Definition of "Accounting" :

noun: the occupation of maintaining and auditing records and preparing financial reports for a business

noun: a system that provides quantitative information about finances

noun: a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes

"He was unable to give a clear accounting for his actions."

noun: a statement of recent transactions and the resulting balance

"They send me an accounting every month."

noun: a bookkeeper's chronological list of related debits and credits of a business; forms part of a ledger of accounts