Accounting Finance Forms
Forms are a means of organizing and gathering information with a template. They
consist of text requesting various information, typically followed by a line or
box for a response.
Typical Uses
Forms are useful when doing the same thing, or filling out the same information,
more than once, and can be used in almost any business, organization, or company.
In accounting and financing they can be particularly helpful in storing customer
accounts, tracking payable and receivable credit, and knowing how much money is
entering and exiting the company.
Best Practices
- Identify the purpose. First decide for what function the form will serve and, as a result, what information it should ask for.
- Title. Place a functional title identifying what the form is used for at the top of the form.
- General information. Create spaces asking for general information such as the client's name, address, and account information. This is typically the first set of information listed on a form.
- Filing system. There should also be a space near the top of the form (typically a corner) for the date and a filing number or other identifier, such that forms can be filed in an organized fashion.
- Request information. Information may be requested in several different ways. A question may be asked, followed by space for an answer. There may also be choices of answers with checkboxes. A table may be used for large amounts of data. The manner in which information is requested depends on the type of information required.
- Store and use. Distribute the finished form as desired. It is important to be organized in the storing of forms so that they are easily located and accessed. It is advisable to keep a master copy so that more can be photocopied when needed.