Often imitated, never replicated: Your complete learning solution for introductory decision-making accounting courses.
Accounting: An introduction, 5e is the text of choice for students taking a first accounting course with an emphasis on ‘real-world’ decision making. It provides clear and approachable coverage of the principles of financial accounting, management accounting and financial management. In meeting the needs of non-specialists the emphasis is on the application and interpretation of information for decision-making. Atrill's primary focus is on the underlying concepts, rather than on the collection of data and the preparation of statements and reports.
Preface
Acknowledgements
For students: how do I use this book?
For instructors: how do I teach with this book?
1 Introduction to accounting and finance
2 Different accounting entities
3 Measuring and reporting financial position
4 Measuring and reporting financial performance
5 Measuring and reporting cash flows
6 Analysis and interpretation of financial statements
7 Cost–volume–profit analysis and marginal analysis
8 Full costing
9 Budgeting
10 Projected financial statements
11 Capital investment decisions
12 Security and business valuations
13 The management of working capital
14 Financing the business
15 Trends and issues in accounting
Solutions to self-assessment questions
Solutions to selected application exercises
Glossary
Index
- As most students will have had no prior experience in accounting or finance Accounting is written in an accessible style which avoids technical jargon.
- Adopts an ‘open-learning’ approach and delivers topics in much the same way as a good lecturer would do, by encouraging readers to interact with the text.
- Objectives listed at the beginning of each chapter highlight key concepts. The end of chapter summary, questions and problems are also linked to these objectives.
- Key Terms are highlighted in the text and definitions are given in the margin.
- Activity questions throughout each chapter test comprehension of material just covered, and build on topics presented earlier. Answers are provided at the end of each chapter.
- Self assessment questions test student understanding of key concepts in practice. Solutions are provided at the end of the book.
- Worked examples systematically step through accounting processes and calculations.
- Chapter summaries recap all of the material covered in the chapter and are organised by learning objective.
- Discussion questions assess student recall of the key concepts covered. All questions are aligned to learning objectives and divided into level of difficulty – easy, intermediate and challenging.
- Application exercises show students how to apply concepts to practice. All questions are keyed to learning objectives and divided into level of difficulty – easy, intermediate and challenging. Selected solutions are provided at the end of the book.
- End of chapter case studies give students real-world examples of accounting in practice, encouraging critical thinking.
- ‘Real World’ boxes appear throughout each chapter, highlighting contemporary accounting related news articles, to demonstrate how accounting concepts apply to actual business situations.
- Full colour design, with an emphasis on visual representation of concepts through tables and diagrams, makes the text visually appealing and engaging for students.
- Can be packaged with MyAccountingLab – with icons integrated throughout the text, MyAccountingLab is an online study tool designed to complement Atrill’s Accounting, 5th edition.
MyAccountingLab is an online study tool that complements the textbook content. The Lab is arranged in chapter order, with similar styles of questions and problems as you see in the textbook, aligned to the learning objectives. The Lab is algorithmically driven, which ensures unlimited student practice without repetition. Designed as a virtual tutor, students are tested on their knowledge with sample tests, and then an individually tailored study plan is designed for the students, targeting those areas where they need to develop their understanding.
Use MyAccountingLab to:
- easily assign homework, quizzes and examinations using pre-loaded content.
- assess individual student progress (including study plan progress per student, overall class performance per chapter, student averages and detailed assignment results) within the Gradebook functionality.
- analyse overall class results without any time spent marking or posting results.
MyAccountingLab offers lecturers:
- A powerful homework and test manager that allows you to choose which questions and exercises to assign and when.
- Automatic marking of online homework assignments and tests taken by students.
A GradeBook that:
- Tracks all students’ results on homework assignments and tests.
- Helps you to identify key topics and specific questions that your class are having a problem with, allowing you to focus your teaching time more productively.
- Exports the results of an entire class into a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel®.
Emeritus Professor David Harvey
After qualifying as an accountant in the United Kingdom, David began lecturing in 1971 at Portsmouth Polytechnic (now Portsmouth University) with a subsequent move to Plymouth Polytechnic (now the University of Plymouth) in 1977. During his time in the United Kingdom he developed a keen interest in curriculum development and teaching methods and was involved with the writing of several books with an open learning style, many of these in collaboration with Peter Atrill and Eddie McLaney. During this time he also completed a Masters degree in Managerial Financial Controls and a PhD in the areas of investment and fi nancing decisions. This research work covered both traditional investment appraisal and corporate strategy. In 1991 he moved to Australia to take up the position of Professor of Accounting and Head of the Centre for Accounting and Finance at the University of New England (Northern Rivers), which subsequently became Southern Cross University. In 1992 he became the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Computing, a position he held until 1996, before reverting to his Professorship. In 2000 he took up the position of the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce at the University of Southern Queensland. In 2001 the Faculty of Commerce was merged with the Faculty of Business and David became Dean of the enlarged Faculty of Business. David has had extensive experience in developing and teaching programs internationally. His most recent position was as Pro Vice-Chancellor (International Quality), a position he held from 2004 until his retirement in 2005.
Maurice Jenner
Maurice is currently on secondment from the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, to South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China. Maurice is Academic Dean in the Joint USQ-SCNU International Accounting Programme. He lectures in the BCom Accounting degree course in a wide range of subjects, including Accounting for Decision Making, Accounting Information Systems, Financial Accounting, Company Accounting, Accounting Theory and Management Accounting. Maurice is also a co-author of the Atrill
Workbook and the companion website for the textbook. He is a supplements author for Deegan
Financial Accounting and Peirson & Ramsay
Accounting. Maurice also works as a financial consultant and as a CPA (Australia) professional workshop instructor.