What is Fund Flow Statement

Fund flow statement also referred to as statement of “source and application of funds” provides insight into the movement of funds and helps to understand the changes in the structure of assets, liabilities and equity capital. The information required for the preparation of funds flow statement is drawn from the basic financial statements such as the Balance Sheet and Profit and loss account. “Funds Flow Statement” can be prepared on total resource basis, working capital basis and cash basis. The most commonly accepted form of fund flow is the one prepared on working capital basis.

CASH FLOW VS FUND FLOW:
CASH FLOW - A Cash Flow Statement is a statement which shows inflows and outflows of cash and cash equivalents of an enterprise during a particular period. It provides information about cash flows, associated with the period’s operations and also about the entity’s investing and financing activities during the period.

FUND FLOW – Fund Flow Statement also referred to as the statement of “Source and Application of Funds” provides insight into the movement of funds and helps to understand the changes in the structure of assets, liabilities and equity capital., A fund flow statement is different from cash flow statement in the following ways:
i). Funds flow statement is based on the concept of working capital while cash flow statement is based on cash which is only one of the element of working capital. Thus cash flow statement provides the details of funds movements.

ii). Funds flow statement tallies the funds generated from various sources with various uses to which they are put. Cash flow statement records inflows or outflows of cash, the difference of total inflows and outflows is the net increase or decrease in cash and cash equivalents.

iii). Funds Flow statement does not contain any opening and closing balance whereas in cash flow statement opening as well as closing balances of cash and cash equivalents are given.

iv). Funds Flow statement is more relevant in estimating the firm’s ability to meet its long-term liabilities, however, cash flow statement is more relevant in estimating the firms short-term phenomena affecting the liquidity of the business.

v). The Cash Flow statement considers only the actual movement of cash whereas the funds flow statement considers the movement of funds on accrual basis.

vi). In cash flow statement cash from the operations are calculated after adjusting the increases and decreases in current assets and liabilities. In funds flow statement such changes in current items are adjusted in the changes of working capital.

vii). Cash flow statement is generally used as a tool of financial analysis which is utilized by the management for short- term financial analysis and cash planning purposes, whereas funds flow statement is useful in planning intermediate and long-term financing.

Advantages of fund flow are as follows:

• management of various companies are able to review their cash budget with the aid of fund flow statements

• Helps in the evaluation of alternative finance and investments plan

• Investors are able to measure as to how the company has utilized the funds supplied by them and its financial strengths with the aid of funds statements.

• It serves as an effective tool to the management of economic analysis.

• It explains the relationship between the changes in the working capital and net profits.

• Help in the planning process of a company

• It is an effective tool in the allocation of resources

• Helps provide explicit answers to the questions regarding liquid and solvency position of the company, distribution of dividend and whether the working capital is effectively used or not.

• Helps the management of companies to forecast in advance the requirements of additional capital and plan its capital issue accordingly.

• Helps in determining how the profits of a company have been invested: whether invested in fixed assets or in inventories or ploughed back.

Source:scribd.com/doc/15880531/FINANCIAL-MANAGEMENT-Notes