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Money · Guided lesson

Reconcile profit and operating cash

About 30 minutes · 8 reading + 22 practice and checks
Time includes reading, practice, and questions. Extra videos or further study are optional.
See this course’s project requirements

A checked financial brief with statement scope, margins, cash reconciliation, liquidity ratios, note questions and a spending recommendation.

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

  • A dated statement map with checked balance-sheet totals.
  • A two-year gross and operating margin comparison. A profit-to-cash bridge that reconciles to closing cash.
  • A liquidity note with working capital and two coverage ratios.
  • A note-review log with quantified risks and follow-up questions.
  • A one-page financial brief supporting a conditional spending decision.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • Calculations reconcile to the supplied records, with units and dates labeled.
  • Assumptions and missing information are visible, including the changed scenario.
  • The recommendation follows the evidence and explains an important limitation.
  • The six lesson outputs form a usable handoff that another learner can check.
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Before you begin

The idea in everyday life

Cedar Print Year 2 net income is $2000. Depreciation is $2500. Receivables increase $1500; inventory increases $1000; operating payables increase $1000. There are no other operating adjustments. Equipment purchases are $3500 and financing cash flow is zero.

The idea

A credit sale can raise profit before payment arrives. A simple reconciliation identifies why profit differs from cash.

Follow along

Reconcile profit and operating cash — worked practice

A credit sale can raise profit before payment arrives. A simple reconciliation identifies why profit differs from cash.

Cedar Print Year 2 net income is $2000. Depreciation is $2500. Receivables increase $1500; inventory increases $1000; operating payables increase $1000. There are no other operating adjustments. Equipment purchases are $3500 and financing cash flow is zero.

  1. 1. Start with income

    Write net income of $2000 as the first line.

    You should see: Starting profit is $2000.

    This is the accrual measure to reconcile.

  2. 2. Adjust noncash and timing

    Add depreciation; subtract increases in receivables and inventory; add the payable increase.

    You should see: Operating cash flow is $3000.

    Cash is tied up in uncollected sales and stock; unpaid operating bills temporarily preserve cash.

  3. 3. Separate equipment

    Subtract $3500 equipment purchases from $3000 operating cash.

    You should see: Net cash change is a $500 decrease.

    Equipment cash spending is shown separately from operating cash.

  4. 4. Check closing cash

    Apply the change to opening cash of $2000.

    You should see: Closing cash is $1500, matching the balance sheet.

    A full bridge reconciles to a known balance.

Now change one thing

Separate case: net income 1000, depreciation 300, receivables increase 200, no other adjustments. Enter operating cash flow.

Your work

What to finish

A profit-to-cash bridge that reconciles to closing cash.

Common mistake

Watch for this

Subtracting depreciation again when converting net income to operating cash.

How can I tell I understand it?

Explain your calculation or classification and reproduce the changed case without copying the worked result.

Try 3 questions

Quick knowledge check

Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.

Not yet passed

You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.

1Net income is 900, depreciation 100 and receivables increase 250. Operating cash is?
2A customer pays an old invoice already included in last period’s profit. What happens now?
3Opening cash is 700, operating cash inflow 500 and equipment payment 400. Closing cash is?
0 of 3 answeredApply the lesson to a short question, then review the explanation.
3
Finish this lesson

Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.

Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.

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Optional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
EdspiraHow the Income Statement and Balance Sheet are Connected | ExampleYouTube
Optional course overview

How the Income Statement and Balance Sheet are Connected | Example

From Edspira. Watch here or open it on YouTube .

Optional course overview. Follow the written steps below at your own pace.
Tools, templates, and lesson sources

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Sources and further reading

Explore the references behind this lesson.

Beginners’ Guide to Financial Statement
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Inspected statement definitions, operating cash flow, notes, margins and working capital.

Access: Public page inspected without a sign-in; linked services may have separate requirements.

Reuse: Link to the original. Free reading does not imply permission to reproduce the page; lessons and fixtures here are original.

How to Determine the Financial Health of Your Company
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Inspected linked statements and ratio interpretation.

Access: Public article inspected; no enrollment required.

Reuse: Link to the original. Free reading does not imply permission to reproduce the page; lessons and fixtures here are original.

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