Who prepares the notes to financial statements?

• A. The CPA
• B. The Board of Directors
• C. The External Auditor
• D. The Management Team

Answer: (A)

Notes to the financial statements are the part that explains the numbers, outlines significant accounting policies, judgments, and contingencies, and helps users understand how the figures were prepared. The responsibility for preparing these notes lies with the entity’s management team. They gather and organize the data, determine what disclosures are needed, and ensure the notes comply with applicable accounting standards. The external auditor (often a CPA firm) then reviews and tests these notes as part of the audit to provide an independent opinion on whether the financial statements, including the notes, present fairly. The Board of Directors provides oversight but does not prepare the notes. So, in practice, the party that prepares the notes is the management team.