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Reading Financial Reports For Dummies, 3rd Edition
book

Reading Financial Reports For Dummies, 3rd Edition

by Lita Epstein
December 2018
Beginner
384 pages
10h 9m
English
For Dummies
Audiobook available
Content preview from Reading Financial Reports For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 4

Digging into Accounting Basics

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Understanding the two main accounting methods

Bullet Deciphering debits and credits

Bullet Examining the Chart of Accounts

Bullet Looking at the different types of profit

Ah, the language of financial accounting — debits, credits, double-entry accounting! Just reading the words makes your heart beat faster, doesn't it? The language and practices of accountants can get the best of anyone, but there's a method to the madness. Figuring out that method is a crucial first step to understanding financial reports.

In this chapter, I help you understand the logic behind the baffling and unique world of financial accounting. And you don't even need a pocket protector!

Making Sense of Accounting Methods

Officially, two types of accounting methods dictate how a company records its transactions in its financial books: cash-basis accounting and accrual accounting. The key difference between the two types is how the company records cash coming into and going out of the business.

Within that simple difference lies a lot of room for error — or manipulation. ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781119543954Purchase book