This book, first published in 1989, contains reprints of the early periodical on accounting, The Book-Keeper. It dealt with 'historical reviews of methods and systems in all ages and by all nations. Elucidations of accounts, introducing new and simplified features of accounting. Problems from the counting-room discussed and explained. Instructive notes upon plans and methods of book-keeping in every department of trade, commerce and industry.' The journal is a primary source for students interested in the history of accounting.

This book, first published in 1989, contains reprints of the early periodical on accounting, The Book-Keeper. It dealt with 'historical reviews of methods and systems in all ages and by all nations. Elucidations of accounts, introducing new and simplified features of accounting. Problems from the counting-room discussed and explained. Instructive notes upon plans and methods of book-keeping in every department of trade, commerce and industry.' The journal is a primary source for students interested in the history of accounting.

This book, first published in 1771 and reissued in 1984, is a fascinating insight into the history of accounting. Written by a London accountant ('accomptant') in 1771, it examines the profession as it was in the eighteenth century. It looks at the system of book-keeping, the banking business, and double entry book-keeping for manufacturers.

This book, first published in 1984, reprints the important texts The General Principles of the Science of Accounts (1901) and The Accountancy of Investment (1904) in one single volume. Charles Sprague pioneered the development of accounting theory in the United States, and his work is key in the study of the history of accounting and its development.

The articles in this book, first published in 1986, cover the developments of the first three decades of the Securities Acts, and examines appraisals of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. With the rise in interest in the evolution of regulatory policy, these principal papers are key sources in the study of the history of accounting. Written by accountants close to the Commission, these papers will be of interest to accountants in public and private practice, and all students of accounting and its government regulation.

"No one has a clearer understanding of valuation than does Al King. He knows the nuts and bolts of this subject, as well as its intricacies, because he has practiced his profession on the factory floor, in the boardroom, and in the courtroom. The mathematics of valuation is easy to understand. Applying the underlying principles to the ever-growing myriad of business assets and issues is very difficult. Only a handful of valuation professionals have the breadth of knowledge and experience necessary to meet that challenge. The author of this book is one of them, and he conveys that experience in a readable style. He writes as he speaks– clearly and to the point. Anyone who wishes to understand the appraisal process as it pertains to business assets needs this book." —Gordon V. Smith, President, AUS Consultants

"Al King’s Valuation: What Assets Are Really Worth aims to give the reader a deep understanding of what ‘value’ really means–and it succeeds brilliantly. King clearly explains why there is no single ‘correct’ value for many assets, using real-world examples to show that the intended purpose of a valuation must affect the result. Further, he offers examples of business problems (sometimes disasters!) caused by faulty understanding of value. Only someone with a truly deep understanding of the subject can explain it with such crystalline clarity." —Robert E. Esch, Retired Executive (General Management), Consultant, and President of Sarah Woods Traditions, Inc.

"What a wonderful, commonsense book for guys like me that covers the minefields of cost, price, and value. Every buyer or seller can gain many valuable insights from Al King’s engaging book." —Thomas Swanston, Executive Vice President, Bassett Furniture Industries

"As usual, Al King has distilled a somewhat complicated area into commonsense business analysis that we can all relate to. His book is a very worthwhile read for professionals and business owners looking to better understand valuation in the broadest sense, as well as how it applies to their particular situation. I highly recommend taking the time to read this book." —Mark Santarsiero, President, Marshall & Stevens

"Al King has taken a complex topic and separated it into easily understandable components, which he highlights with meaningful examples. The result is a resource that attorneys, accountants, and business people in general can use frequently to explain to clients both the importance of ‘valuation’ and the concepts which define it." —Sari Ann Strasburg, Pepe & Hazard LLP

"Al King has put his long and vast experience in the field of valuation and accounting to use in Valuation: What Assets are Really Worth. He uses extensive examples to delineate differences between cost, price, and value. He then proposes that future debate should lead to disclosure and use of ‘value’ on a continuous basis. This book has been authored by a true expert in this field." —Frank C. Minter, CPA, Chair, Institute of Management Accountants

Advances in Accounting Education: Teaching and Curriculum Innovations 19 publishes both non-empirical and empirical articles dealing with accounting pedagogy. All articles explain how teaching methods or curricula/programs can be improved. Non-empirical papers are academically rigorous, and specifically discuss the institutional context of a course or program, as well as any relevant tradeoffs or policy issues. Empirical reports exhibit sound research design and execution, and develop a thorough motivation and literature review, including references from outside the accounting field, where appropriate.

In this book, Jayne Godfrey and Keryn Chalmers explore the intricacies of the globalisation of accounting standards - arguably one of the most significant business developments of the wider globalisation process during the past two decades. They examine the key issues and implications of this harmonisation of accounting standards from the perspectives of a diverse range of worldwide stakeholders. Globalisation of Accounting Standards shows that globalisation approaches differ significantly because countries seek to maintain varying degrees of sovereignty over their regulations. International differences in economic, political, legal, religious and social characteristics also affect globalisation approaches and, in turn, influence national accounting standard-setting agendas. The book explores why countries relinquish their existing national accounting standard-setting regimes to join the global movement. It also seeks to resolve questions such as: To what extent are national incentives altruistic, economic, political or social? Who are the winners and losers in the process? This authoritative book is thoroughly researched and expertly informed. Written by both academics and regulators, it tackles a critical and controversial issue in the globalisation movement. As such, it will be of great interest to a wide-ranging audience including: international, national, private and public sector standard-setters, economic regulators, accounting academics and political economists and strategists.

Spending on M&A has, in aggregate, grown so fast that it has even overtaken capital expenditure on increasing and maintaining physical assets. Yet McKinsey, the leading management consultancy, reports that "Anyone who has researched merger success rates knows that roughly 70% fail". The idea that businesses might be using huge and increasing sums of shareholders' money for an activity that more often than not leads to failure calls into question the information on which M&A decisions are based. This book presents statistical studies, case material, and standard-setters' opinions on company accounting before, during, and after M&A. It documents the manipulation of annual accounts by acquirers ahead of share for share bids, biased forecasts of post-merger earnings by bidders, and devices to flatter earnings when recording the deal. It explores the challenges for standard-setters in regulating information flows during and after M&A, and for account-users wishing to learn from financial statements how a deal has affected performance. Drawing on a wide range of international examples, this readable book is targeted not just at accounting specialists but at anyone who is comfortable reading the serious financial press, is intrigued by what is going on in the massive M&A market, and is concerned with achieving better-informed M&A. As such it might be of particular interest to business executives, lawyers, bankers, and investors involved in M&A as well as graduate students interested in researching or learning about the role of accounting in M&A.

What went wrong and how to fix it

"This is a book that well represents the skeptical, probing, and doubting spirit of the time. Professor Ketz explores the ways corporate management and auditors can ‘spin’ financial reporting to misinform investors. It is written so that the individual investor can grasp the ideas but will be useful for investment analysts and audit committee members who need a lively briefing in how to spot questionable accounting."
–– John H. Biggs
Former chairman and Chief Executive Officer
TIAA - CREF

"Ed Ketz brilliantly illustrates how the improper application of accounting rules misleads users of financial statements. This book is an indispensable resource and greatly enhances one’s understanding of the many obscure footnotes found in today’s financial statements."
–– Albert Meyer
2nd Opinion Research, Plano, TX

It is now painfully clear that "earnings management" has managed little, other than some short-term gain for a handful of managers and a long-term catastrophic erosion of the public faith in financial reporting. But it is not too late for the accounting industry to turn back from the brink. Edward Ketz lays out several specific problems in the financial reporting arena, describes how the system failed to correct any of these problems, and suggests a compelling course of action for improvement in Hidden Financial Risk: Understanding Off-Balance Sheet Accounting.

Chapter by chapter, Ketz explains how firms hide debt using:

• The equity method
• Lease accounting
• Pension accounting
• Special Purpose Entities

and then illustrates the failures of directors, auditors, regulators, and investors to detect and eliminate these tools of deception. He concludes by drawing upon his thirty years’ experience to propose how the industry can learn to identify fraud and ultimately restore investor confidence. Executives, accountants, and individual and institutional investors will find Hidden Financial Risk to be a powerful examination of the present, shifting accounting landscape.

Starting with the first "scientific" economists such as Cantillon (1755) and Quesnay (1758) and ending with Piketty (2019), this book explores the treatment of the concept of capital in the history of accounting and economic thought. The work provides a rare juxtaposition of the reasoning, discourse and writings of accountants and economists. With regard to 'capital', this approach highlights the ongoing struggle between these "uncongenial twins" - as Kenneth Boulding put it - for primacy in analysing, and utilising, capitalism. But if they are certainly "uncongenial", the book also argues that it is wrong to ever classify these two disciplines as "twins" because they have taken very different paths ever since scientism came to dominate in economics and ethical and moral considerations were put to one side. This book will be of significant interest to readers to history of economic thought, critical accounting and heterodox economics.

Almost all economists, whether classical, neoclassical or Marxist, have failed in their analyses of capitalism to consider the underpinning systems of accounting. This book draws attention to this lacuna, focusing specifically on the concept of capital: a major concept that dominates all teaching and practice in both economics and management. It is argued that while for the practitioners of capitalism - in accounting and business - the capital in their accounts is a debt to be repaid (or a thing to be kept), for economists, it has been considered a means (or even a resource or an asset) intended to be worn out. This category error has led to economists failing to comprehend the true nature of capitalism. On this basis, this book proposes a new definition of capitalism that brings about considerable changes in the attitude to be had towards this economic system, in particular, the means to bring about its replacement. This book will be of significant interest to readers of political economy, history of economic thought, critical accounting and heterodox economics.

Advances in Accounting Education(AAE) is a high-quality publication of both empirical and non-empirical research that investigates vital matters within teaching, learning, and curriculum development. By focusing on these topics, it works to support the improvement of accounting programs at colleges and universities, as well as foster innovative discussion and significant contributions to faculty development. This 24th volume features 11 peer-reviewed papers surrounding five key themes: (1) research on student attitudes and behavior, (2) cases and pedagogical approaches in tax, (3) financial reporting and introductory accounting, (4) research about the CPA exam, and (5) international perspectives. It considers a variety of topics within these themes, from student study choices and changes in ethical attitudes over time to policy implications for the accounting profession. It even includes an instructional case for use in intermediate accounting courses and a comprehensive pedagogical approach (with a case) for teaching a complex topic in taxation. With international and nuanced perspectives from expert voices in the field, AAE is essential reading for students and accounting educators. Some practitioners and regulators in the accounting profession may also find useful policy-related nuggets in Volume 24.

An overview of how a new arrangement for setting financial reporting standards in the private sector came about, and why. Van Riper documents the emergence of a schism between advocates of neutrality in financial reporting standards and those who emphasize "social consequences", and the clashes between traditional views and new insights. He describes the efforts by powerful interests to block change, and examines the reasons why standard setting gives rise to contention and controversy. His recommendations to ensure standard setting in the private sector will be of special interest, not only to accounting professionals but to others throughout the finance, investment, and banking industries and to corporate management. The book begins with an overview of how and why the present self-regulatory arrangement for setting standards for financial reporting in the private sector came about in 1973. A brief description of the new structure is followed by a discussion of the essential elements of meaningful self-regulation. A schism emerged between advocates of neutrality and objectivity in standard setting and those who think the primary concern should be for possible economic and social consequences. Early clashes between traditional views and newer insights are described, setting the stage for an account of serious resistance to change. Powerful interests mount determined efforts to thwart the standard setters, undercutting not only self-regulation, but also the intent of the federal securities acts of 1933 and 1934. The practical and philosophical bases for the opposing views are examined, and recommendations are presented for ensuring continuation of private-sector standard setting despitethe intensity of these views.

Advances in Accounting Education: Teaching and Curriculum Innovations 18 publishes both non-empirical and empirical articles dealing with accounting pedagogy. All articles explain how teaching methods or curricula/programs can be improved. Non-empirical papers are academically rigorous, and specifically discuss the institutional context of a course or program, as well as any relevant tradeoffs or policy issues. Empirical reports exhibit sound research design and execution, and develop a thorough motivation and literature review, including references from outside the accounting field, where appropriate.

Essential guidance on the new fair value rules for accounting managers, auditors, and fraud investigators

Fair Value accounting is emerging as the next prime opportunity for financial statement fraud. Explaining the many complex applications of fair value accounting in the preparation of financial statements, "Fair Value Accounting Fraud" offers timely guidance on an up-and-coming issue as U.S. and international accounting rules pertaining to the use of fair value accounting continue to change.

You'll find discussion of
U.S. GAAP and IFRS rules on fair value accounting issues, highlighting the areas most vulnerable to fraudExplanations of 75 categories of fair value accounting fraud schemesFraud risk checklist that you can put to immediate usePractical detection techniques useful for auditors, investigators and others who rely on financial statementsExpert advice from Gerard Zack, CFE, CPA, author of "Fraud and Abuse in Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Prevention and Detection"

Comparing US accounting standards to International Financial Reporting Standards-thereby making this book useful worldwide- "Fair Value Accounting Fraud" helps you understand the new rules and develop new auditing and investigative techniques to enable you to detect potential fraud.

Lombardy, with about 10 million inhabitants, is today the most populated and prosperous region of Italy, and Milan is a renowned capital of art, fashion and design. During the 19th century until WWI, the region gradually became the leader in Italy's economic development and distinguished itself in the European economic landscape for its long-standing industrial strength and diversified economy, which included one of the Europe's most productive agricultural systems. It was the economic locomotive of contemporary Italy, contributing to the economic Risorgimento that complemented the country's political resurgence. The present volume gathers the contributions of some major experts on the subject, providing an in-depth analysis of Lombardy's pattern of development, consisting of an exceptionally symbiotic and balanced interplay of sectors (agriculture, industry, trade, and banking) in a gradual yet steady growth process, also supported by progress in the education system. During the century, there was a shift away from an economy based on agriculture and commerce to a progressively more industrial economy and this process accelerated from the 1880s. The secret of this dynamic balance was Lombardy's active relationship with the rest of Europe and with the international markets. Aimed at scholars, researchers and students in the fields of early modern and modern history, economic and social history, the book provides a clear explanation of Lombardy's economic development during the long 19th Century.

Designed as a practical handbook for accountants and financial planners, this book is a clear, readily understood guide to the use of present value analysis in business and individual financial decision making. Through the use of numerous case examples, the authors describe the application of present value analysis to a wide variety of situations ranging from retirement fund accumulations and the evaluation of stock investments to long term debt management, automobile purchases, and plant and equipment acquisitions. Throughout, information is presented in terms readily understandable to the reader with no prior knowledge of the subject matter.

Following an overview of present value concepts and techniques, the authors devote separate chapters to valuation, investment decision rules, capital budgeting, use and analysis of debt, leases, real estate, business funds, personal funds, and other uses of present value analysis. Unique in the breadth of applications covered, the book offers a single reference source for material previously available only in a number of different books and other publications. The use of a consistent mathematical notation throughout and the uniform presentation of concepts enhances its usefulness to accounting practitioners, financial planning professionals, and entrepreneurs.

Creating the 'Big Mess' and its sequel Accounting for Crises use Marx's theory of capitalism to explain why there is no generally accepted theory of financial accounting, and explore the consequences, by studying the history of American accounting theory from c.1900 to 2007. The answer, Creating the 'Big Mess', is first that while late-19th century British accounting principles, founded on the going-concern concept, provided an objective basis for holding management accountable to shareholders for its stewardship of capital, and were accepted by the nascent American profession, they are inchoate. Second, Irving Fisher's economic theory of accounting, based on the assertion that present value is the accountants' measurement ideal, which is subjective, framed early-20th century American accounting theory, which undermined British principles, making them incoherent. In an unregulated, pro-business environment, leading theorists, particularly Henry Rand Hatfield and William A. Paton, Jr., became authorities for management discretion, creating the 'big mess' Hatfield saw in late-1920s American accounting. Accounting for Crises examines the roles of Fisher's theory in promoting the speculation leading to the 1929 Great Crash, aggravating the Great Depression, hindering accounting regulation from the 1930s, producing the Financial Accounting Standard Board's conceptual framework, and facilitating the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis.

This series arose out of the belief that the international accounting literature should devote more attention to the study of the accounting problems and issues of emerging economies (developing and newly industrialized countries).
Through an increasing awareness of the real issues and the accounting practices advocated in it, these works have become relevant to the actual needs of its readers, and is making real contributions to the accounting development process of emerging economies.
The volumes presented aim to:
*Raise the level of interest in the specific problems of accounting in emerging economies
*Increase awareness of real issues, so that accounting in these countries will not just be seen as a matter of copying what is done in the industrialized countries
*Provides an authoritative overview of the research and progress in this field

This volume describes the development of accounting thought during the twentieth century by focusing on a relatively narrow and long-lived issue, income smoothing.
The task begins with the creation and description of three taxonomies of income smoothing literature in order to identify the context and bounds of the preferences and behavior that are to be the subject of the study. Then a chronological review of English-language literature referring to income smoothing behavior is conducted that covers the period, 1893 through 1998. The review starts with literature discussing secret reserves created so that fat years could pay for lean years and moves to income smoothing as a criterion for accounting choice.
This literature on the smoothing criterion provided motivation for some of the earliest modern empirical studies in accounting. Empirical studies of smoothing have continued at a fairly constant rate since 1966 and make up a substantial portion of the literature review. A modification of the conventional smoothing hypothesis is proposed at the conclusion of the narrative that takes into account some relevant variables that tend to be overlooked because of the fragmentation of the literature. An extensive annotated bibliography and other appendices provide important supplements to the narrative.

First published in 1932, this volume echoed the success of Duties of the Junior Accountant and was similarly long-awaited as a textbook for the industry and aimed to instruct junior accountants in the work of their senior colleagues and future selves. Senior accountants are those who may conduct an examination independently except for a final review by a managing accountant, principal or partner. Seniors may have charge of work needing perhaps one, ten, or even more assistants or of a section of a larger examination conducted under the supervision of an accountant of higher rating. The chapters in this volume detail issues including beginning an examination, audits of banks, reviews by a principal accountant and arranging work and staff.

This volume brings together contributions from the world's most renowned scholars in accounting and celebrates the academic achievements of Bob Parker. Reflecting his multi-faceated contribution to the history of accountancy, the volume studies the development of accounting in an international context.