Written for readers who
have not studied finance before and aimed primarily at non-accounting
students. This is a comprehensive introduction to the subject with
plenty of “activities” and self-assessment questions.
Don’t expect too many real-life examples.
This is recommended for
anyone who prefers a more visual approach. It’s very concise
and clear – absolutely no wasted words. It is relevant for
the entrepreneur or owner manager as well as anyone who needs a
basic introduction to finance. The second part of the book takes
the reader through the financial reports of a hypothetical company
start-up. Note that the examples (and terminology) are American
but anyone new to finance can still get a lot from this book.
Expands considerably on the material covered in the Guide to Financial
Statements available on this website. It runs through the information
to be found in accounts, how accounts are analysed and how this
analysis can be applied. Good comprehensive coverage of the topics
but some prior knowledge of accounting would be useful as the book
is tackling quite complex areas (eg accounting for associates) by
page 20. It has an international approach and anticipates the arrival
of international reporting standards. There’s no opportunity
to test knowledge but there are references to real-life annual reports.
An A4 book which was first
published back in 1979 and has been constantly updated since. It
is densely packed with information with excellent case studies and
real-life examples. It is quite technical and the book is not recommended
for the beginner. Some of the examples could be explained more clearly
– even for the experienced analyst.
The book introduces the methods of analysis and provides an overview
of the key areas for analysis including the non-financial factors
as well as cash flows, liquidity and ability to repay.
The corporate banker needs to understand the many issues facing
Treasurers and CFOs in the companies they are lending to. This is
a 1,000 page text book – written principally for students
and MBAs – but will be useful for anyone wishing to understand
the basics of corporate finance. An excellent visual image at the
beginning of the book shows all the factors impacting on the firm’s
objectives. Each of these is given comprehensive coverage in the
book.