Introduction to Accounting for Non-Specialists

by Len Hand, Carolyn Isaaks, Peter Sanderson

Introductory Accounting for Non-Specialists is aimed at a single-semester module in accounting and finance. The text provides a first-level look at financial and managerial accounting and basic finance for non-specialist students. The approach is to achieve a balance between the technical aspects and underlying concepts. The book is aimed at users of accounting information. Students (as future users of accounting information) need to understand the basic ideas and assumptions that lie behind the numbers. They do not need to become expert preparers of accounting information but should know enough of the mechanics to make sense of the sources of the numbers, and to understand how new information would change (for example) the profit/balance sheet position. The ?quadrant? system of analyzing transactions is used as a model that allows non-specialists to develop an insight into how double-entry works. The overall key objective is to enable the reader to critically analyse and discuss both the external financial reporting and the internal management information aspects of accounting at an introductory level. In other words, having studied the book students should be able to understand and be able to apply the ideas and techniques presented and to evaluate the usefulness and limitations of them. The book is pedagogically well developed and includes learning objectives, tasks, examples, case studies, diagrams, summaries, review questions and exam questions. Answers are provided to the majority of the review and exam questions at the back of the book.

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2004