Answer:
To determine the closing balance of retained earnings
Step-by-step explanation:
First and foremost, retained earnings are an important part of the shareholders' equity. In a bid to ascertain the correct position of total shareholders' equity at year-end, it is important that a statement of retained earnings reconciling the opening retained with net income and dividends declared during the year is prepared.
The balance at the end of the year is the total accumulated earnings which have not been distributed to shareholders as dividends or which may be used to finance projects that increase shareholders' wealth