Financial Accounting
For Non Specialists
2nd Edition
Published on 6. June 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-1-84480-205-0 (ISBN)
Description
Financial Accounting for Non Specialists is aimed at non-specialist students of accounting and finance on a first course in the subject. It gives a lively and wide-ranging survey of the basic principles of finance and financial accounting. The unique approach taken in the first Section of the book is to look at small to medium sized business organisations and their role in the economy - how they are set up, factors in their success and failure and how they source funds for expansion. This leads to discussion of the role of financial markets and their need for financial information. Section 2 then gives an account of financial accounting principles. The text is clearly written and technical jargon is minimal - any technical terms are clearly explained and a glossary of terms is provided. The book does not present the hurdle of double-entry bookkeeping at an early stage - students can progress through the book without double-entry. Illustrative case studies and reference to real-life business examples are used to bring the technical information to life.
Financial Accounting for Non-specialists includes a large number of worked examples, to give students valuable practice in using their new skills. Other pedagogic elements include aims and learning outcomes, summaries, Case Studies with questions and solutions, individual learning activities, self-test questions with answers provided in the book, and exercises - the answers to which are divided between the book and the Lecturer's Guide/Website.
Financial Accounting for Non-specialists includes a large number of worked examples, to give students valuable practice in using their new skills. Other pedagogic elements include aims and learning outcomes, summaries, Case Studies with questions and solutions, individual learning activities, self-test questions with answers provided in the book, and exercises - the answers to which are divided between the book and the Lecturer's Guide/Website.
Reviews / Votes
SECTION 1 ? Introduction and background to commercial business organisations CHAPTER 1 Introduction to business organisations and finance Forms of business organisation. Sole traders, limited companies and partnerships contrasted. Finance for business. Fundamentals of taxation. CHAPTER 2 Starting a business Financing the small business. The business plan. Why do businesses fail (and why do some of them succeed)? CHAPTER 3 The growing business Stages in business growth and expansion. Making money. Risk. CHAPTER 4 Large businesses Sources of finance for companies. The UK Stock Market. Organisation and operation of the London Stock Exchange. Flotation and other share issues. To list or not to list? The role of information in stock markets. CHAPTER 5 The role of accounting in business The need for accounting information. Users of accounting information. Characteristics of useful financial information. Financial accounting and management accounting. The role of the accountant in business organisations. Why do business managers have to understand accounting reports? SECTION 2 ? Financial accounting CHAPTER 6 The balance sheet Balance sheet basics. The accounting equation. Drawing up a balance sheet. More practice with balance sheets. CHAPTER 7 The profit and loss account Profit and loss. Categories of commercial activity. Profit and loss account for a sole trader. Movements in stock. Calculating cost of sales. Calculating net profit. What does the profit and loss account mean? Profit and loss accounting in a service business. Preparing the profit and loss account and balance sheet. CHAPTER 8 Adjustments to the profit and loss account and balance sheet ? part 1 Some further complexities in preparing the profit and loss account. Comprehensive example. Accounting conventions. Current asset adjustments. CHAPTER 9 Adjustment to the profit and loss account and balance sheet ? part 2 Depreciation and amortisation. Impact of depreciation on the accounts. Intangible assets and amortisation. Accounting for amortisation. Another method of depreciation. Sale of a fixed asset. Buying and selling assets during the year. CHAPTER 10 Cash flow The role of cash in business. Mismanagement of working capital. The distinction between profit and cash. Preparing a cash flow statement. Direct and indirect approaches to cash flow. The ?direct? method explained. Cash flow statements in an established business. The high profit/no cash paradox. CHAPTER 11 Financial reporting by limited companies Introduction to accounting by limited companies. Regulation of company accounting and other issues. Accounting for limited companies. Accounting for listed companies: additional requirements. CHAPTER 12 Analysing and understanding financial reports: Part 1 ? analysis of trends Usefulness of financial reports to various interest groups. Analytical techniques: changes in figures. Analytical techniques: changes in figures. Analytical techniques: horizontal and trend analysis. Analytical techniques: vertical analysis and common size analysis. Comparing businesses with each other. CHAPTER 13 Analysing and understanding financial reports: Part 2 ? analysis using accounting ratios. Financial ratio analysis techniques. Performance ratios. Liquidity ratios. Efficiency ratios. Investor ratios. Lending ratios. Index Answers to Self-test Questions Answers to ExercisesMore details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 248 mm
Width: 190 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
795 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84480-205-0 (9781844802050)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
05/2005
2nd Edition
Cengage Learning EMEA
€79.41
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Catherine Gowthorpe BA FCA is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant with over thirty years' experience as a lecturer and researcher in higher education in the UK and Spain. For many years, she was an examiner for two of the UK's leading professional accounting bodies. She has published many articles on accounting and related areas such as auditing and professional ethics.
Content
SECTION 1: Introduction and background to commercial business organisations.
1. Introduction to business organisations and finance.
2. Starting a business.
3. The growing business.
4. Large businesses.
5. The role of accounting in business.
SECTION 2: Financial accounting.
6. The balance sheet.
7. The profit and loss account.
8. Adjustments to the profit and loss account and balance sheet - Part 1.
9. Adjustment to the profit and loss account and balance sheet - Part 2.
10. Cash flow.
11. Financial reporting by limited companies.
12. Analysing and understanding financial reports: Part 1 - analysis of trends.
13. Analysing and understanding financial reports: Part 2 - analysis using accounting.
Index.
Answers to Self-test Questions.
Answers to Exercises.
1. Introduction to business organisations and finance.
2. Starting a business.
3. The growing business.
4. Large businesses.
5. The role of accounting in business.
SECTION 2: Financial accounting.
6. The balance sheet.
7. The profit and loss account.
8. Adjustments to the profit and loss account and balance sheet - Part 1.
9. Adjustment to the profit and loss account and balance sheet - Part 2.
10. Cash flow.
11. Financial reporting by limited companies.
12. Analysing and understanding financial reports: Part 1 - analysis of trends.
13. Analysing and understanding financial reports: Part 2 - analysis using accounting.
Index.
Answers to Self-test Questions.
Answers to Exercises.