Understanding Your Statement of Cash Flows

Anna Stubbs • May 7, 2025

The statement of cash flows, (also known as the cash flow statement), shows how your business has generated and used cash (and cash equivalents) within a specific time period.


For each of the reporting categories, receipts and payments are listed (money in and money out), and this is reported as a net increase or decrease in cash held for that category.


The net change in all categories is added to the amount of cash on hand at the start of the reporting period to arrive at the current cash on hand figure at the end of the reporting period.



It is another important financial statement to understand in conjunction with the Profit and Loss statement and the Balance sheet. These three reports provide a good understanding of the financial position of your business.

How Does it Work?

The cash flow statement integrates the information provided by the profit and loss statement and the balance sheet into a current cash position. The cash flow statement is reported on a cash basis, while your other financial statements are usually reported on an accrual basis. Accrual income (from the profit and loss statement) is converted to cash by calculating the changes in the balances of asset and liability accounts.


Report Categories

The statement of cash flows is organised into sections that report on different types of business activity.


  1. Operating activities - all business income, expenses, assets and liabilities (except for those assets and liabilities reported in investing and financing activities).
  2. Investing activities - the purchase and sale of long-term investments, property, plant and equipment as well as security deposits paid to suppliers or received from customers and dividends received.
  3. Financing activities - the changes in balances of equity accounts, for example, issuing and repurchase of stocks and bonds and payment of company dividends if applicable. Loans are also included in financing activities.


Formal financial report packages usually include notes to the financial statements. The notes contain supplemental information that explain significant items or activities that did not involve cash transactions. The notes may also include detailed reporting of categories that may have been reported as summary totals only in the profit and loss, balance sheet and statement of cash flows. Other items such as taxes, employee provisions, risk management or related party transactions may also be detailed in the notes.


Why is it Useful?

The statement of cash flows gives you a valuable measure of cash flow in and out of the business over a given period. It shows the ability of the business to pay its bills and fund its operating activities. This gives you a picture of overall performance.


It also shows the relationships between assets, liabilities, equity and cash accounts. It shows changes and movements over time, whereas the balance sheet and profit and loss reports show account values at a single point in time.


The statement of cash flows gives you vital information on your business.

  • How strong is your cash position?
  • What is the long-term outlook for your business?
  • What activities generate the most cash flow?
  • What is the relationship between your net income and your operating activities?


If you’d like to understand your financial statements, cash position and future outlook in more depth, arrange an advisory session today.



We’ll help you identify and appreciate the strengths of your business.

Six steps to better cash flow

By Anna Stubbs • June 23, 2026
Need a hand managing cash flow? You’re not alone. The key is getting your invoicing right, by invoicing customers as soon as possible and using tools like Xero’s invoice reminders to move payments along. That said, there are a few other simple rules you can apply to manage your cash flow and get your invoices paid even faster:  Keep your books accurate and up to date - so you can see your financial state at a glance. Don’t be too lenient with your customers - you can be direct and still polite. Keep a close watch on your accounts receivable turnover at all times and act sooner rather than later. Keep your accounting simple - so you have a good handle on these business metrics. We can help with this. Keep your business and your professional finances separate - this is essential to understanding your true cash flow position. Mixing your business and personal finances can leave you uncertain about business performance. Build a cash reserve - so you are prepared for unexpected events and can take advantage of opportunities when they pop up. Track your cashflow and forecast - whether it's automated reporting, AI, or a custom report we prepare for you, staying on top of your cashflow and making sure you have funds to operate smoothly is crucial. First you want to get your invoicing right. Get into a habit of sending invoices quickly. Then follow the steps above to collect revenue and keep your finances organised. Get in touch for guidance on your invoicing and business cash flow, if you need support tracking or projecting your cashflow we're here to help.

Cutting costs or increasing your prices? We can help

By Anna Stubbs • June 23, 2026
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By Anna Stubbs • June 23, 2026
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