In final accounts, why are closing stock and outstanding expenses adjustments?

An item's treatment depends on whether it appears in the trial balance or only in the adjustments. If something is given inside the trial balance, it is already recorded in the books, so it appears only once in final accounts. If it is given as an adjustment outside the trial balance, it has not yet been recorded, so it must be shown twice to keep the books balanced. Closing stock given as an adjustment is credited to the Trading Account and shown as a current asset in the Balance Sheet, hence twice. Outstanding expenses are added to the relevant expense in the Profit and Loss Account and shown as a current liability in the Balance Sheet. The double effect reflects the dual aspect of accounting: every adjustment affects both a profit figure and a balance sheet figure.