Average Accounts Receivable

Definition

Average accounts receivable refers to the average amount of money owed to a company by its customers for goods or services provided on credit. It is a key metric used to evaluate the efficiency of a company's receivables management as part of its overall working capital management strategy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Average accounts receivable is calculated by adding the beginning and ending balances of accounts receivable for a period and dividing by 2.
2. A lower average accounts receivable balance generally indicates more efficient receivables management and increased liquidity for the company.
3. Accounts receivable turnover and days sales outstanding are two key ratios that utilize average accounts receivable to measure the effectiveness of a company's credit and collections policies.
4. Effective receivables management, as indicated by a low average accounts receivable, can improve a company's working capital position and free up cash for other operational or investment needs.
5. Monitoring trends in average accounts receivable over time can help identify areas for improvement in a company's credit granting and collections processes.

Review Questions

• Explain how average accounts receivable is calculated and the significance of this metric.
  • Average accounts receivable is calculated by adding the beginning and ending balances of accounts receivable for a given period and dividing by 2. This metric represents the average amount of money owed to the company by its customers at any given time. A lower average accounts receivable balance generally indicates more efficient receivables management, as it suggests the company is collecting payments from customers in a timely manner. This, in turn, can improve the company's working capital position and free up cash for other operational or investment needs.
• Describe how average accounts receivable is used in the calculation of key financial ratios that measure the efficiency of receivables management.
  • Average accounts receivable is a key input for two important financial ratios used to evaluate the efficiency of a company's receivables management: accounts receivable turnover and days sales outstanding (DSO). Accounts receivable turnover measures how quickly a company collects on the credit it extends to customers, and is calculated as net credit sales divided by average accounts receivable. DSO measures the average number of days it takes a company to collect payment from its customers, and is calculated as average accounts receivable divided by average daily credit sales. These ratios provide insights into the effectiveness of a company's credit and collections policies, with lower average accounts receivable generally indicating more efficient receivables management.
• Analyze how average accounts receivable relates to a company's working capital management and overall financial health.
  • Average accounts receivable is a key component of a company's working capital, which represents the capital available to fund day-to-day operations. A lower average accounts receivable balance, indicating more efficient receivables management, can improve a company's working capital position by freeing up cash that would otherwise be tied up in outstanding customer payments. This increased liquidity can then be used to invest in other areas of the business, pay down debt, or meet other operational needs. Effectively managing average accounts receivable is therefore crucial for a company's overall financial health and ability to capitalize on growth opportunities. Monitoring trends in average accounts receivable over time can help identify areas for improvement in a company's credit granting and collections processes.

Related terms

Accounts Receivable Turnover: The ratio that measures how efficiently a company collects on the credit it extends to customers, calculated as net credit sales divided by average accounts receivable.

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO): The average number of days it takes a company to collect payment from its customers, calculated as average accounts receivable divided by average daily credit sales.

Working Capital: The difference between a company's current assets (including accounts receivable) and current liabilities, representing the capital available to fund day-to-day operations.