Introducing the principles and practical skills of book keeping, this guide argues that it is neither dull nor mysterious - its rules are logical and straightforward and are readily mastered with practice. It explains the purpose and use of books of original entry as the basis of the double-entry system and describes the processes of recording purchases, sales and cash transactions. It goes on to show the reader how these records are used to prepare final accounts - the manufacturing, trading and profit and loss accounts and the balance sheet - to provide accurate financial statements. There is also coverage of petty cash, depreciation, partnership, company law, business documents and the effect of changes in IT, and complete exam papers with worked examples help to put the theory into practice.