Financial accounting focuses on the perpetration of financial statements. This information will often be used to make important business decisions so it is vital that it is reliable. Financial accounting can be highly demanding but luckily there are some useful books available on the market for anyone interested in this topic. Here are the top 5 best financial accounting books reviewed.
Financial Accounting by Jerry J. Weygandt, Paul D. Kimmel and Donald E. Kieso (2009)
This textbook is used in many academic courses because it provides such comprehensive information about financial accounting. This book will also be something worth having in your library as a reference resource. Within the 850 pages of this book you should find that most topics are dealt with sufficiently to at least provide a basic understanding. The chapters are small enough that they don’t intimidate the reader.
Financial Accounting — 7th Edition- by Walter T. Harrison and Charles T. Horngren (2008)
The main selling point of this book is that everything is so practical. This means that it will not only be suitable for those studying the subject at university, but also for those who actually use financial accounting as part of their work — you certainly don’t need a degree to get something from this book. It also includes the accounting cycle tutorial programme within the first three chapters.
Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in Financial Reports, Third Edition by Howard Schilit and Jeremy Perler (2010)
If you want to learn from forensic accountants about what to look for in deceptive financial reports then this is the book for you. This text is not only aimed at accountants but anyone who wants to be able to spot fraudulent financial reports. This book is very well written and most people will have no trouble reading from beginning to end. It contains fascinating material and plenty of real world examples to make the information easier to understand. This has been described as the bible of financial fraud and all the praise is well deserved by all accounts.
Financial & Managerial Accounting — 15th Edition- by Jan Williams, Sue Haka, Mark Bettner and Joseph Carcello (2009)
The fact that this book is now in its 15th edition is testament for how valuable it is. This is a familiar text for those who have studied the subject at university, but it is of value to almost anyone interested in financial accounting. It is aimed at the beginner but the text delves deeply enough into the different topics to make it useful to even those with advanced knowledge of the subject.
Financial Accounting: The Impact on Decision Makers by Gary A. Porter and Curtis L. Norton (2007)
This book provides a basic introduction to financial accounting. It is perfect for those who are new to the subject and there is no presumption of previous knowledge. The information provided is concise and to the point. Those who want to delve deeper into the different topics can use this book for a foundation before moving onto heavier tomes.
