Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-154) and index.

1. A guided tour of the financial statements -- 2. The need for financial information -- 3. Keeping track of economic activity -- 4. Summary of the foundations of accounting -- 5. The accounts as a lens on growth -- 6. Measuring value creation -- 7. Understanding risk -- 8. Building a corporate valuation model.

"An introduction to the fundamentals of accounting and how it is used that will help students apply accounting as a usable, everyday business tool. It adopts an intuitive, informal approach to describe basic principles - what they are, why they exist and how they are used - to help students see the connections between different parts of accounting and the rest of the business world. Written by an award-winning teacher and former management accountant, it encourages students to engage with the material by using questions and worked examples to test knowledge and understanding as they read. It includes a glossary of financial terms that is a useful guide to the language of business. Part of the Cambridge Short Introductions series of concise, authoritative guides to core subjects in business and management"--