ABSTRACT
The study
evaluated the accounting systems in use by small scale enterprises operating in
Enugu south east of Nigeria. The study was necessitated due to high rate of
small scale enterprises failure. The population of the study consists of 242
accounting officers and proprietors of small scale enterprises operating in
Enugu. 148 respondents were selected through simple random sampling techniques.
The instrument employed for the study was a structured questionnaire four
research questions and one null hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of significance
guided the study. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation and
t-test summary of the results revealed that seven accounting systems were
available for use to small scale enterprises use the single entry system of
accounting and that keeping of proper accounting records enhance profitability.
It was concluded that there was correlation between proper records keeping and
profitability of small scale enterprises. It was recommended among other things
that the ministry of commerce and industry should help the small business
owners to avail themselves the opportunity to the use accounting system that
are relevant for the day to day reporting of their business transaction.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
There is no accurate account when accounting started.
However, available information showed that, the system of record keeping can be
traced back to the early civilization of the body lanai and Assyrian were every
body has the method of keeping record by making the warehouse, store papyrus
and was tables. Papyrus paper as we know was the paper used, in Egypt to start
the art of financial record keeping was
primitive in 1494, an Italian Monk and month metical know as Luck Pacia
introduced the double entry book keeping system in terms of accounting records
to mean that all entice must have a debtors and a creditor. At this time,
record s were only prepared for business in statement form and not for the
owners, the yearly was still not in place. After the development by the double
entry system by Luck Pacio, the profit and loss account was advocated by a
detachment which should be prepared on a yearly interval, the emerging
civilization and technological development o the recent day modern accounting
method during the industrial revolution which bought about industrial
innovation, more sophist satiated or complex accounting methods were introduced
hence the information of the professional accountancy bodies, for example;
Institute of chartered accountant of school formed in 1854.
Institute of chartered accountant end land and Wales was
formed in 1880.
Association of certificated public accountant in use was
formed in 1887 as new method of accounting were development ownership was
separated from management since, the discovery of the double entry system.
In Nigeria findings of records was made by kingdoms, empire,
individual, etc. in all. There art of modern record keeping come to being with
the advent of the Royal Niger Company , the Nigeria accounting record keeping
favoured the same with the establishment of the institute of the chartered
accountants of Nigeria of chartered accountants of Nigeria is responsible for
the Nigeria regulation of produced and parties of nationwide accountants of
Nigeria was signed, at the time of writing a bill is before the passage of
another accounting body know as certificate public accountant (P.A) of Nigeria.
Accounting to Erthihie (2005), described accounting as “the
proper recording classifying, analyzing reporting of information for measuring
and controlling the finance of the business of the end users “Agawan (2006)
also outline that the accounting is a discipline concerned with the recording,
analyzing, summarizing, measuring. For closing and reporting of income and
wealth of business organization and other related entities.
1.2 Statement of
the Problems
Accounting as an effective tools for managerial decision
making is a significant nature but some business organization have been traced
with some problems which resulted to their wilding – up recording and
assessment of profit or loss made at any giving times.
No provision for the value of assets and liabilities
records.
Lack of recording the value expenses.
Lack of distribution of fund.
1.3 Objective of
the Study
In view of the problems highlighted above, the objectives of
the research are;
To know how effective accounting is to managerial decision
making.
To create understanding on the relevance of accounting in an
organization.
To determine the extent to which accounting can help
managers to have access to desired in formation.
To find solutions to the problems identified.
1.4 Research
Questions
In this study the research question;
In what ways can accounting records improve your
organization for decision making?
Has the task or recording of value of assets and liabilities
has any effects in decision making in an organization?
Does lack of expenses has any effect on managerial decision
making?
How can managerial decision making be related to accounting?
1.5 Significance
of the Study
The research will help many business which are concern on
how to run a profit making organization and make accounting record neat, this
research work is expected to attain the following;
It help the organization to know the strength of their
organization in financed status.
It will help management to know the financial strength of
the organization in decision making.
It will help the managers to know the day growth in the
organization,.
It will also help the organization to know the resent and
feature problem that the organization is going through or has encounter.
1.6 Scope of the
Study
This research was carried out with a critical investigation
under a manufacturing drinking water company (P.A Water) Ughelli, Delta State.
1.7 Limitation
of the Study
Owing to the lack of time. Finance, material, transport
facilities, the research study is limited. Also, the negative and non –
challent attitude of the respondents to give relevant information as a result
of fear of exposing their organization’s secret also contributed to the
limitation.
1.8 Definition
of Technical Terms
The definition terms were used in this research work and it
important to know so as to facilitate the readers thought.
Accounting: This is
the process of recording, classifying selecting measuring, interpreting and
communicating and keeping all financial data in an organization to enable users
make assessment and decision.
Book – keeping: This
is the actual systematic way of recording the daily transaction in the
appropriate book.
Asset: These are the
financial resources of a business enterprise represented in properties, trade –
debtors, stock, cash in hand and bank etc.
Profit: This is the
actual amount gain from a business transaction on a daily business.
Cash book: This
is a book that is used to record all cash and cheque transaction.
Return outwards book:
This is used to record detail of goods sent back to the supplies as a
result of spoilt or damages.
Return inwards book:
This book is used to record all returns made by the seller of the goods.
Liabilities: This is
an amount own by the enterprise to outsiders.
Organization: This is
a process whereby group of people come together to achieve a common goal.
Net profit: This is
the profit arrived at after the deduction of all expenses incurred in a period.
Ledger: Is a summary
of all entries of transaction in an account for a period of time usually a
month, posted from the books of original entry.
Gross profit: This is
the excess of sale revenue over the cost of goods sold in a particular period.
The balance sheet is a summary of account which shows the
financial position of a business organization at a particular date.
The trial balances:
Is the list of balances extracted from the ledger test arithmetical
accounting of the posting in the ledger.
Profit: Is the reward
which become due to owners of a business as a result of a successful reload of
trading.