Flexible accounting methods as a tool for mobilizing the enterprise’s under-utilized potential

. Since traditional accounting is based on the facts of financial and economic performance of enterprises, it does not always and fully display their real capacity, which is crucial to meet the challenge of the dynamic market environment.Methods used in flexible accounting are recognized throughout the world, as they provide a better picture of the internal capacity of the enterprise, and it is displayed in totally new balance sheet accounts and financial records.The study addresses the issue of applying flexible accounting methods and approaches for keeping records of assets (means) and liabilities (resources) in Ukrainian enterprises’ activities.Purpose. The purpose of the article is to highlight the methodological framework of using flexible accounting methods as a tool for mobilizing the enterprise’s under-utilized potential.Methods. The research methods used in the article include: the historical method (for describing the evolution of accounting studies); the method of abstraction (for harmonizing the terminology of accounting engineering); synthesis, induction and deduction (for providing rationale for applying flexible accounting methods); generalization (for making conclusions).Results. The study shows that flexible accounting methods can be used as a tool for mobilizing the enterprise’s under-utilized potential in the following segments: fixed assets– based on the optimal method of inventory accounting; inventory items – through the best values at the moment of goods release; bad debtors – through diversification when receivables are paid; creditors – through diversification when accounts payable are settled; of cash – a real prediction of their revenues in order to calculate the financial results of the enterprise; cash assets – through prediction of cash inflows and calculation of financial performance of the enterprise.Discussion. The rapid pace of the current scientific and technological breakthrough, the further globalization of the economy, and increased competition have led to the need for more effective management of business processes and financial performance, and to the search for material, human and financial resources. That has promoted accounting engineering viewed as one of the tools of flexible accounting. Further research efforts should be directed at approaches and techniques of information support for enterprise resource management.