An accounting process is a complete sequence of accounting procedures which

are repeated in the same order during each accounting period. Therefore,
accounting process involves the following steps :
i) Identification of Transaction : In accounting, only financial
transactions are recorded. A financial transaction is an event which can
be expressed in terms of money and which brings change in the financial
position of a business enterprise.

Example
1.Placed an order with Sen & Co. for goods for Rs. 5,000.
It is not a transaction, because it does not change the financial position of the
business.
2.Opened a Bank account by depositing Rs. 4,000.
It is a transaction, because it changes the financial position of the business. Bank
balance will increase by Rs. 4,000 and cash balance will decrease by Rs. 4,000
2. Recording the transaction : Journal is the first book of original entry in which
all transactions are recorded event-wise and date-wise and presents a historical
record of all monetary transactions. Journal may further be divided into sub-
journals as well.
3.Classifying : Accounting is the art of classifying business transactions.
Classification means statement setting out for a period where all the similar
transactions relating to a person, a thing, expense, or any other subject are
grouped together under appropriate heads of accounts.
4.Summarising : Summarising is the art of making the activities of the business
enterprise as classified in the ledger for the use of management or other user
groups i.e. sundry debtors, sundry creditors etc. Summarisation helps in the
preparation of Profit and Loss Account and Balance sheet for a particular financial
year.
5.Analysis and Interpretation : The financial information or data is recorded in
the books of account must further be analysed and interpreted so to draw
meaningful conclusions. Thus, analysis of accounting information will help the
management to assess in the performance of business operation and forming
future plans also.
6.Presentation or reporting of financial information : The end users of
accounting statements must be benefited from analysis and interpretation of data
as some of them are the "share holders" and other one the "stake holders".
Comparison of past and present statements and reports, use of ratios and trend
analysis are the different tools of analysis and interpretation
Classification of Accounts
1. Personal Accounts : Accounts which are related to individuals, firms,
companies, co-operative societies, banks, financial institutions are known as
personal accounts. The personal accounts may further be classified into:
(i) Natural Personal Accounts : Accounts of individuals (natural persons) such as
Akhils' A/c, Rajesh's A/c, Sohan's A/c are natural personal accounts.
(ii) Artificial Personal Accounts : Accounts of firms, companies, banks, financial
institutions such as Reliance Industries Ltd., Lions Club, M/s Sham & Sons,
Punjab National Bank, National College are artificial personal accounts.
iii) Representative Personal Accounts : The accounts recording transactions
relating to limited expenses and incomes are classified as nominal accounts. But in
certain cases (due to the matching concept of accounting) the amount on a
particular date, is payable to the individuals or recoverable from individuals. Such
amount (i) relates to the particular head of expenditure or income and (ii)
represents persons to whom it is payable or from whom it is recoverable. Such
accounts are classified as representative personal account e.g., Wages outstanding
account, Pre-paid insurance account etc.
2. Real Accounts : Real accounts are the accounts related to assets/properties.
These may be classified into tangible real account and intangible real account. The
accounts relating to tangible assets (which can be touched, purchased and sold)
such as building, plant, machinery, cash, furniture etc. are classified as tangible
real accounts. Intangible real accounts (which do not have physical shape) are the
accounts related to intangible assets such as goodwill, trademarks, copyrights,
patents etc.
3. Nominal Accounts : The accounts relating to income, expenses, losses and
gains are classified as nominal accounts. For example Wages Account, Rent
Account, Interest Account, Salary Account, Bad Debts Accounts, Purchases;
Account etc. fall in the category of nominal accounts.

RULES OF DEBIT AND CREDIT

Basically, debit means to enter an amount to the left side of an account and credit
means to enter an amount to the right side of an account. In the abbreviated form
Dr. stands for debit and Cr. stands for credit. Both debit and credit may represent
either increase or decrease depending upon the nature of an account.
The Rules for Debit and Credit are given below :
Types of Accounts Rules for Debit Rules for Credit
(a) For Personal Accounts Debit the receiver Credit the giver
(b) For Real Accounts Debit what comes in Credit what goes out
(c) For Nominal Accounts Debit all expenses Credit all incomes and and losses
gains
Opening Entry
A journal entry by means of which the balances of various assets, liabilities and
capital appearing in the balance sheet of previous accounting period are brought
forward in the books of the current accounting period.
While passing an opening entry, all assets accounts (individually) are debited and
all liabilities accounts (individually) are credited.
Excess of assets over liabilities) is credited to Proprietor's Capital Account.
Excess of credit balance is debited to goodwill account

 On Ist April 2006, Singh's assets and liabilities stood as follows :

Assets : Cash Rs. 6,000; Bank Rs. 17,000; Stock Rs. 3,000; Bills Receivable
Rs.7,000; Debtors Rs. 3,000; Building Rs.70,000; Investments Rs. 30,000;
Furniture Rs. 4,000
Liabilities : Bills payable Rs. 5000, Creditors Rs. 9000, Ram's Loan Rs. 13000
Pass an opening Journal entry.