INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ACCOUNTING TERMINOLOGY 1

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS & ACCOUNTING TERMINOLOGY

The terminology for accounting varies across different levels of study. Those of you who have moved on to study accounting at tertiary level would agree – terms like debtors and creditors have a different meaning in ICCI, CAT, ACCA and other accounting diploma/degree programs.

The term Debtors used for O’/N’ Level, for example, becomes Accounts Receiveable at the diploma/degree level. The following table lists the difference between the international usage of accounting terms against that which is used and accepted by The University of Cambridge International Exams (CIE).

Please note: GCE O’/N’ Level candidates will not be penalised for using different terms.

International usage Current CIE/UK usage
Balance sheet Balance sheet
Bank (and other) loans/ Interest bearinq loans and borrowinq Loans repayable after 12 months
Bank overdrafts and loans/ Interest bearinq loans and borrowinq Loans repayable within 12 months
Capital or Equity/

Shareholders’ Equity

Capital
Cash (and cash equivalents) Bank and cash
Cost of Sales Cost of qoods sold
Current assets Current assets
Current liabilities Current liabilities. Creditors: amounts due within 12 months
Finance costs Interest payable
Finance Income/Investment revenues Interest receivable
Financial Statements Final accounts
Gross profit Gross profit
Income statement Tradinq and Profit & Loss account
Intanqible assets Goodwill etc.
Inventory/ Inventories(of raw materials and finished qoods) Stock
Investment property Investments
Non-current assets Fixed assets
Non-current liabilities Long term liabilities. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
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The University of Cambridge International Exams (CIE) released an information brochure on this which is available for download here. [page 19]
A condensed version on the same is available here.

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