Financial statements & accounting records · Working
Trial balance
Also called: TB
ELI5
A listing of ledger account balances used to support preparation and checking of financial statements.
Used in conversation
“How are we defining trial balance in this deck?”
Pitch context
You will see “Trial balance” in financial models, budgets, board packs and investor materials when the discussion reaches financial statements & accounting records.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret financial statements & accounting records without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Sources & evidence · 4
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- IFRS Foundation — IFRS GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Financial Accounting Standards Board — FASB Accounting Standards CodificationDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Break-even pointSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Compliance and Disclosure InterpretationsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16