Answer: b. preparing the financial statements
Explanation: As accounting involves recording, classifying, summarizing, and the interpretation financial information, the accounting process, is considered a series of procedures that are employed in the collection, processing, and communication of financial information. In the accounting process, journal entries are first adjusted (identifying and analyzing business transactions and events) after which they are posted. This represents the first and second steps. Then the adjusted trial balance is prepared, followed lastly by the preparation of financial statements. Therefore, the preparation of financial statements is completed last.