receivables

Definition

The collective pile of money that customers owe your business, representing either healthy cash flow or an impending collections nightmare depending on who's on the list. These are debts arising from sales on credit, sitting on the balance sheet as assets while you nervously check if people will actually pay. It's optimism quantified as a line item.

Example Usage

The CFO reviewed the aging receivables report and discovered that 'net 30' apparently meant 'maybe sometime this fiscal year' to most clients.

Source: Accounting terminology

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Intermediate

underwrite

To assume financial risk by guaranteeing payment or agreeing to buy unsold securities, essentially the business equivalent of being the backup friend who promises to buy all the unsold Girl Scout cookies. Investment banks underwrite stock offerings, insurance companies underwrite policies, and both pray they've done their math correctly. It's putting your money where someone else's mouth is.

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layering

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conservatism principle

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Advanced

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Beginner

basis of accounting

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What is the f**king point...