By Michael French, CPA, ABV, CFE, Managing Director

Financial statements are the lifeblood of any business, as they provide a dashboard view of a company's financial health and performance and serve as an essential tool to help stakeholders, investors, and management make informed decisions. The Statement of Cash Flows holds a unique and critical position among the basic financial statements. It is an invaluable resource that provides insights into a company's liquidity, solvency, and overall financial well-being.

In essence, the Statement of Cash Flows acts as a bridge between the income statement and balance sheet by showing how cash moves in and out of the business. The Statement of Cash Flows provides key insights in several ways:

• Liquidity Assessment: The Statement of Cash Flows is a company's report card for cash management. It breaks down a company's cash inflows and outflows into three key categories: operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. This division allows stakeholders to gauge the company's ability to generate cash from its core operations, investments in assets or divestitures, and financing structure. Understanding these components helps assess the company's short-term liquidity, which is crucial for meeting day-to-day operational expenses, paying off short-term debts, and responding to unforeseen financial challenges.
• Long-Term Viability: While the income statement and balance sheet provide information about profitability and assets, the Statement of Cash Flows provides a glimpse into a company's long-term sustainability. By analyzing the cash flows from investing and financing activities, investors and management can evaluate whether the company is wisely investing in its future and managing its capital structure efficiently.
• Identification of Operating Cash Flow: The cash generated from a company's core operations, as disclosed in the operating activities section of the statement, is an essential metric for measuring a company's fundamental performance. Positive operating cash flow indicates that the business is efficiently managing its working capital, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, and inventory. Companies with consistently strong operating cash flows are often more resilient and better positioned to weather economic downturns.
• Debt Management: The financing activities section of the Statement of Cash Flows reveals the company's debt-related transactions. Stakeholders can gauge the company's debt levels and repayment capacity by tracking debt issuances and repayments. This information is pivotal for creditors assessing creditworthiness and equity investors concerned about potential financial risk. A company with a well-structured and manageable debt profile is more likely to secure favorable financing terms and maintain a strong credit rating.
• Investor Confidence: Investors require a clear picture of how a company manages its cash, and this statement provides that transparency. It's an indispensable tool for investors to understand how much money a company makes and how effectively it manages and deploys its financial resources.
• Decision-Making Tool: For company management, the Statement of Cash Flows is a critical tool for decision-making. It informs choices related to capital investments, dividend distributions, and financing options.

In summary, the Statement of Cash Flows is a fundamental financial document that plays a pivotal role in a company's financial health and decision-making processes.

Contact us

For more information or a discussion about how you can strengthen your company's Statement of Cash Flows or other financial statements, contact your PKF Advisory team member or:

Michael French, CPA, ABV, CFE
Managing Director
Tel: 949.860.9891
Email: mfrench@pkfadvisory.com