If Youre So Brilliant...How Come You Dont Understand Your Accountant? Kogan Page ( April, 2002 ) Book Our Price : £ 6.99 List Price : £ 9.99 You save £3 (30% off) Prices subject to change. usually dispatched within 24 hours.

A lucid and realistic introduction to accountancy.

This is the most lucid introduction to accountancy that I have encountered. It uses a minimum of jargon and technical language. Rather than just theory, there are plenty of real world examples drawn from companies ranging from the smallest sole traders right up to the largest multinationals -- some of which the authors been employed by as consultants. The book is up to date with the latest issues and controversies in accountancy and finance, such Economic Value Added, Activity Based Costing and the treatment of "Goodwill". It emphasises the common-sense point that "cash is king": something that seems rather topical in light of recent corporate collapses on both sides of the Atlantic. A particularly useful section is the comparison between US and UK accountancy english. This seems relevant as more UK companies such as BP that have shares listed on Wall St are reporting results in US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accountancy Practice). The US accounts issue is also likely to be of growing importance as the UK Society of Investment Professionals now encourages trainee stockmarket analysts and fund managers to study for CFA exams that use US GAAP. The book could be subtitled as a "Bluffers Guide to Accountancy". It could be very useful for the self employed or small businesses that have little or no interaction with accountants. Equally it may foster greater communication and mutual understanding between accountants and non-financial managers in larger firms. Private investors may also find it helps them to analyse company accounts, without getting bogged down in too many technicalities that would be entailed in a 1,000 page textbook on accounts.