N
The Daily Insight Hub

Should balance sheet and income statement match?

Author

Daniel Santos

Updated on December 30, 2025

A good financial manager looks at both the income statement and the balance sheet. Every accountant knows you need an accurate balance sheet to have an accurate income statement. If expenses and assets are not recorded properly or are in the wrong place, both reports will be incorrect.

How do the balance sheet and income statement work together?

The bottom line of the income statement is net income. Net income links to both the balance sheet and cash flow statement. In terms of the balance sheet, net income flows into stockholder’s equity via retained earnings. Any balance sheet items that have a cash impact (i.e., working capital, financing, PP&E, etc.)

What checks have you undertaken to ensure that the income statement and the balance sheet are correct?

The balance sheet balances out when the assets, liabilities and equity all add up correctly. To ensure that your P&L statement and balance sheet are balanced, review all of the account balances carefully at the end of the reporting period.

How do I know if my income statement is correct?

If you’re asked to review an income statement and you’re not sure where to start, here are a few things to do:

  1. Check all the math.
  2. Find the bottom line.
  3. Look at the sources of income.
  4. Look at the expense categories.
  5. Now look at the amounts: What are the biggest expenses?
  6. Compare year-over-year numbers.

Does balance sheet or income statement come first?

Financial statements are compiled in a specific order because information from one statement carries over to the next statement. The trial balance is the first step in the process, followed by the adjusted trial balance, the income statement, the balance sheet and the statement of owner’s equity.

What are the 4 financial statements in accounting?

There are four main financial statements. They are: (1) balance sheets; (2) income statements; (3) cash flow statements; and (4) statements of shareholders’ equity. Balance sheets show what a company owns and what it owes at a fixed point in time.

How do you ensure the accuracy of the financial statements?

How to Ensure Accuracy on Financial Statements

  1. An Advice. Ensure the quality of the method of data entry, which entails financial transaction journal entries and the uploading of journal entries to the ledger.
  2. Recommendation. Check for apparent mistakes in balance sheets.
  3. Reviewing Accounts Receivable Process.

How do you ensure financial information is accurate?

Reconcile your accounting records with external records, such as bank statements, supplier invoices, credit card statements and other documents. The numbers should match. For example, the cash balance on your balance sheet should match the ending balance on your bank statement.

Which is more important income statement or balance sheet?

Both are equally important. Income statement shows how much money the company earned, and which was put into Retained Earnings for the period. Retained Earnings is on the balance sheet. Without getting theoretical – the changes in the balance sheet and the income statement largely go hand-in-hand.