THE RELEVANCE OF SOURCE DOCUMENTS TO THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

THE RELEVANCE OF SOURCE DOCUMENTS TO THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT. (A CASE STUDY OF GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC, BENIN CITY)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Every organization requires information on which to base decisions. And the role of accounting is to provide that information in the form of accounting and financial reports. However, financial statement or reports do not automatically generate themselves, they are the end result of an accounting process.

The information communicated to the owner via the reports is the product of the recording system, which summarizes and classifies transactions. But the records themselves are generated from the raw data provided in source documents. They provide the facts on which all subsequent accounting information are based on.

Source documents have two separate but yet related functions:

They provide the verifiable evidence of the details of a transaction, thus ensuring that the information in the accounting reports will be reliable. They provide the evidence that is required by the Tax Office relating to the firm’s income tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST) obligations.

Happily, the roles of accountants in organizations have helped to correct possible observed financial recording weaknesses in organizations. They have also helped by improving the general performance of organizations by creating cost consciousness, cost control and thus providing rational basis for business decision making.

Managers prefer direct forms of contact with their accountants because of the richness of verbal communications. This is demonstrated in accountants’ use of visual and audio cues, including reinforcing and adjusting techniques, which enhance the appeal and utility of verbal communications. But it would appreciate that Accountants’ documents have been relegated to a supplementary function in the profession’s communications process. Even small firm managers objectives do influence their interest in and the use of accounting information that their accountant provide.

 

1.1 HISTORICAL PROFILE OF GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC

The firm Guinness Nigeria Plc came into existence in the year 1950 with the sole aim of importing and distributing Guinness stout from Dublin for eventual sales in Nigeria. Due to the success of the product in the country, it gave rise to a decision to establish a small brewery in the year 1962.The foundation stone of Guinness Nigeria Plc was laid at Ikeja on the 31st January 1962, by Arthur Benjamin Francis Guinness.

Guinness Nigeria then was a subsidiary of the prestigious Diageo Plc of the United Kingdom. The brewery was the first outside of Ireland and Great Britain. Other branches of the brewery have been opened over time – Benin City brewery in 1974 and Ogba brewery in 1982.

Guinness Nigeria Plc produces the following brands – Foreign Extra Stout (1962), Guinness Extra Smooth (2005) Malta Guinness (1990), Harp Lager Beer (1974), Gordon’s Spark (2001), Smirnoff Ice (2006), Satzenbrau (1995).

Guinness Nigeria Plc is a company that believes in enriching its communities. This it has