ACCA FA Syllabus D. Recording Transactions And Events - Cash transactions - Notes ^{1 / 1}

Cash Book

The cash book records receipts and payments into and out of the business bank account. 

These would include receipts and payments made by bank transfer, standing order, direct debit and bank interest and charges, directly by the bank.

Petty Cash Book

Most businesses keep a small amount of cash on the premises to make occasional small payments in cash, 

e.g. staff refreshments, postage stamps, to pay the office cleaner, taxi fares, etc. 

This is often called the cash float or petty cash account. 

Therefore, the petty cash book is a cash book for small payments.

Very often these businesses use the imprest system. 

Under the imprest system, the petty cash is kept at an agreed sum, so that each topping up is equal to the amount paid out in the period.

Example

The amount of money in petty cash is kept at an agreed sum of $250.  

Expense items are recorded on vouchers as they occur and the total voucher payments for the period were $55. 

Therefore:

The cash payment required from the bank account into petty cash is equal to $55, i.e. total of the voucher payments since the previous top-up.

Keeping cash (even in small amounts) on the premises is a security risk.

Therefore a petty cash system is usually subject to strict controls.

1. Payment is only made in respect of authorised claims.
2. All claims are supported by evidence.