a) Verification of assets and liabilities:

This step involves ensuring that the values attributed to assets and liabilities are accurate and reliable. It necessitates verifying the existence, ownership, and valuation of assets.

For example, if a company reports a property as an asset, verification would involve confirming the property’s ownership through deeds and ensuring its physical existence through site visits or photographic evidence.

Similarly, for liabilities, verifying documentation like loan agreements, contracts, and invoices is crucial. This helps in confirming the accuracy of reported obligations.

b) Vouching of income and expense accounts related to assets and liabilities:

Vouching is a meticulous process where individual transactions are traced back to their source documents, such as invoices, receipts, contracts, and other supporting records. This is done to confirm the validity and accuracy of each transaction.

When it comes to assets, vouching ensures that the inflow of assets, like cash, or the acquisition of assets, like equipment, is properly recorded and associated with the correct accounts. Likewise, for liabilities, it helps confirm that expenses or obligations have been accurately accounted for and linked to the appropriate accounts.

c) Examination of adjusting and closing entries:

Adjusting entries are necessary to ensure that all revenues and expenses are accounted for in the appropriate accounting period. For instance, accrued revenues or expenses need to be recognized to match the revenue with the expenses incurred.

Closing entries are crucial for resetting the accounts at the end of an accounting period. This involves transferring the balances of temporary accounts (like revenue and expense accounts) to permanent accounts (like retained earnings). This process ensures that the income and expense accounts are ready for the new accounting period.

In essence, all these processes directly contribute to the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the financial information presented in the balance sheet. They are integral steps in the accounting and auditing procedures, providing assurance to stakeholders that the balance sheet provides a true and fair view of the company’s financial position.

Failure to conduct these activities diligently can lead to misstatements and errors, which can have serious implications for decision-making and financial reporting. Therefore, options a, b, and c are crucial aspects of the process of preparing and verifying a balance sheet.