accounts receivable
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun (plural form, treated as singular or plural) * Money owed to a business by its customers: This term refers to the total amount of money that customers are legally obligated to pay a company for goods or services that have been delivered or used but not yet paid for. It represents a line of credit extended by the seller and is considered a current asset on the company's balance sheet.
Usage
- "Accounts receivable" is a standard accounting term. It functions as a plural noun but can be treated as singular when referring to the total sum or the department managing it.
- It is often abbreviated as AR in business contexts.
- It is the opposite of accounts payable (money the company owes to others).
Examples
- The company's accounts receivable have increased this quarter, indicating more sales on credit.
- She works in the accounts receivable department, following up on overdue invoices.
- Managing accounts receivable effectively is crucial for maintaining healthy cash flow.
- The balance sheet shows $50,000 in accounts receivable.
Advanced Usage
- Aging of accounts receivable: A report that categorizes unpaid customer invoices by their due date (e.g., 0-30 days, 31-60 days, 61-90 days past due) to assess credit risk.
- Accounts receivable turnover: A financial ratio that measures how efficiently a company collects revenue from its credit sales.
Variants and Related Words
- Receivable (adj./n.): As an adjective: capable of being received. As a noun (often plural: receivables): a debt owed to a business, synonymous with accounts receivable.
- Debtor: A customer or entity that owes money, contributing to the accounts receivable total.
- Invoice: The itemized bill sent to a customer, which creates an entry in accounts receivable.
Synonyms
- Receivables
- Trade receivables
- Debtors (commonly used in British accounting)
Related Phrases
- To collect on accounts receivable: The process of obtaining payment from customers.
- To write off an account receivable: To remove an uncollectible debt from the accounts receivable ledger, recognizing it as a loss.
Noun
- a creditor's accounts of money owed to him; normally arise from the sale of products or services