Description

The bestselling and astonishingly simple guide to the fundamental principles of accounting, written specifically for those without a financial background.

Simple, easily absorbed and clearly explained, this book will guide you through all the major accounting concepts. You will learn how to master company accounts, understand balance sheets, profit and loss accounts and cash flow systems and how to analyse and monitor your company’s financial performance.

Table of Contents

About the author

Preface

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Introduction

Part 1: The Basics of accounting

1 The balance sheet and the fundamental principle

Assets, liabilities and balance sheets

Sarah’s ‘personal’ balance sheet

The balance sheet of a company

The balance sheet chart

Summary

2 Creating a Balance Sheet

Procedure for creating a balance sheet

SBL’s balance sheet

The different forms of balance sheet

Basic concepts of accounting

 Summary

3 The profit & loss account and cash flow statement

The profit & loss account

The cash flow statement

‘Definitive’ vs ‘descriptive statements

Summary

4 Creating the profit & loss account and cash flow statement

Creating the profit & loss account

Creating the cash flow statement

Summary

5 Accounting in practice

More essential concepts

Setting up your software

Accounting in a simple world

Accounting in the real world

“Proving” your balance sheet

Summary

Part 2: Interpretation and analysis of accounts

6 Wingate’s Annual Report

Different types of accounts

The reports

Assets

Liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

The P&L and cash flow statement

7 Financial Analysis: introduction

The ultimate goal

The two components of a company

The general approach to financial analysis

Wingate’s highlights

Summary

8 Analysis of the enterprise

Return on capital employed

The components of ROCE

Where do we go from here?

Expense ratios

Capital ratios

Summary

9 Analysis of the funding structure

The funding structure ratios

Lenders’ perspective

Gearing

Shareholders’ perspective

Liquidity

Summary

10 Valuation of companies

Book value vs market value

Valuation techniques

Summary

Part 3: Listed company accounts

11 Listed company accounts: introduction

Introduction

The primary statements

Terminology and jargon

Accounting standards

Fair value vs historical cost

Summary

12 Interpretation of Listco’s accounts

Intangible assets

Groups of companies

Accounting for subsidiaries

Accounting for associates and joint ventures

Property, plant and equipment

Capital / Funding

Equity

Debt

Financial instruments

Foreign currencies

Hedging

Pensions

Corporation tax

Share buybacks / Treasury shares

Share-based payments

Earnings per share

Conclusion

Glossary

Appendix 1: Wingate Foods’ accounts

Appendix 2: Listco’s accounts

Index

Back Cover

'Trust me - no other book makes the subject as simple and clear. ' Jamie Reeve, Chairman, The Great Little Trading Company

'It's like a fog has been lifted... I suddenly get it and I'm only at page ten.' Paul Sanett, Development Director, Europe  and  Africa, Hilton Worldwide

‘This is a great book – it does what it says on the can!’ John Bates, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship, London Business School

Accounting is not as technical and complex as you may think and is actually based on very simple principles that anyone can understand. Once you know and understand these principles, you will be amazed at how easy it is.

With over 100,000 copies sold worldwide, and now fully updated, this bestselling book is for anyone including students, investors and company owners. In this simple, easy -to-absorb book, Anthony Rice guides you, step by step, through all the key accounting principles and concepts.

Quickly understand and master:

· profit & loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements and how they are connected;

· how to set about keeping your own accounts;

· how to analyse a company’s financial position and performance;

· the accounts of stock-exchange listed companies.

Additional free content, tools and support are available at www.accountsdemystified.com

Author

Anthony Rice is not an accountant. He learned accounting the hard way – by keeping accounts for his own company. Having subsequently spent much of his time analysing companies, first as a strategy consultant and more recently when looking for businesses to buy, he has some valuable insights into financial analysis.