What does reliable financial reporting aim to ensure?

Reliable financial reporting aims to ensure accurate financial statements for decision-making. This accuracy is critical as it reflects the true financial position and performance of an entity, allowing stakeholders—such as management, investors, and regulators—to make informed decisions. Reliable financial reports help in assessing the risk and profitability of a company, which is essential in both strategic planning and operational execution.

Inaccurate financial information can lead to poor decision-making, financial discrepancies, and potentially regulatory issues. Thus, the emphasis on accuracy helps maintain the integrity of financial markets and builds trust among investors and stakeholders.

The other options, while they may relate to aspects of a business's operations or customer relationships, do not directly speak to the purpose of reliable financial reporting. For instance, consistent communication with customers and speed of cash flow are important business functions but are not the primary goal of producing accurate financial statements. Similarly, increased operational costs do not correlate with the concept of reliable financial reporting, as the aim is to reflect financial performance and not to increase costs.