Almost every qualification offered at tertiary institutions requires students to have basic accounting knowledge, yet few if any textbooks cater for those who have not done accounting as a matric subject. Practical accounting is therefore written for non-accounting students who need to gain the skills to comprehend accounting transactions and interpret financial statements.

Practical accounting has integrated topics in financial accounting and cost accounting, providing a broad overview that ranges from an introduction to fundamental principles to the preparation, analysis and interpretation of financial statements. The chapters are presented in an easily understandable format and have been structured to suit the new programmes of non-accounting students at the various universities and universities of technology in South Africa. There are many practical examples and self-assessment questions that will help students to master the basics of accounting.

Contents include the following:

• Accounting fundamentals
• Framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements
• Business and professional ethics in accounting
• Bank reconciliation statements
• Property, plant and equipment
• Preparation of annual financial statements
• Statement of cash flows
• Analysis and interpretation of financial statements
• Basic cost accounting
• Manufacturing statements, accounts and statements
• Cost-volume-profit analysis
• Budgets
• Payroll

Practical accounting is aimed at students doing qualifications in marketing, human resources, logistics, engineering, information technology, retail management, advance operations management, advance business administration and so on, who have no previous accounting experience.