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Accrual vs. Cash Basis: The QuickBooks Reality

Stop flipping switches blindly and learn how your accounting method actually impacts your financial reporting.

Created byEric Knight
BeginnerUpdated Oct 19, 2026

What You'll Learn

  • check_circleAnalyze the impact of accrual versus cash basis accounting on financial statements
  • check_circleApply correct chart of accounts setups to support specific accounting methods
  • check_circleEvaluate the differences in revenue and expense timing between the two accounting bases
  • check_circleDistinguish between cash-based and accrual-based treatment of inventory and long-term assets

About This Course

This course examines the fundamental differences between accrual and cash basis accounting and how these methods are implemented within QuickBooks Online. It details how each approach affects the recognition of revenue, expenses, and the management of specific accounts such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, and inventory. The content explains the technical limitations of toggling between reporting methods in software and emphasizes the importance of proper chart of accounts configuration for accurate financial statements. It also covers the treatment of long-term assets, depreciation, and prepaid expenses to provide a clear picture of how different accounting choices influence business liquidity and profitability reporting.

Topics Covered:

  • Revenue and expense recognition principles
  • Accounts receivable and payable management
  • Inventory valuation and cost of goods sold
  • Prepaid expenses and deferred revenue
  • Fixed asset depreciation and book value
  • Chart of accounts configuration
  • Financial statement reporting differences
  • Software-based accounting method toggling

Course Content

2 activities • 1 videos • duration: 52m

  • videocamAccrual vs. Cash Basis: The QuickBooks Reality
    Duration 52:09

Your Instructor

Eric Knight

menu_book12 courses
star7 reviews

Dr. Eric Knight is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a career that bridges professional accounting and academia. He earned a B.S. in Accounting from Louisiana State University, an M.S. in Accounting from the University of North Texas, and a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) from Baker College, where his research focused on student perceptions of accounting education. With more than 25 years of combined professional and academic experience, he brings both practical expertise and scholarly perspective to my work. My professional career includes roles as a tax accountant and positions in corporate finance, where he specialized in financial analysis, reporting, and compliance. He also managed budgets, contracts, and fiscal operations across multiple departments in higher education. Dr. Knight was invited to speak at the 2025 Fall Continuing Professional Development Conference for CPA New Brunswick. Since 2008, he has dedicated himself to teaching and mentoring future professionals. Dr. Knight teaches courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, and taxation, with a focus on clarity, engagement, and real-world application. His goal is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in today’s dynamic business environment. Dr. Eric Knight’s areas of expertise include Managerial Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis, with research examining the challenges business majors face in accounting courses.

Credit Information

Is this course eligible for my CPD requirements as a Canadian CPA?

Provincial regulators of CPAs in Canada do not require that independent providers of CPD be approved to offer courses. Instead, individual CPAs are responsible for assessing whether a CPD activity meets their requirements, and may take activities from any source provided those requirements are met.

Every course offered on LearnFormula is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, and advances learning objectives that are relevant to the responsibilities or professional competencies of Canadian CPAs. All activities on LearnFormula are quantifiable in terms of hours, and are also verifiable, in that users receive documented evidence of their attendance via a certificate of completion after finishing a course (and this certificate is stored by LearnFormula indefinitely). Nearly 100,000 Canadian CPAs successfully satisfy their CPD requirements via LearnFormula on an annual basis.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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