owner (lessor) of the asset
Leasinggeber
Periodic payment from the user (lessee) of an asset to an owner (leasinggeber) of the asset
Leasingnehmer
Periodic payment from the user (leasingnehmer) of an asset to an owner (lessor) of the asset
LIFO-Verfahren
LIFO; An inventory cost flow assumption based on the notion that the most recent costs are to be assigned to units sold
Liquides Vermögen
An asset that can be easily converted into cash.
Liquidität
The ability of a firm to meet its near-term obligations as they come due
Listenpreis
An established price determined by reference to a catalog or general price list; before any discounts
Niederstwertprinzip
To report inventory at the lower of its cost or net realizable value
Verbindlichkeiten
Amounts owed by an entity to others
M
Aussteller
The party creating the note and agreeing to make payment
Controlling
An area of accounting concerned with reporting results to managers and others who are internal to an organization
Fälligkeitsdatum
The date on which a note and related interest are due to be paid
Fertigungsgemeinkosten
All costs of manufacturing other than direct materials and direct labor (also called factory overhead)
Geldeinheitsprinzip
Accounting measures transactions and events in units of money, in contrast to some other unit of measure (e.g., acres of land)
Gemischte Kosten
A cost that has both fixed and variable components
Gesamtbudget
Also known as the comprehensive budget; an integrated set of articulated budgets relating to numerous operational subcomponents (labor, material, o...
Gleitende Durchschnittsmethode
Under the perpetual inventory system; to recompute running average cost with each purchase transaction
Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
(M2M) enables connected devices to communicate with each other
Management by Exception
A management focus of attention on areas where corrective measures appear necessary
Management-Buy-out (MBO)
The management of a company buy that company, or part of it, from its owners.
Marge
The amount of money a company makes, expressed as a percentage. For example, a gross profit of £1m on sales of £10m is a 10% profit marge.
Marktbezogene Aktivität
Activities that relate to the number of markets in which an entity operates; independent of the number of products, customers, etc.
Marktkapitalisierung
The stock-market value of a company. It is calculated by multiplying the total number of issued ordinary shares by today's price per share as quoted on the stock market.
Materialentnahmeschein
Form showing what material has been removed from the raw materials stock and put into production
Materialmengenabweichung
A variance comparing standard quantity to actual quantity of materials; variation is measured at the standard price per unit [(standard quantity - ...
Materialpreisabweichung
A variance that reveals the difference between standard price for materials purchased and amounts actually paid for those materials [(standard pric...
Mehrstufige Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung
A complex income statement with sections that segregate cost of goods sold calculations and other components of income and expense; enables enhance...
Memorandum
Document setting out main objects of the company and its powers to act.
Methode der kleinsten Quadrate
A complex means for separating costs into fixed and variable components, based upon minimizing the variances between all observations and the resul...
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)
A "depreciation" approach common to the tax code; generally permits more rapid "recovery" of asset cost than GAAP approaches; MACRS - pronounced "m..."
Modifizierte Kassenbuchführung
Like the cash basis, except that certain large expenditures for durable assets may be recorded as assets initially
Rückzahlungsbetrag
The amount due at maturity of a note; includes principal and interest
Verursachungsprinzip
To associate expenses with revenues, and record them in simultaneous accounting periods
Wesentlichkeit
A matter of accounting judgment; when amounts involved are slight, expediency may dictate waiving the technically correct alternative in lieu of a ...
N
Bodenschätze
Oil and gas reserves, mineral deposits, thermal energy sources, and standing timber are just a few examples of such assets that a firm may own
Erfolgskonten
Accounts that will be reset to a zero balance with each new accounting period; revenue, expense, and dividend accounts (also called "temporary" acc...
Jahresfehlbetrag
The excess of expenses over revenues for a designated period of time
Jahresüberschuss
Income from continuing operations plus/minus discontinued operations, but before items of “other comprehensive income”
Kapitalwert
Or NPV, a method of evaluating capital projects that uses a predetermined interest rate to determine the present value of an investment's net cash ...
Natürliches Geschäftsjahr
Applicable to certain businesses that have a seasonal business pattern, and an attempt is made to establish an accounting fiscal year to match
Negatives Eigenkapital
When the value of an asset is less than what you initially paid.
Nennwert (einer Aktie)
The amount stated on the face of a share certificate as the named value of the share when issued.
Netto
The amount of profit left after deductions such as tax have been made.
Nettobuchwert
Costs of non-current (fixed)( asset minus accumulated depreciation.
Nettolohn
Also known as net earnings; this is the gross pay less all applicable deductions ("take home pay")
Nettomethode
A method of recording purchases of inventory at invoice price less available cash discounts
Nettoveräußerungswert
(inventory) Estimated selling price in the normal course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation
Nettoveräußerungswert (Forderungen)
The amount of cash expected to be collected on outstanding accounts receivable; accounts receivable minus the allowance for uncollectibles
Nettovermögen
Assets minus liabilities (equals ownership interest).
Nicht rückzahlbare Anleihe
A bond that cannot be paid off before scheduled maturity
Nicht rückzahlbare Anleihe
A bond that cannot be paid off with the proceeds of a new debt issue
Nominalzinssatz
An interest rate that isn't adjusted for inflation.
Reingewinn
Sales minus cost of sales minus all administrative and selling costs.
Schuldscheine
Formal short-term borrowings usually evidenced by a specific written promise to pay
Sonstige Forderungen
Amounts due from transactions and events not directly related to sales of products or services
Ungedeckter Scheck
Non-sufficient funds check; a customer check returned for lack of funds (a "hot check")
Wechselforderungen
A written promise from a client or customer to pay a definite amount of money on a specific future date
O
Ausstehende Schecks
Checks entered on company records but not yet cleared by the bank
Betriebliche Tätigkeit
A cash flow category; generally related to transactions that enter into the determination of income -- items that are not investing or financing
Betriebsausgaben (OPEX)
On-going costs for running a business, service or system that includes day-to-day expenditure.
Betriebsergebnis
The profit or loss a company makes, which reflects how a business is performing.
Betriebskosten
General expense category for selling and administrative costs
Betriebszyklus
The period of time it takes to convert cash back into cash (i.e., purchase inventory, sell the inventory on account, and collect the receivable)
Eigentümereinlagen
Resources provided to an organization by a person in exchange for a position of ownership in the organization
Gemeinkosten
Costs that do not change regardless of the level of production and are not typically involved with the cost of production, such as rent.
Gemeinkostenzuschlagssatz
A rate used to apply manufacturing overhead to output; estimated factory overhead for a period divided by the estimated application base
Nachschüssige Rente
Also known as an annuity in arrears; involves a level stream of payments, with the payments being made at the end of each time period
Operating-Leasing
A lease where the lessee makes periodic payments for periodic use of an asset, but does not assume the ultimate risks and rewards of owning the asset
Opportunitätskosten
The cost of a foregone alternative; may include lost revenue
Outsourcing
Utilization of independent parties to manufacture products (sometimes known as make-or-buy) or manage data processing, tech support, payroll servic...
Sonstige Vermögenswerte
The category of a classified balance sheet for reporting assets that are not logically attached to one of the other specific sections
Sonstiges Ergebnis
An account for changes in value of available for sale securities; not part of net income but is included in the broader concept of total comprehens...
Stammaktien
Shares in a company which entitle the holder to a share of the dividend declared and a share in net assets on closing down the business.
Zu viel verrechnete Gemeinkosten
Applied overhead exceeds the actual amount; usually viewed as a favorable outcome, because less has spent than anticipated for the level of achieve...
P
Amortisationsrechnung
Easy method for evaluating capital projects; calculated by dividing the initial investment by the annual cash inflow
Anleiheagio
The difference between face value and issue price of a bond, where the issue price is more; causes the effective yield to be lower than that stated
Barwert
Also known as discounting; determines the current worth of cash to be received in the future
Bezugsrecht
A right that may or may not be provided to shareholders enabling them with a first right of refusal to buy any additional shares offered by a corpo...
Buchung
The process of transferring journal entry effects into the respective general ledger accounts
EBIT
Profit before interest and tax.
Einkaufsrabatte
A cash discount available on purchases of merchandise on account; encourages prompt payment
Gewinn
Calculated as revenue (income) minus expenses.
Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung
A financial statement that shows the income and outgoings of a company over a certain period of time showing the net profit or loss for that time.
Handkasse
A fund established for making small payments that are impractical to pay by check; also known as imprest cash fund
Kapitalbetrag
The basic stated amount of a note on which interest is usually calculated; generally relating to the amount borrowed
Kapitalrücklage
The amount by which a stock's issue price exceeds its par value; also referred to as "additional paid-in capital"
Kassenabstimmung
A detailed bank reconciliation that verifies not only beginning and end balances, but also validates deposits and withdrawals during the month
Körperliche Inventur
The process of counting inventory actually on hand
Kurs-Gewinn-Verhältnis
The per share market value of a stock divided by its earnings per share
Nachträgliche Probebilanz
Reveals the balance of accounts after the closing process, and consists of balance sheet accounts only
Nennwert
Par value is a technical provision establishing the “legal capital” of the firm and is frequently associated with common and preferred stock to sat...
Nennwert der Anleihe
The face or contract amount of a bond; the amount to be repaid at maturity along with any interest
Öffentliches Rechnungswesen
Accounting activities provided by a person to the general public, typically relating to audit, tax and similar services
Patent
An official legal document stating that a company has the sole right to make, use, or sell a particular invention.
PAYE (Pay As You Earn)
Stands for Pay As You Earn. A method of collecting income tax on behalf of the Government by taking it directly from your employees' wages.
PCAOB
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board -- a private-sector, non-profit corporation charged with overseeing the auditors of public companies
Pensionsplan
A general term to describe some form of arrangement for continuing payments to retirees
Periodenkosten
A cost not attributable to the acquisition or manufacture of inventory; expensed as incurred
Periodisches Inventursystem
An inventory system that utilizes a Purchases account and does not update inventory with each sale; inventory is updated by physical count at the e...
Periodizitätsprinzip
An accounting assumption that purports to divide a continuous business process into measurement intervals, such as months, quarters, and years
Permanentes Inventursystem
A "real-time" inventory system that updates inventory records with each purchase and sale
Personengesellschaft
A non-corporation representing an association of two or more persons organized to carry out a business plan for a profit motive
Preiselastizität der Nachfrage
The degree to which demand for products or services changes due to changes in price.
Primärkosten
Product costs that are direct in nature; direct materials and direct labor
Prinzipienbasiert
The idea that accounting standards should articulate broad-based principles rather than specific and detailed rules
Pro-forma-Finanzberichte
"As if" budgeted financial statements
Produktbezogene Aktivität
Activities that relate to the number of products produced; independent of the number of units produced
Produktionsbudget
A budget that details planned levels of production; takes into account sales and inventory build/decline
Produktkosten
Costs that attach to a product; the summation of direct materials, direct labor, and factory overhead
Profit Center
Business unit that has control over both costs and revenues and is therefore evaluated on the profit outcomes
Prospekt
The documentation describing financial and business aspects of an initial public offering
Prozesskostenrechnung
Process costing is a method to allocate the total costs of production to homogenous units produced via a continuous process that usually involves m...
Prozesskostenrechnungsmethoden
A product costing method particularly well suited to situations where production occurs in a continuous process; costs are pooled and assigned to a...
Rechnungsabgrenzungsposten (aktiv)
Goods or services purchased in advance of their consumption
Rückstellung
A liability of uncertain timing or amount.
Sachanlagen
Assets with long lives that will be used in an entity's production processes; land, buildings, and equipment
Vorauszahlung
An amount paid for in advance for and benefit to the business, such as insurance premiums or rent in advance. Initially recognised as an asset, then transferred to expense in the period when the benefit is enjoyed. (Also called a prepaid expense).
Vorjahresanpassung
To correct errors from prior years; prior financial statements are retroactively changed to make them correct
Vorzugsaktien
A class of stock that generally benefits from a stipulated periodic dividend and priority in liquidation; but, usually lacking in upside participat...
Wertberichtigung für zweifelhafte Forderungen
An estimate of the risk of not collecting full payment from credit customers, reported as a deduction from trade receivable (debtors) in the balance sheet.
Zahlungsempfänger
The party to whom a note is made payable
R
Aufwandsausgaben
Not a capital expenditure; to be expensed as incurred
Bestandskonten
Asset, liability, and equity accounts; balances are carried forward from the end of one period into the beginning of the next period
Eigenkapitalrendite
A ratio comparing income (net income minus preferred dividends) to the average total equity
Einzelhandelsbestandsmethode
An inventory costing technique used by retailers that extrapolates inventory values by applying cost-to-retail percentages to known sales and purch...
Ersatz
A restoration of an asset, at least partially, to its original condition; such costs may be capitalized by reducing accumulated depreciation
Gesamtkapitalrendite
A ratio comparing income (net income plus interest) to the average total assets
Gewinnrücklagen
The excess of a corporation's income over its dividends
Handelsregister
An official authorised by the government to maintain a record of all annual reports and other documents issued by a company.
Kapitalrendite
ROI: A model consisting of a margin component (Operating Income/Sales) and turnover component (Sales/Average Assets); reduces to Operating Income/A...
Kapitalrendite (ROI)
The earning power of an asset or activity measured as a ratio of the net income of the activity to the operational cost. ROI lets a company know whether an activity is profitable enough to continue.
Namensschuldverschreibung
A bond for which ownership records are maintained, and interest is paid to the registered owner
Neubewertung
Uses a variety of exchange rates to convert assets and liabilities of a foreign affiliate to the reporting currency; adjustment may impact operatin...
Neudarstellung
The financial statements of prior periods are redone to reflect the correct amounts
Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) Micro processes embedded in inventory that emit radio frequency signals that enable a computer to automatically track inventory
Realzinssatz
The rate of interest minus the current rate of inflation.
Regelbasiert
The idea that accounting standards must be very specific to provide adequate guidance and drive consistency in reporting
Relevante Kosten
Items where future costs and revenues are expected to differ for the alternative decisions under consideration
Relevanter Bereich
The level of activity for which assumptions underlying CVP are expected to hold true
Relevanz
A fundamental quality of accounting such that information should be timely and bear on the decision-making process by possessing predictive or conf...
Rendite des eingesetzten Kapitals
This ratio is arguably the most vital for the control of performance in large, delegated, businesses. It is made up from the comparison of the PBIT and the capital employed in the business.
Residualeinkommen
An internal assessment technique that adjusts income for a presumed cost of capital (or other threshold rate of return); operating income - (operat...
Ressource
The elements consumed by activities and cost objects
Ressourcentreiber
The concept that activities create the need for resources which will be consumed in the production process
Restwert
Amount expected be realized at the end of an asset's service life; "salvage value"
Retrospektive Anpassung
Revision of the financial statements for prior periods to reflect the application of a current change in accounting method
Rohstoffe
The components that will be used in manufacturing units that are not yet started -- also known as direct materials
ROI (Kapitalrendite)
A measure of the profitability of an investment relative to its cost
Rücklagen
The claim which owners have on the assets of a company because the company has created new wealth for them over the period since it began. Most common example is retained earnings.
Stornobuchung
Optional accounting procedure which may prove useful in simplifying record keeping; a journal entry to "undo" an adjusting entry
Umsatzerlöse
Inflows and other benefits received in exchange for the providing of goods and services
Umsatzrealisierung
The point at which revenue is recognized in the accounting records; ordinarily the point of sale
Verantwortungsbereich
The part of an organization under the control of a manager
S
Aktie
Transferable units of ownership in a corporation
Aktiendividende
A noncash corporate activity to provide shareholders with additional shares in proportion to existing ownership; makes for more shares outstanding,...
Aktiensplit
A corporate action to increase the number of shares and reduce the par per share by a stipulated ratio (e.g., 2 for 1)
Aktienurkunde
A document providing evidence of share ownership.
Aktionäre
Owners of a limited liability company.
Annahme stabiler Währung
An accounting assumption that presumes the currency is not impacted over time by inflation
Balanced Scorecard
A system for evaluating elements that are important to the organization and under the control of an employee holding that position
Belegdokument
A document evidencing a transaction or event and potentially providing for the initiation of a journal entry
Besicherte Anleihe
A bond that provides specific assets as collateral to help assure the payment stream
Besichertes Darlehen
Loan where the lender has taken a special claim on particular assets or revenues of the company to give extra protection in the event of the loan remaining unpaid.
Einfache Zinsen
Interest calculations that do not provide for periodic inclusion of accumulated interest into the base on which interest is calculated
Einstufige Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung
A simple income statement with a section for all revenues and another for all expenses; there is no direct association between specific revenue and...
Einzelbewertungsmethode
Inventory costing method where the actual cost of each unit of merchandise is tracked and used for accounting purposes
Einzelhändler
An individual owning and operating a business alone.
Einzelunternehmen
A non-corporation business owned by a sole individual
Gewinnrücklagenrechnung
A financial statement that discloses changes in retained earnings during a designated period of time; those changes usually attributable to income ...
Grundkapital
Name given to the total amount of cash which the shareholders have contributed to the company.
Kapitalflussrechnung
A financial statement that summarizes the cash flows relating to operating, investing, financing, and noncash investing/financing activities of an ...
Kapitalrücklage
The price paid for shares in a company over and above their nominal value.
KMU
Small or Medium Sized Enterprises. A business is deemed an SME if it meets two of three criteria: it has a turnover of £25m or less, it employs fewer than 250 people, and it has gross assets of less than £12.5m.
Lineare Abschreibung
A simple depreciation method by which the depreciable base is spread uniformly over the service life
Lineare Methode
A method for amortizing premiums and discounts on bonds; the premium or discount is spread uniformly over the life of the bond as an adjustment of ...
Maßgeblicher Einfluss
The ability to sway management and decision making of another entity, but generally not enough to assert absolute control
Nachhaltigkeit
Development without depletion of natural resources or negative effects on the environment
Nebenbuch
A subcomponent account record providing individual balance details; e.g., the record for one customer out of a group of customers comprising all ac...
Nutzungsdauer
The period of time that a depreciable asset will be in use by an entity; the time interval over which the asset will be depreciated
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
"SOX" -- Legislation that imposes stringent controls over reporting and auditing; created the Public Accounting Oversight Board
Securities and Exchange Commission
"SEC" -- regulatory body with which public companies must file and report
Segment
A business unit for which separate financial information is evaluated by an operating decision maker who allocates resources and judges performance...
Serienanleihe
A bond issue that has multiple repayment dates, rather than the entire issue maturing at one fixed maturity date
Six Sigma
A trademarked quality management system developed by Motorola; driven by pursuit of statistical results that reflect near perfection in production ...
Sonderauftrag
A customer order that is outside of the normal pricing and terms
Sprungfixe Kosten
A cost function that is fixed over a range, and then increases by a measured step to a new level at the next higher increment of activity
Stakeholder
A general term devised to indicate all those who might have a legitimate interest in receiving financial information about a business because they have a 'stake' in it.
Standardkosten
A measure of what costs should be incurred to achieve the observed output
Standards
Benchmarks against which actual productive activity is compared
Statisches Budget
A budget that does not anticipate alternative outcomes; estimated sales and expenses are fixed and establish the relevant benchmarks
Streudiagramm
A simplistic mapping of observed data points, where a line is "visually" drawn to represent the estimated cost function
Stufenleiterverfahren
An allocation process whereby some service department costs may be assigned to other service departments as part of a sequential methodology
SUTA
State Unemployment Tax levied on employer to provide funds for unemployed workers; rate is adjusted for employer history of layoffs, etc.
Tilgungsanleihe
A bond issue that requires periodic setting aside of monies into a separate fund to provide for eventual repayment of the debt at maturity
Verkaufsrabatte
A cash discount offered to customers to encourage prompt payment of invoices
Versunkene Kosten
Historical amount expended on a project or object; not relevant to current decisions or future actions
Vertriebsbudget
A budget that details anticipated sales levels
Verwaltungs- und Vertriebskosten
Selling, general, and administrative costs; the period costs of the business
Verwaltungs- und Vertriebskostenbudget
A budget that details anticipated selling, general, and administrative costs
Wertpapier
Typically required by lenders against a loan, such as premises or plant equipment.
Wertpapiere
Government bonds, ordinary shares in companies, debentures, loans, preference shares, etc. are all collectively described as wertpapiere.
T
Eigene Aktien
Shares of a company's own stock that it has reacquired
Engpasstheorie
(TOC) Efficiency is improved by seeking out and eliminating constraints within the organization
Erfolgskonten
Accounts that will be reset to a zero balance with each new accounting period; revenue, expense, and dividend accounts (also called "nominal" accou...
Forderungen aus Lieferungen und Leistungen
Persons or businesses who buy goods or services from a business in the normal course of trade are allowed a period of credit before payment is due.
Forderungen aus Lieferungen und Leistungen
Amounts due from customers from credits sales of products or services
Gesamtes eingezahltes Kapital
The sum of legal capital plus paid-in capital in excess of par
Handelsrabatt
A reduction from list price that is not entered in the accounting records; customarily offered in "setting" the invoice amount
Handelswertpapiere
Investments in debt acquired with the intent of generating profits by reselling the investment in the very near future; classified as current assets
Probebilanz
A listing of account balances from the ledger, used to test the equality of debits and credits
Sachanlagen
A fixed asset (also called a non-current asset) which has a physical existence. Used to differentiate it from an Intangible fixed asset.
T-Konto
An abstract representation of an account, with the left side of the "T" representing debits and the right side credits
Top-down-Budget
A budget approach where upper level management establishes parameters under which the budget is to be prepared
Total Quality Management
(TQM) A process for continuous improvement by focusing on customer service and systematic problem solving via teams made up of front-line employees
Umrechnung
Uses prevailing exchange rates to convert assets and liabilities of a foreign affiliate to the reporting currency; adjustment may impact other comp...
Umsatz
The total sales of a business during a specified period.
Verbindlichkeiten aus Lieferungen und Leistungen
Persons or businesses who supply goods or services to a business in the normal course of trade and allow a period of credit before payment must be made.
Verrechnungspreise
The system of setting prices at which goods are exchanged between affiliated units; usually involving cross-border transactions
Zeitnähe
An enhancing quality of accounting such that information is available in sufficient time to be capable of influence
Zeitwert des Geldes
Conceptual notion holding that money to be received sooner is worth more than money to be received later
Zieleinkommen
A level of income that is to be obtained; CVP projects activity levels necessary to achieve this benchmark
Zurechenbare Fixkosten
Fixed costs that would not exist if the unit under evaluation ceased to exist
U
Einheitenbezogene Aktivität
Activities that relate to the number of units of output; each additional unit of production requires another activity
Erhaltene Anzahlungen
Revenue that has been collected in advance of providing goods and services to "earn it;" reported as a liability until earned
Leistungsabhängige Abschreibung
A depreciation approach where the depreciable base is allocated to the expected total units of output; mileage, hours, etc.
Unterdeckte Gemeinkosten
Applied overhead is less than the actual amount; usually viewed as a unfavorable outcome, because more has spent than anticipated for the level of ...
Verständlichkeit
An enhancing quality of accounting such that information is clear and concise to those with reasonable business knowledge
V
Abweichung der variablen Gemeinkosteneffizienz
A variance that reflects the level of efficiency associated with the application of variable overhead to production
Abweichungen
Deviations from the norm that may provide warning signs of situations requiring corrective action by managers
Nachprüfbarkeit
An enhancing quality of accounting such that different knowledgeable and independent observers reach similar conclusions
Risikokapital
Capital invested into projects with long term growth potential but also higher risks, such as start-up businesses.
Teilkostenrechnung
A costing method where inventory absorbs direct costs and variable factory overhead; the income statement identifies the contribution margin
Variable Kosten
Costs that vary in some kind of proportion to throughput (production), e.g. materials. Each same product takes the same amount of material, so there is a direct proportion between the number of products produced and the amount of material that was used.
Variable Kosten
A per unit cost that is the same regardless of volume; total variable kosten increases with volume increases
Verbrauchsabweichung variabler Gemeinkosten
A variance that reflects the difference between actual variable overhead and standard variable overhead associated with the actual units of the app...
W
Arbeitsunfallversicherung
Insurance paid by the employer to cover work related injuries sustained by employees
Betriebskapital
The difference between current assets and current liabilities
Durchschnittsbewertungsmethode
Under the periodic inventory system; inventory cost is based on the average cost of units purchased giving consideration to the quantities purchase...
Durchschnittsverfahren der Prozesskostenrechnung
A process costing technique where all units of production are assigned the same cost; determined by blending of current period costs with beginning...
Garantierückstellung
A liability that is recorded for the future costs of claims that are anticipated because of product warranty agreements
Unfertige Erzeugnisse
As its name implies, it is the value of the products on which work has been started but is not yet complete.
Unfertige Erzeugnisse
Goods that are in production but not yet complete; an accumulation of monies spent on direct material, direct labor, and applied manufacturing over...
W-2
An annual statement provided to employees stating the amount of earnings and withholdings; assists employee in preparing their own tax returns
W-4
A form filled out by an employee stating the amount of exemptions to which they are entitled for tax purposes; such exemptions bear on the amount o...
No terms match this filter.
Let's go!
Transform your financial controlling
From reporting foundations to comprehensive managed services, we help finance teams see clearly, decide confidently, and act decisively.
Book a free consultation