Opening the Books on Accounting: Accounting Spoken Here -- Introducing financial statements -- Keeping the books and guarding the family jewels -- Knowing the accounting entity -- Exploring Financial Statements: Reporting profit or loss -- Reporting financial condition in the balance sheet -- Reporting cash sources and uses in the statement of cash flows -- Financial accounting issues -- Getting a financial report ready for release -- Reading a financial report -- Inside information for managers only -- Analyzing profit -- Accounting for costs -- Budgeting -- Ten tips for managers -- Ten tips for reading a financial report Checking Your Preconceptions about Accounting; Thinking about where assets come from; Asking about profit; Sorting out stereotypes of accountants; Providing Vital Financial Information; Recognizing users of accounting information; Using accounting in your personal financial life; Seeing accounting at work; Taking a Peek behind the Scenes