abatement sequence The order of reduction of devises in the will of a decedent whose estate
property is insufficient to pay all the decedent’s liabilities and cover all devises; the order is as
follows: property not specifically mentioned in the will, residuary devises, general devises,
specific devises
account group A set of memorandum ledger accounts established by a governmental entity to
account for plant assets (general capital assets account group) and longterm debt (general long
term debt account group) not recorded in a fund of the governmental entity
accountability method The method of accounting used by a trustee in bankruptcy or by the
personal representative of a decedent’s estate, evidenced by the equation Assets = Accountability
Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Releases (AAERs) A series of pronouncements
initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 1982 to report its enforcement
actions involving accountants and accounting issues
Accounting Series Releases (ASRs) Pronouncements of the chief accountants of the SEC from
1937 to 1982 designed to contribute to the development of uniform standards and practice in
major accounting questions
acquisition of assets A business combination in which one business enterprise acquires the
gross or net assets of another enterprise by paying cash or issuing equity or debt securities
acquisition of common stock A business combination in which an investor enterprise issues
cash or equity or debt securities to acquire a controlling interest in the outstanding common stock
of an investee enterprise, which is not liquidated but becomes a subsidiary of the investor parent
company
administrator An intestate decedent’s personal representative, who is appointed by the probate
court
affiliate A business enterprise that is controlled or significantly influenced by another enterprise
agency funds Fiduciary funds of a governmental entity, of short duration, that account for sales
taxes, payroll taxes, and other such amounts collected by the governmental entity for later
payment to other governmental entities entitled to the taxes and other amounts; also, funds of
nonprofit organizations used for assets held by the organizations as custodian
agio (spread) The difference between the selling spot rate and the buying spot rate of a foreign
currency
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) The national professional
organization of certified public accountants licensed by the states and territories of the United
States
annual budget A budget prepared for the general fund and special revenue funds of a
governmental entity; includes estimated revenues, estimated other financing sources,
appropriations, and estimated other financing uses for a fiscal year
annuity fund A fund established by a nonprofit organization to account for assets contributed to
the organization, the income from which is the source of fixed periodic payments to designated
recipients for a specified time period
appropriations Authorized expenditures of a governmental entity’s general fund and special
revenue funds, as approved by the legislative and executive authorities of the entity and set forth
in the annual budget
associate The International Accounting Standards Board’s term for influenced investee
bankrupt A legal state in which an insolvent debtor is given protection from creditors’ claims
by the Bankruptcy Court
Bankruptcy Code The federal law governing bankruptcies in the United States
bankruptcy liquidation The procedure under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code in which a
trustee realizes the debtor’s nonexempt assets and pays creditors as specified in the Bankruptcy
Code
bankruptcy reorganization The procedure under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in which
a business enterprise is protected from creditor’s claims while it develops a plan for restructuring
its liabilities and stockholders’ equity
bargainpurchase excess The excess of the current fair value of the combinee’s identifiable net
assets in a business combination over the cost to the combinor
beneficiary The party for whose benefit a trust is established
branch A unit of a business enterprise, located at some distance from the home office, that
carries merchandise obtained from the home office, makes sales, approves customers’ credit, and
makes collections from its customers
budgetary deficit An excess of appropriations and estimated other financing uses over
estimated revenues and estimated other financing sources in the annual budget of a governmental
entity’s general fund
budgetary surplus An excess of estimated revenues and estimated other financing sources over
appropriations and estimated other financing uses in the annual budget of a governmental
entity’s general fund and special revenue funds
buying spot rate The exchange rate paid by a foreign currency dealer “on the spot”
capital budget A budget prepared for a capital projects fund of a governmental entity; includes
the estimated resources available for a capital project and the estimated costs of completion of
the project
capital expenditures Expenditures for capital (plant) assets of a governmental entity
capital lease A lease that, from the viewpoint of the lessee, is equivalent to the acquisition,
rather than the rental, of property from the lessor
capital projects funds Governmental funds that record the receipt and payment of cash for the
construction or acquisition of the governmental entity’s capital (plant) assets other than those
accounted for in proprietary funds or trust funds
cash distribution program A plan prepared for a liquidating partnership to show the
appropriate sequence for paying cash as it becomes available to partnership creditors and to
partners
cash equivalents Shortterm investments that are readily marketable and have maturity dates no
longer than three months
certificate A document evidencing formation of a limited partnership, filed with the county
recorder of the principal place of business of the limited partnership
change in the reporting entity A type of accounting change, dealt with in APB Opinion No.
20, “Accounting Changes,” that requires an adjustment to beginningofperiod retained earnings
charge and discharge statement The financial statement prepared on behalf of the personal
representative of a decedent’s estate, submitted to the probate court; a comparable financial
statement prepared on behalf of the trustee of a trust
charity care Health services provided by nonprofit hospitals to indigent patients, there being no
expectation of resultant cash flows to the hospital
combined enterprise The accounting entity that results from a business combination
combinee A constituent company other than the combinor in a business combination
conflict of interest A situation in which an individual reaps an inappropriate personal benefit
from his or her acts in an official capacity
conglomerate A group of affiliated business enterprises in unrelated industries or markets
conglomerate combination A business combination between enterprises in unrelated industries
or markets
consolidated financial statements Financial statements of a single economic entity composed
of several legal entities (parent company and subsidiaries)
constituent companies The business enterprises that enter into a business combination
contingent consideration Additional cash, other assets, or securities that may be issuable in the
future, contingent on future events such as a specified level of earnings or a designated market
price for a security that had been issued to complete a business combination
contractual adjustments Discounts from full billing rates of nonprofit hospitals provided in
contracts with thirdparty payors such as Medicare and Medicaid
contributory pension plan A pension plan that requires contributions from employees as well
as employers
“cookie jar reserves” A “cooking the books” technique that involves establishing fictitious
liabilities for bogus expenses or revenue in a highly profitable period, and reversing the liabilities
in subsequent low earnings periods
“cooking the books” Fraudulent financial reporting
death taxes Federal estate taxes on the principal of a decedent’s estate and state inheritance
taxes on devisees receiving devises
debt service expenditures Expenditures for interest on operating debt of a governmental entity,
such as shortterm loans
debt service funds Governmental funds that account for payments of principal and interest on
longterm bonds and other longterm debt of a governmental entity other than special assessment
bonds, revenue bonds, and general obligation bonds serviced by an enterprise fund
debtor in possession Management of a business enterprise undergoing reorganization under
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code that continues to operate the enterprise during the
reorganization
debtor’s (voluntary) petition A bankruptcy petition initiated by an insolvent debtor
defined benefit pension plan A pension plan under which the basis of computation of pension
benefits for retired employees usually involves employee compensation, years of service, and
age on date of retirement
derivative instrument A financial instrument or other contract that has (1) one or more
underlyings and (2) one or more notional amounts or payment provisions or both; requires no
initial net investment or a smallerthanexpected initial net investment; and has terms requiring
or permitting net settlement or related settlement options
designated fund balance A segregated amount of the fund balance of a nonprofit organization’s
unrestricted fund or of the general fund of a governmental entity that evidences the earmarking
of the fund’s net assets for a purpose specified by the organization’s governing board or
legislative body
devise A transfer of real or personal property in a will
devisee The recipient of a devise
direct outofpocket costs Some legal fees, some accounting fees, and finder’s fee incurred
specifically to accomplish a business combination
discharge Forgiveness of all except specified unpaid liabilities of a debtor that underwent
liquidation under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code
discontinued operations Operations of a business (operating) segment that has been sold,
abandoned, spun off, or otherwise disposed of, or, although still operating, is the subject of a
formal plan for disposal
discrete theory A theory of interim financial reporting that considers each interim period a
basic accounting period whose operating results are measured in essentially the same manner as
for an annual accounting period
disposal date The date of closing the sale of discontinued operations or ceasing the operations
of an abandoned business segment
dissolution A change in the relationship among partners of a partnership, caused by any
partner’s ceasing to be associated in the carrying on of the partnership business
division A segment of a business enterprise that generally has more autonomy than a branch; a
segment that often was formerly an independent enterprise, but subsequently was a constituent
company — typically the combinee — in a business combination
downstream intercompany sales Sales of merchandise by a parent company to a subsidiary of
the parent
drawing A partner’s withdrawal of cash or other assets from a partnership in accordance with
terms of the partnership contract
economic unit concept A concept of consolidated financial statements of a parent company and
one or more partially owned subsidiaries that views the consolidated enterprise as a single entity
with ownership by parent company stockholders and subsidiary minority stockholders
EDGAR The Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval project of the SEC, designed
to permit “paperless” filings with the SEC over telephone lines, on diskettes, or on magnetic
tapes
encumbrance accounting An accounting method for governmental funds of a governmental
entity that entails a debit to Encumbrances and a credit to Fund Balance Reserved for
Encumbrances when purchase orders or contracts for nonrecurring expenditures are issued by the
funds
endowment A gift placed in trust that generally requires the principal of the gift to be
maintained intact, with revenues from the investment of the gift used for the purposes specified
by the donor of the gift
endowment fund A nonprofit organization’s fund whose principal must be maintained intact
permanently or temporarily and whose income is expendable by the organization for a specified
or elective purpose
enterprise funds Proprietary funds of a governmental entity that account for any activity for
which a fee is charged to external users for goods or services
equity method The method of accounting for an investment in a corporate or an unincorporated
joint venture that increases the venturer’s Investment account balance for the venturer’s share of
venture net income and decreases the account balance for the venturer’s share of venture net
losses, dividends, or other cash remittances; also, the method of accounting for an investment in
a subsidiary that increases the parent company’s Investment account balance for the parent’s
share of subsidiary net income and decreases the account balance for the parent’s share of
subsidiary net losses and dividends
estate All the property of a decedent, trust, or other person whose affairs are subject to the
Uniform Probate Code
exchange rate The ratio between one unit of each of two foreign currencies
executor The personal representative of a decedent, named in the decedent’s will
exempt property Property of a decedent excluded from claims of the decedent’s creditors and
devisees, including aggregate specified value of automobiles, household furniture and
furnishings, and personal effects
expendable privatepurpose trust funds Fiduciary funds of a governmental entity, of long
duration, that account for the receipt and expenditure of revenues produced by the principal of
the trust, which is nonexpendable
external investment pools Pooled investments of small governmental units such as towns and
villages, maintained by larger governmental entities such as counties and states, the object being
the realization of a larger return on the investments than would be possible apart from the pool
family allowance A reasonable cash allowance, payable in a lump sum not exceeding a
specified amount, to the decedent’s spouse or children during the administration of the estate
fiduciaries The individuals or business enterprises that manage the property in estates and trusts
fiduciary funds Privatepurpose and other trust funds, and agency funds, of a governmental
entity that account for resources that are not owned by the entity but are administered by the
entity as a custodian or fiduciary
financial accountability A situation in which a primary government appoints a majority of the
governing body of another organization and thus imposes its will on the organization or is
responsible for providing financial benefits to, or financial burdens on, the other organization
Financial Executives Institute (FEI) The national professional organization of financial vice
presidents, controllers, and treasurers of business enterprises
financial forecast Prospective financial statements that present an entity’s expected financial
position, results of operations, and cash flows
financial instrument Cash, evidence of an ownership interest in an entity, or a contract that
imposes both a right on one entity and an obligation on another entity to exchange cash or other
financial instruments
financial reporting entity The primary government and other component units that comprise
the governmental entity that issues financial reports
Financial Reporting Releases (FRRs) A series of pronouncements initiated by the SEC in 1982
to state its views on financial reporting matters
financial resources Cash, claims to cash such as receivables and investments, inventories, and
shortterm prepayments of governmental funds of a governmental entity
finder’s fee A fee paid to an investment banker or other organization or individuals that
investigated the combinee, assisted in determining the price, and otherwise rendered services to
bring about a business combination
foreign currency transaction A transaction of a business enterprise that is denominated in a
currency other than the local currency of the enterprise
foreign currency transaction gains (losses) Gains and losses recognized on transactions
denominated in a foreign currency or in the remeasurement to the functional currency of foreign
entities’ financial statements maintained in the local currency
foreign currency translation Restating a transaction denominated in a foreign currency to the
local currency of the transacting enterprise
foreign currency translation adjustments A balancing amount resulting from the translation
of a foreign entity’s financial statements from the entity’s functional currency to the reporting
currency of the parent company or investor enterprise
Form 8K A current report filed by a publicly owned company with the SEC within a specified
number of days following the occurrence of specified events or events elected to be reported by
the company
Form 10 A registration statement filed by a publicly owned company with the SEC in
connection with trading of the company’s securities on a national exchange or over the counter
Form 10K The annual report filed by a publicly owned company with the SEC within 90 days
following the close of the company’s fiscal year
Form 10Q A quarterly report filed by a publicly owned company with the SEC within 45 days
following the close of each of the company’s first three fiscalyear quarters
formal probate Litigation to determine whether a decedent left a valid will
Forms S1 through S4 and F1 through F4 Registration statements filed with the SEC by
companies that issue securities to the public interstate
forward contract An agreement to exchange currencies of different countries on a specified
future date at the forward rate in effect when the contract was made
forward rate The rate of exchange between foreign currencies to be exchanged on a future date
fresh start reporting A method of financial reporting applied to certain business enterprises
emerging from reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in which assets and
liabilities are stated at current fair values and retained earnings deficits are written off against
additional paidin capital
friendly takeover A business combination in which the boards of directors of the constituent
companies generally work out the terms of the combination amicably and submit the proposal to
stockholders of all constituent companies for approval
fully secured creditors Creditors of a debtor in bankruptcy whose claims are collateralized by
debtor’s assets having current fair values in excess of the amount of the claims
functional currency The currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity
operates; normally, that is the currency of the environment in which the entity primarily
generates and expends cash
fund In governmental and nonprofit organization accounting, a fiscal and accounting entity with
a selfbalancing set of accounts recording cash and other financial resources, together with all
related liabilities and residual equities or balances, and changes therein, which are segregated for
the purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives in accordance with
special regulations, restrictions, or limitations
hedge Measures taken to reduce or eliminate a potential unfavorable outcome of a future event
heirs Recipients of property of an intestate decedent, as specified by state probate codes
highly inflationary economy An economy having cumulative inflation of 100% or more over a
threeyear period
holographic will A will having its essential provisions and signature in the handwriting of the
testator
home office The principal business unit of an enterprise that has branches or divisions
homestead allowance A specified amount of a decedent’s property allocated to a decedent’s
spouse or surviving minor or dependent children, in addition to property passing to those persons
by devises
horizontal combination A business combination between enterprises in the same industry
hostile takeover A prospective business combination in which the target company resists the
proposed takeover
income beneficiary The recipient of income of a testamentary trust
informal probate A proceeding by the registrar of a probate court that results in the registrar’s
making a decedent’s will effective by means of a written statement
infrastructure Streets, sidewalks, bridges, and the like of a governmental entity
interest method A technique for computing interest revenue or expense that applies the yield
rate of bonds to their present value at the beginning of the period for which interest is to be
measured
internal service funds Proprietary funds of a governmental entity that provide supplies and
services to other funds, departments, or agencies of the governmental entity on a cost
reimbursement basis
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) An organization of up to 17 members that
conducts the business of the International Accounting Standards Committee
International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) An organization of accounting
groups from more than 100 countries, headquartered in London, whose mission is to develop
accounting standards for potential adoption in the countries of the member accounting groups
International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) An organization of
securities regulators from about 50 countries whose goal is to ease the impact of differences in
securities trading regulations among its members
intestacy The absence of a will for a decedent
intestate Without a valid will
investment trust funds Fiduciary funds of a governmental agency that account for external
investment pools for which the entity is the sponsoring government
joint venture A partnership of limited duration and with limited projects or other activities
jointly controlled entity The International Accounting Standards Board term for joint venture
lateral intercompany sales Sales of merchandise by one subsidiary of a parent company to another
subsidiary of that parent
letters testamentary Authorization document for the personal representative of an estate to
begin administration of the estate
life income fund A fund established by a nonprofit organization to account for assets
contributed to the organization, the income from which, in whatever amount, is distributed in
periodic payments to designated recipients for a specified time period
limited liability company (LLC) An entity that combines features of both partnerships (for
federal income tax proposes) and corporations (for protection of owners from personal liability
1
for entity debts)
limited liability partnership (LLP) A partnership whose partners are liable for their own
actions and the actions of partnership employees under their supervision, but not for the actions
of other partners; further, an LLP is responsible for the actions of all partners and employees
limited partnership A partnership having, in addition to one or more general partners, one or
more partners with no responsibility for unpaid liabilities of the partnership and with restrictions
on activities related to the partnership
liquidation (of partnership) The winding up of partnership activities, usually by selling assets,
paying liabilities, and distributing any remaining cash to partners
loan fund A fund typically established by a nonprofit school, college, or university for loans to
students
local currency unit The unit of currency of the country in which a business enterprise is located
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) The international interest rate banks charge each
other for loans
M
management approach The method of operating segment designation that is based on the way
a segmented business enterprise is managed
marshaling of assets A provision of the Uniform Partnership Act that specifies the respective
rights of partnership creditors and partners’ personal creditors to partnership assets and to
partners’ personal assets
master limited partnership A large limited partnership engaged in ventures such as oil and gas
exploration and real estate development that issues units registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission
measurement date The date on which management of a business enterprise commits itself to a
formal plan for disposal of a segment of the enterprise
minority (noncontrolling) interest The claim of stockholders other than the parent company to
the net assets and net income or losses of a partially owned subsidiary
monetary assets Cash and other assets representing claims expressed in a fixed monetary
amount
monetary liabilities Liabilities representing obligations expressed in a fixed monetary amount
monetary/nonmonetary method A method of translating foreign currency financial statements
in which monetary assets and monetary liabilities are translated at the current exchange rate on
the balance sheet date; nonmonetary assets and liabilities and owners’ equity elements are
translated at historical rates. Depreciation and amortization expenses and cost of goods sold are
translated at historical rates; all other revenue and expenses are translated at an average rate for
the accounting period
monetary principle The principle that money is assumed to be a useful standard measuring unit
for reporting the effects of business transactions and events
multinational (transnational) enterprise A business enterprise that carries on operations in
more than one nation, through a network of branches, divisions, influenced investees, joint
ventures, and subsidiaries
N
negative goodwill The remainder of a bargainpurchase excess that cannot be apportioned to
reduce the amounts assigned to the combinee’s qualifying assets
net assets Total assets less total liabilities; equal to stockholders’ equity of a corporation
nonbusiness organizations Governmental entities and nonprofit organizations
noncontributory pension plan A pension plan that requires contributions from the employer
but not from employees
noncumulative preferred stock Preferred stock whose owners have no future claim for
dividends “passed” in any year
nonexpendable privatepurpose trust funds Fiduciary funds of a governmental entity, of long
duration, that account for the principal of a trust, which must be maintained intact
nonprofit organization A legal and accounting entity that generally is operated for the benefit
of society as a whole, rather than for the benefit of an individual proprietor or a group of partners
or stockholders
notional amount A number of currency units, shares, or other units specified in a contract
underlying a derivative instrument
operating debt Shortterm loans obtained by the general fund of a governmental entity
operating expenditures Expenditures for daytoday operations of the governmental funds of a
governmental entity, such as for salaries and wages, utilities, and consumption of shortterm
prepayments and inventories of supplies
operating segment A component of a business enterprise that engages in business activities for
which it earns revenues and incurs expenses, whose operations are regularly reviewed by the
enterprise’s chief operating decision maker for purposes of evaluating past performance and
making decisions about future allocation of resources, and for which discrete financial
information, generated by or based on the internal financial reporting system, is available
operating transfers Transfers of financial resources among governmental funds of a
governmental entity for other than quasiexternal transactions
order for relief Action by the Bankruptcy Court to protect the debtor from creditors’ claims
during the bankruptcy procedure
other financial sources Sources of financial resources of a governmental fund other than
revenues, such as operating transfers in and gains on disposals of plant assets
other financing uses Uses of financial resources of a governmental fund other than
expenditures, such as operating transfers out and losses on disposals of plant assets
pacman defense A tactic used to resist a hostile takeover business combination in which the
target company itself threatens a takeover of the prospective combinor
par value method A method of accounting for the retirement of treasury stock in which the cost
of the treasury stock is allocated pro rata to reduce (1) the Common Stock ledger account balance
by the par or stated value, if any, of the treasury shares; (2) an appropriate additional paidin
capital account for the excess over par or stated value attributable to the original issuance of the
treasury shares; and (3) Retained Earnings for any unallocated cost remaining
parent company An investor enterprise that obtains control of an investee (subsidiary)
parent company concept A concept of consolidated financial statements of a parent company
and one or more partially owned subsidiaries that views the consolidated entity as an extension
of the parent company, with the minority interest in the net assets of subsidiary considered to be
a liability, and the minority interest in net income of subsidiary an expense, of the consolidated
entity
partially secured creditors Creditors of a debtor in bankruptcy whose claims are collateralized
by debtor’s assets having current fair values less than the amount of the claims
participating preferred stock Preferred stock whose owners, after receiving the specified
dividend on the preferred stock, may receive an additional dividend if the common stockholders
are paid dividends in excess of the specified preferred dividend
partnership An association of two or more persons to carry on, as coowners, a business for
profit
pension trust funds Fiduciary funds of a governmental entity that account for the receipt and
expenditure of amounts contributed by employer and employees to provide resources for post
retirement pensions and other such benefits to former employees
performance budget An annual budget of a governmental entity’s general fund that attempts to
relate the input of governmental resources to the output of governmental services
periodic inventory system The method of accounting for inventory in which the Inventories
ledger account is used only at the end of an accounting period to reflect the value of the ending
inventory of merchandise or manufactured products
permanent difference A difference between pretax financial income and taxable income that
does not reverse in one or more subsequent accounting periods
permanent endowment fund An endowment fund whose principal never may be disbursed by
the nonprofit organization
permanent funds Governmental funds that account for resources that are legally restricted to
the extent that only earnings, and not principal, may be used for purposes that support the
governmental entity’s programs
perpetual inventory system The method of accounting for inventory in which the Inventories
ledger account is debited for purchases of merchandise or the cost of goods manufactured and
credited for the cost of goods sold
personal representative The executor or administrator of a decedent’s estate
phaseout period The period between the measurement date and the disposal date for a business
segment
plant fund A fund of a nonprofit organization that accounts for plant assets, and often for cash
and investments earmarked for additions to plant assets as well as mortgage notes and other
liabilities collateralized by the organization’s plant assets
pledge A commitment by a prospective donor to contribute a specific amount of cash or
property to a nonprofit organization on a future date or in installments
pledgor The maker of a pledge
poison pill A tactic used to resist a hostile takeover business combination in which the target
company amends its articles of incorporation or bylaws to make it more difficult to obtain
stockholder approval for a takeover
preacquisition contingencies Contingent assets (other than potential income tax benefits of a
loss carryforward), contingent liabilities, or contingent impairments of assets that existed prior to
completion of a business combination
preference The transfer of cash or property to a creditor by an insolvent debtor within 90 days
of the filing of a bankruptcy petition by or on behalf of the debtor, provided that the transfer
caused the creditor to receive more cash or property than would be received in the bankruptcy
liquidation
primary government A state government, a municipality or county, or a specialpurpose
government such as a school district or a park district meeting specified criteria
principal beneficiary (remainderman) The recipient of the principal of a trust
prior period adjustment In a statement of partners’ capital, an adjustment to partners’
beginning capital balances to correct an error in the financial statements of a prior period
privatepurpose trust funds Fiduciary funds of a governmental entity that account for trust
arrangements under which principal and income benefit individuals, private organizations, or
other governments
probate Action by the probate court to validate a decedent’s will
probate (orphan’s, surrogate) court The state court established to probate decedents’ wills
professional corporation A form of corporation authorized by some states, having various
requirements as to professional licensing of stockholders, transfers of stock ownership, and
malpractice insurance coverage
program services Activities of a nonprofit organization that result in the distribution of goods
and services to beneficiaries, customers, or members that fulfill the purposes or mission of the
organization
projected benefits The amount of all benefits under a defined benefit pension plant attributable
to employee services to the date of computation of the actuarial present value
promissory note An unconditional promise in writing, signed by the maker, to pay a certain
sum of money on demand or at a fixed or determinable future time to order of a payee or to
bearer
proportionate consolidation method The International Accounting Standards Board term for
the proportionate share method of accounting for an investment in a joint venture
proportionate share method The method of accounting for an investment in an unincorporated
joint venture that allocates to the venturer’s assets, liabilities, revenue, gains, expenses, and
losses the venturer’s pro rata share of the venture’s comparable items
proprietary funds Enterprise funds and internal services funds of a governmental entity that carry
out governmental activities closely resembling the operations of a business enterprise
proxy statement A statement filed by a publicly owned company with the SEC prior to the
company’s solicitation of proxies from stockholders prior to a meeting of stockholders
pushdown accounting Accounting for net assets of a subsidiary at their current fair values as
established in the business combination, rather than at carrying amounts, in separate financial
statements of the subsidiary
quasiendowment fund An endowment fund established by the governing board of a nonprofit
organization, the principal of which may be expended at the direction of the board
quasiexternal transactions Transactions of the general fund of a governmental entity with
proprietary funds of the entity, such as for goods and services provided by the proprietary funds
realization Conversion of noncash assets of a liquidating partnership or debtor in bankruptcy to
cash
reciprocal accounts The Investment in Branch ledger account in the home office accounting
records and the Home Office account in the branch accounting records; also, the Investment in
Subsidiary Common Stock ledger account in the parent company’s accounting records and the
stockholders’ equity accounts in the subsidiary’s accounting records
registrar The officer of a probate court authorized to carry out informal probate of decedents’
wills
registration statement A document filed with the SEC by a company that issues securities to
the public interstate
Regulation SK A pronouncement of the SEC that provides guidance for the completion of
nonfinancial statement disclosure requirements in the various Forms filed with the SEC
Regulation SX A pronouncement of the SEC that provides guidance on the form and content of
financial statements included in the various Forms filed with the SEC
remeasurement Restatement of account balances of a foreign entity to its functional currency
from its local currency
reorganization value The current fair value of the total assets of a business enterprise
undergoing reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code
reporting currency The currency of the parent company, home office, or investor enterprise of
a foreign entity
residual equity transfer An amount received by the general fund of a governmental entity from
a capital projects fund of the entity to clear a final fund balance of the latter fund
residuary devise A devise of all property of a decedent remaining after specific and general
devises are distributed
restricted fund A fund established by a nonprofit organization to account for contributed assets
available for current use but expendable only as authorized by the donor of the assets
revenue bonds Bonds issued by an enterprise fund of a governmental entity to finance a
construction project of the entity; the bonds’ principal and interest are paid from revenues
generated by the construction project
Revised Uniform Principal and Income Act A law in effect in part or in full in many states,
which provides for allocation of transactions of the personal representative of an estate or trust
between principal and income, in the absence of appropriate instructions in the will or trust
document
right of offset A legal doctrine that permits offsetting of a loan receivable from or payable to a
partner of a liquidating partnership against that partner’s capital account balance
salestype lease A lease that, from the viewpoint of the lessor, is equivalent to the sale, rather
than the rental, of property to the lessee
scorched earth A tactic used to resist a hostile takeover business combination in which the
target company sells or spins off to stockholders one or more profitable business segments
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) The federal agency charged with overseeing
issuance and trading of securities interstate by publicly owned companies
security interest A legal claim of a secured creditor of a debtor to designated personal property
of the debtor
selling spot rate The exchange rate charged by a foreign currency dealer “on the spot”
settlor (donor, trustor) The creator of a trust
shared revenues Revenues received by a governmental entity from another government that
had levied the taxes or fees to be shared
shark repellent A tactic used to resist a hostile takeover business combination in which the
target company acquires substantial amounts of its outstanding common stock for the treasury or
for retirement or incurs substantial longterm debt in exchange for its outstanding common stock
special assessment bonds Bonds issued by a governmental entity, principal and interest of
which are paid from special assessments on specific taxpayers benefited by the construction
project financed in part by the bonds
special assessments Taxes levied by a governmental entity on specific taxpayers to be benefited
by the construction project financed in part by the assessments
special revenue funds Governmental funds that account for receipts and expenditures
associated with specialized revenue sources that are earmarked by law or regulation to finance
specified government operations
specific devise A decedent’s gift of identified objects, such as named paintings, automobiles,
stock certificates, or real property
sponsoring government A governmental entity that manages external investment pools
spot rate The rate of exchange between two foreign currencies to be exchanged “on the spot”
Staff Accounting Bulletins (SABs) Pronouncements of the SEC staff regarding administrative
interpretations and practices used by the staff in reviewing Forms and financial statements filed
with the SEC
statement of activities A financial statement that displays the changes in net assets —
unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted — of a nonprofit organization
statement of affairs (financial statement) A “quitting concern” financial statement prepared
on behalf of a debtor undergoing bankruptcy liquidation that classifies nonexempt assets and
liabilities of the debtor according to provisions of the Bankruptcy Code
statement of cash flows A financial statement that displays the cash flows from operating
activities, investing activities, and financing activities of a business enterprise, governmental
entity, or nonprofit organization
statement of financial affairs (legal document) A document accompanying a debtor’s petition
that contains a series of questions concerning all aspects of the debtor’s financial position and
operations
statement of financial position A financial statement that displays the assets, liabilities, and net
assets — permanently restricted, temporarily restricted, and unrestricted — of a nonprofit
organization
statement of partners’ capital The financial statement issued by a partnership to display
changes in partners’ capital from investments, net income or loss, and drawings during an
accounting period
statement of realization and liquidation A financial statement prepared for a liquidating
partnership that displays realization of noncash assets, allocation of resultant gains or losses to
partners, payment of partnership liabilities, and distribution of any remaining cash to partners;
also, a financial statement prepared on behalf of a trustee in a bankruptcy liquidation that sets
forth assets realized and liabilities paid, with “gains” and “losses” thereon applied to the estate
deficit
statutory consolidation A business combination in which a new corporation issues common
stock for all outstanding common stock of two or more other corporations that are then dissolved
and liquidated, with their net assets owned by the new corporation
statutory merger A business combination in which one corporation (the survivor) acquires all
the outstanding common stock of one or more other corporations that are then dissolved and
liquidated, with their net assets owned by the survivor
subsidiary An investee enterprise controlled by an investor enterprise (parent company)
support Resources obtained by nonprofit organizations through contributions from individuals,
governmental entities, and other organizations
supporting services All activities of a nonprofit organization other than program services, such
as management and general, fundraising, and membership development activities
survivor The constituent company in a statutory merger that is not dissolved and liquidated
temporary difference A difference between the tax basis of an asset or a liability and its
reported amount in the financial statements that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in
future years when the reported amount of the asset or liability is recovered or settled,
respectively; a difference between pretax financial income and taxable income that reverses in
one or more subsequent accounting periods
term endowment fund An endowment fund whose principal may be expended after a specified
time period or the occurrence of a specified event
testamentary trust A trust created by a will
testator The maker of a will
thirdparty payor An organization such as Medicare or Medicaid that pays for services
rendered by a nonprofit hospital to patients
translation Restatement of financial statement amounts of a foreign entity from its functional
currency to the reporting currency of the parent company or investor enterprise
trust document The document establishing a trust
trust indenture The legal document that creates a trust
trustee The fiduciary individual or corporation holding title to trust property and carrying out
provisions of the trust document
underlying A specified interest rate, security price, foreign exchange rate, index of prices or
rates, or other variable; it may be a price or rate of an asset or liability but not the asset or
liability itself
undistributed earnings of subsidiary The parent company’s share, under the equity method of
accounting, of the adjusted net income less dividends of the subsidiary
Uniform Probate Code A law in effect in part or in full in many states, which provides for
procedures used in probating wills
units Securities evidencing ownership interests in a limited partnership
white knight A tactic used to resist a hostile takeover business combination in which the target
company seeks out a candidate to be the combinor in a friendly takeover
will A document that awards a testator’s property to devisees following the testator’s death
1
Coopers & Lybrand, Choosing a Business Entity in the 1990’s (Washington: Coopers &
Lybrand LLP, 1994), p. 27.