Richard Barker is Senior Lecturer in Accounting at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, and Visiting Professor in Accounting at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. In 2013, Richard Barker was named 'Most Acclaimed Lecturer in the Social Sciences' by Oxford University Student Union. He had previously achieved an unprecedented double in 2011, being awarded teaching prizes at the business schools of Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the same year. He is also a recipient of the Pilkington Teaching Prize at Cambridge, which is awarded 'in recognition of excellence in teaching'.

• List of figures; List of tables; Introduction; Part I: Introduction to Part I; 1. A guided tour of the financial statements; 2. The need for financial information; 3. Keeping track of economic activity; 4. Summary of the foundations of accounting; Part II: Introduction to Part II; 5. The accounts as a lens on growth; 6. Measuring value creation; 7. Understanding risk; 8. Building a corporate valuation model; Appendix I. Glossary of accounting terms; Appendix II. Further reading; Index.

'Essential reading for the business beginner. In lucid prose Barker strips out the jargon to reveal the basic and surprisingly elegant concepts of accounting.' David Champion, Senior Editor, Harvard Business Review

Richard Barker is Senior Lecturer in Accounting at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, and Visiting Professor in Accounting at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. In 2013, Richard Barker was named 'Most Acclaimed Lecturer in the Social Sciences' by Oxford University Student Union. He had previously achieved an unprecedented double in 2011, being awarded teaching prizes at the business schools of Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the same year. He is also a recipient of the Pilkington Teaching Prize at Cambridge, which is awarded 'in recognition of excellence in teaching'.

• List of figures; List of tables; Introduction; Part I: Introduction to Part I; 1. A guided tour of the financial statements; 2. The need for financial information; 3. Keeping track of economic activity; 4. Summary of the foundations of accounting; Part II: Introduction to Part II; 5. The accounts as a lens on growth; 6. Measuring value creation; 7. Understanding risk; 8. Building a corporate valuation model; Appendix I. Glossary of accounting terms; Appendix II. Further reading; Index.

'Essential reading for the business beginner. In lucid prose Barker strips out the jargon to reveal the basic and surprisingly elegant concepts of accounting.' David Champion, Senior Editor, Harvard Business Review

Richard Barker is Senior Lecturer in Accounting at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, and Visiting Professor in Accounting at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. In 2013, Richard Barker was named 'Most Acclaimed Lecturer in the Social Sciences' by Oxford University Student Union. He had previously achieved an unprecedented double in 2011, being awarded teaching prizes at the business schools of Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the same year. He is also a recipient of the Pilkington Teaching Prize at Cambridge, which is awarded 'in recognition of excellence in teaching'.

• List of figures; List of tables; Introduction; Part I: Introduction to Part I; 1. A guided tour of the financial statements; 2. The need for financial information; 3. Keeping track of economic activity; 4. Summary of the foundations of accounting; Part II: Introduction to Part II; 5. The accounts as a lens on growth; 6. Measuring value creation; 7. Understanding risk; 8. Building a corporate valuation model; Appendix I. Glossary of accounting terms; Appendix II. Further reading; Index.

'Essential reading for the business beginner. In lucid prose Barker strips out the jargon to reveal the basic and surprisingly elegant concepts of accounting.' David Champion, Senior Editor, Harvard Business Review