What is the role of financial statements in school management?

• A. Financial statements track revenue, expenses, and assets to ensure financial health and transparency.
• B. Financial statements are primarily for marketing.
• C. Financial statements only show cash on hand.
• D. Financial statements replace the need for audits.

Answer: (A)

Financial statements provide a clear, structured view of a school's finances, showing revenues, expenses, and resources the school owns or owes (assets and liabilities) along with equity. This information lets management assess liquidity and overall financial health, track performance against budgets, and make informed decisions about programs, staffing, and capital needs. They also support accountability by communicating to the board, regulators, and the community how resources are being used. Audits rely on these statements as the basis for verification, so the statements do not replace audits. Marketing is not the purpose, and the financial picture includes more than just cash on hand.