International Financial Accounting: A Comparative Approach - Softcover

Roberts, Celia; Gordon, Paul; Weetman, Prof Pauline

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0273623761 ISBN 13: 9780273623762

Publisher: Financial Times/ Prentice Hall, 1998

Synopsis

This comprehensive text book examines why differences and similarities in accounting systems exist across national boundaries and analyses the significance of these differences to accounts users, preparers, standards setters and capital markets. The authors' present a focused treatment of comparative financial
accounting and reporting, recognising that common components of current international accounting courses such as accounting for MNEs and financial management, will increasingly be the subject of separate study.
Academically, the subject is a rich area for research and for challenging students intellectually and introducing them to issues which will not only broaden their outlook but also deepen their understanding of their own reporting regime. The book is written by experienced researchers and lecturers, is well illustrated
with cases studies, and presents lecturers with an authoritative and helpful teaching package.

About this title

Review

 "An important contribution to the field of international financial accounting. Well structured, clearly presented and authoritative making it a valuable resource for students and practitioners alike. The rigorous and insightful comparative approach used is an outstanding feature and puts it ahead of the competition."  Professor Sidney Gray, University of New South Wales

This is the second year I have used the book in my MBA class "Information and Global Capital Markets", and this year I am also using it in my undergraduate "International Corporate Accounting and Disclosure". The MBA students rated the book very highly last year, as being interesting and helpful. My class is structured to take an in-depth look at the home bias in investing and quality of earnings issues across world-class firms from different countries, and I use the book to provide students with three things: (1) and overview of accounting measurement and disclosure issues globally, and an introduction to the issues we will be studying; (2) specific information on the financing and reporting infrastructure across countries (and as a remedial tool to homogenize students' familiarity with the basic economic climate in various specific countries); and (3) a capstone module that brings together issues of global firms' investor relations function. The individual country chapters also help the students begin their study of the economic background of a specific country for the final projects. The book is written clearly and compellingly, without being dry or unnecessarily laden with extraneous details.

Prof Grace Pownall, Emory University, USA

See Prof Pownall's review in the International Journal of Accounting, Vol 34, No 3, 1999

Also review by Peter Walton, University of Geneva can be found on www.accountingeducation.com/review/rev85.html

From the Back Cover

"The rigorous and insightful comparative approach used is an outstanding feature and puts it ahead of the competition." Prof Sidney Gray, University of New South Wales, Australia
The second edition of the successful International Financial Accounting, A Comparative Approach is aimed at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of accounting and international business, studying in any country throughout the world. Particular emphasis is given to international accounting standards, reflecting their growing acceptance by companies and capital markets, especially following the developments of May 2000.
The book is designed to test students intellectually, while at the same time broadening their outlook and enriching their understanding of their own financial reporting regime. It is an excellent vehicle for introducing students to accounting research methodology, which can also be applied in project and assignment work.
Part 1 surveys the diversity of international financial reporting. It describes the institutional framework, cultural influences, measurement of differences, classification studies, international harmonisation and the movement towards international standards. Part 2 presents a series of chapters on specific national systems. Each chapter is not only structured consistently to aid comparison-mirroring in microcosm the framework established in Part 1-but has been checked by a national expert. Part 3 examines corporate reactions to accounting diversity in terms of stock market listing and corporate reporting policies.
Many helpful pedagogic features have been built into the book, including chapter objectives, detailed lists of chapter contents, consistent chapter format, international perspectives, examples from published accounts, case studies from research and practice, names of major companies for further research, summaries, references and questions.
A companion website includes regular updates, useful weblinks and further case studies. A lecturer's guide with PowerPoint slides is available for the instructor.
The authors
Clare Roberts BSc MSc PhD is Professor of Accounting at the University of Aberdeen. She has held permanent teaching positions in the UK at Glasgow and Exeter Universities, and visiting positions in the US at Texas A & M University and the University of California Santa Barbara, and in Australia at Newcastle University, New South Wales.
Pauline Weetman BA (Oxon) BSc PhD CA is Professor of Accounting at the University of Strathclyde and was formerly Dean of Faculty and Professor of Accounting at Heriot-Watt University.
Paul Gordon BA MA FCA is Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Heriot-Watt University, having held positions at Glasgow, Aberdeen and Wales (Bangor).

Edition details

• Publisher: Financial Times/ Prentice Hall
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0273623761
• ISBN 13: 9780273623762
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 720