How to Read a Financial Statement IV
The last (but certainly not least important) financial statement is the cash flow statement. This statement shows the movements of cash into or out of the business. No matter how healthy the profit & loss account and balance sheet may appear, without sufficient cash a business will fail.
The Operating Profit (from the Profit and Loss Account) is adjusted for non-cash items.
- Depreciation is added back in.
- Any increase (decrease) in inventory is subtracted (added).
- Any increase (decrease) in debtors is subtracted (added).
- Any increase (decrease) in creditors is added (subtracted).
These adjustments give the Operating Cash Flow.
From the Operating Cash Flow the following are subtracted to give Cash Flow before Financing:
- Interest paid.
- Dividends.
- Taxation (actually paid in year).
- Capital expenditure (eg on fixed assets).
- Any other exceptional costs (eg settling a legal action).
Financing shows cash generated from or lost to external financing, eg changes in loans, issues of share capital etc.
Movement in Cash is the sum of Cash Flow before Financing and Total Financing, and must agree with the change in cash figures on the current and previous year’s balance sheets.
| Cash Flow Statement | |
| Operating Profit | 305 |
| Depreciation | 50 |
| Increase in Stocks | (25) |
| Increase in Debtors | (60) |
| Increase in Creditors | 18 |
| Operating Cash Flow | 288 |
| Interest Paid | (15) |
| Dividends Paid | (65) |
| Taxation | (42) |
| Captal Expenditure | (33) |
| Cash Flow before Financing | 133 |
| Financing | |
| Decrease in Bank Loan | (5) |
| Issue of Share Capital | 25 |
| Total Financing | 20 |
| Movement in Cash | 153 |
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