The following AccountingTools accounting books by Steven Bragg can be purchased in softcover format. Click on a book cover to purchase from Amazon.

Accounting Books


Accountants’ Guidebook: Fifth Edition
The accountant is responsible for many activities, which may require years of training and experience to fully comprehend. The breadth of knowledge required can seem overwhelming. The Accountants’ Guidebook is designed to simplify matters by providing the accountant with a practical knowledge of how to complete many accounting tasks, while also imparting an understanding of the more critical accounting standards. Topics covered include accounting procedures, GAAP for common transactions, closing the books, producing financial statements and other reports, collection tactics, payroll management, budgeting, and much more. In short, this is the essential desk reference for the accountant. [Buy]


The Accounting Controls Guidebook: Fifth Edition
Controls are an essential ingredient of the modern business, since they can reduce error rates, minimize fraud, and ensure that procedures are completed in a consistent manner. The Accounting Controls Guidebook reveals the controls you need for every accounting system, from billings to financial reporting, in addition to such operational areas as order processing, shipping, and receiving. Controls are separately stated for manual and computerized accounting systems. The book also addresses types of controls, control principles, the proper balance of control systems, and how to construct a system of controls. In short, this is the essential desk reference for the accountant who wants to install and maintain a well-constructed system of controls. [Buy]


Accounting for Casinos and Gaming: Third Edition
Casino and gaming operations have some of the most unique accounting and control issues found in any industry. Accounting for Casinos and Gaming delves into gaming operations, covering those accounting issues most relevant to a gaming entity. Topics covered include the accounting for loyalty and incentive programs, jackpots, chips and tokens, licensing fees, payroll, marker collections, fixed assets, and interest capitalization. The book also addresses gaming controls and federal reporting requirements. This unique resource is ideal for anyone operating a casino or gaming operation, or who wants to learn more about the industry. [Buy]


Accounting for Inventory: Fourth Edition
The value of inventory is a difficult figure to pin down, and yet it must be properly derived in order to create accurate financial statements. Accounting for Inventory enhances the accountant's ability to derive an accurate valuation, every time. It does so by delving into inventory counting systems, cost layering, standard costing, overhead allocation, the lower of cost or market rule, disclosures, measurements, and much more. This book is an essential tool for dealing with one of the largest and most complex assets on the balance sheet. [Buy]


Accounting for Managers: Fourth Edition
Non-financial managers need a sufficient knowledge of accounting to interpret a company’s financial statements and make key business decisions. The Accounting for Managers book describes how accounting transactions are compiled into financial statements and how information about company performance can be extracted from those statements. It also addresses decisions in such areas as sales and marketing, human resources, and acquisitions that are impacted by accounting information. The book describes several tools, including target costing and constraint analysis, which can be used to improve upon business decisions. In short, Accounting for Managers is the ideal toolkit for understanding how accounting information can be used to drive business decisions. [Buy]


The Accounting Procedures Guidebook: Fifth Edition
The typical business needs a system of policies and procedures in order to reduce errors, minimize fraud, and maintain tight control over its operations. The Accounting Procedures Guidebook contains the detailed procedures and forms needed for every accounting system, from accounts payable to treasury, as well as for such operational areas as order entry, shipping, purchasing, and receiving. Procedures are separately stated for manual and computerized accounting systems. The book also addresses how to create and enforce procedures, as well as when to update them. In short, this book provides the baseline policy and procedure information needed to enhance the operations of any business. [Buy]


Agricultural Accounting: Third Edition
Agricultural Accounting addresses every aspect of the accounting that one might encounter in a farm, ranch, or related business. The intent is to not only explain accounting concepts, but also to provide examples and show how an accounting system can be constructed and operated. The book pays particular attention to unique aspects of agricultural accounting that are not encountered in other industries, including special valuation rules for inventory, hedging transactions, dealing with cooperatives, and recording non-current farm assets. In short, this book is an essential desk reference for anyone engaged in agricultural operations. [Buy]


Bookkeeping Guidebook: Fourth Edition
A startup business or small company may have no formal accounting system in place, which leads to endless difficulties with record keeping and producing reliable financial statements. The Bookkeeping Guidebook eliminates these problems by showing how to set up and operate a double entry accounting system, create journal entries, and record information in a general ledger. With this framework in place, the book also discusses how to issue billings, process cash receipts, calculate depreciation, value inventory, pay employees and suppliers, file tax returns, and produce financial statements. In short, this is the desk reference needed by anyone who wants to create or operate an accounting system. [Buy]


Budgeting: Sixth Edition
A business may need a well-defined budgeting process in order to estimate its future financial situation and arrange for appropriate amounts of financing and personnel. Budgeting: A Comprehensive Guide provides clarity to the process by showing how to assemble a complete set of budgets, as well as supporting procedures, controls, and reports. It also addresses several variations on the basic budgeting concept - the flexible budget and the zero-base budget. And for those organizations that prefer to operate without the rigidity of a formal budget, the book discusses how to do so. In short, Budgeting provides the complete toolkit of solutions for building a tailor-made budgeting system. [Buy]


Closing the Books: Sixth Edition
Closing the books is one of the key functions of the accounting department. Closing the Books reveals how to do so promptly and accurately, so that financial statements can be issued shortly after the end of the reporting period. The book discusses the entire process of how information is summarized into the financial statements, as well as the many reporting formats that are available. It covers the full range of closing steps, and shows how to fine-tune the closing process to achieve a shorter close. In addition, the book addresses the controls and record keeping needed for the closing process. [Buy]


Construction Accounting: Fourth Edition
Construction Accounting addresses every aspect of the accounting for a construction business. The intent is to not only explain accounting concepts, but also provide examples and show how an accounting system can be constructed and operated. The book pays particular attention to unique aspects of construction accounting that are not encountered in other industries, including the job cost ledger, change orders, back charges, percentage of completion calculations, and the treatment of anticipated losses on contracts. In short, Construction Accounting is the go-to source for information about the accounting for a construction firm. [Buy]


Cost Accounting Fundamentals: Seventh Edition
Cost accounting is an essential management tool that can uncover profitability improvements and provide support for key business decisions. Cost Accounting Fundamentals shows how to improve a business with constraint analysis, target costing, capital budgeting, price setting, and cost of quality analysis. The book also addresses the essential tasks of inventory valuation and job costing, and shows how to create a cost collection system for these activities. In short, this book contains the essential tools needed to foster more profitable decision-making by management. [Buy]


Credit & Collection Guidebook: Fourth Edition
Delayed payments by customers can seriously impact the finances of a business, but it is usually necessary to offer some level of credit to them. The Credit and Collection Guidebook shows how to strike a balance between more sales and a reasonable amount of bad debt. It does so by focusing on when to extend credit to questionable customers and how to select the best approach to collecting from late-paying customers. The discussion includes credit policies, credit monitoring, collection techniques, and the necessary controls, procedures, and reports to manage the process. The book also addresses more advanced concepts, such as credit and collection technology, the role of product and service improvements, and litigation tactics. [Buy]


Fixed Asset Accounting: Sixth Edition
Fixed assets can be one of the largest asset groups within an organization, and requires special accounting that differs from the accounting used for any other assets. The Fixed Asset Accounting book comprehensively addresses every GAAP and IFRS accounting rule related to these crucial assets, including interest capitalization, asset retirement obligations, depreciation, impairment, and disposal. The book delves into many other areas of interest to the accountant, including the record keeping, controls, policies and procedures, measurements, asset tracking, and auditing procedures related to fixed assets. In short, Fixed Asset Accounting is the go-to source for all accounting issues related to fixed assets. [Buy]


Fraud Examination: Third Edition
Fraud Examination is a practical reference for how to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud within a business. It can be used to identify the different types of fraud, as well as to construct an environment in which fraud is minimized. In addition, it describes the many indicators of fraud, so that it can be detected early. The book also describes the process for investigating fraud, including interviewing techniques, document examination, and how to write a fraud report. In short, Fraud Examination is an essential tool for anyone interested in how fraud is perpetrated and how to conduct an investigation when fraud is suspected. [Buy]


GAAP Guidebook: 2024 Edition
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) are used as the basis for financial reporting. The original GAAP documents span thousands of pages, and so are difficult to research. The GAAP Guidebook solves this problem by condensing GAAP into a single volume. This book describes the key elements of each topic, how accounting information is disclosed, and where to look in the FASB Codification source documents for additional information. The text contains hundreds of practical examples that show how to apply GAAP to real-world situations, as well as sample journal entries and usage tips. In short, the GAAP Guidebook serves as a handy reference for accountants who need quick answers to difficult problems. [Buy]


Governmental Accounting: 2023 Edition
The accounting used by government entities is substantially different from the accounting used by for-profit organizations. This book describes the unique aspects of governmental accounting, including the use of funds, the modified accrual basis of accounting, and many unique financial statement formats and disclosures. There is a strong emphasis on common accounting transactions, the annual comprehensive financial report, budgetary reporting, and nonexchange transactions. In short, Governmental Accounting is an essential desk reference for the professional accountant. [Buy]


Health Care Accounting: Third Edition
Health care is one of the largest industries in the world, and involves some of the most complex accounting transactions. Given the financial challenges facing the industry, it is essential for the health care accountant to have a firm grasp of financial accounting. This book discusses the accounting and financial reporting issues related to hospitals, medical group practices, nursing homes, and other health care entities. The book covers the basic system of accounting, financial reporting, and many practical topics for the accountant, including revenue recognition, payroll accounting, fixed asset accounting, debt liabilities, and more. [Buy]


Hospitality Accounting: Third Edition
This book describes the essential accounting for anyone in the hospitality industry, which includes hotels, restaurants, spas, and similar businesses. It familiarizes the accountant with basic concepts and then addresses the various types of financial statements and the accounting needed to construct them. More detailed accounting topics include payroll, fixed assets, and payables. There are also many managerial accounting topics, such as the construction of a budget, price formulation systems, cost-volume-profit analysis, and cash management. In short, the book prepares the accountant for any accounting issues likely to arise in the hospitality industry. [Buy]


International Accounting: 2023 Edition
International accounting standards are used as the basis for financial reporting outside of the USA. The original documents are lengthy and difficult to research. The International Accounting book solves this problem by condensing the key elements of the standards into a single volume. It describes the key elements of each accounting topic, how accounting information is to be disclosed, and where to look in the source documents for additional information. The text contains hundreds of practical examples that show how to apply international accounting standards to real-world situations, as well as sample journal entries and usage tips. In short, it is a handy reference for those who need quick answers to difficult problems. [Buy]


The Lean Accounting Guidebook: Fifth Edition
The Lean Accounting Guidebook shows the accountant how to save money and minimize errors by streamlining the accounting department. It does so by describing more than 150 improvement tips for billing, collections, cost accounting, fixed assets, payables, payroll, and more. The accountant can use such tools as value stream mapping, flowcharting, traffic analysis, and measurement systems to decide which improvements would be the most useful to install. In short, this book provides the accountant with a complete toolkit of improvement solutions. [Buy]


The New Controller Guidebook: Sixth Edition
The accountant needs to be competent in many areas in order to be an effective controller - the person responsible for all accounting operations. The New Controller Guidebook covers every aspect of being a controller, including the management of accounts payable, cash, credit, collections, inventory, payroll, and more. The book also shows you how to close the books, which reports to issue to the management team, how to create a budget, and how to select and install an accounting computer system. In short, this book provides the accountant with the most essential information needed to be a successful controller. [Buy]


Nonprofit Accounting: Fourth Edition
This practical guide shows how to create and operate a nonprofit accounting system and produce financial statements, all while operating in accordance with nonprofit accounting standards. The book walks the accountant through basic nonprofit accounting concepts and then discusses more advanced topics, including budgeting, controls, revenue recognition, joint costs, split-interest agreements, tax reporting, and mergers and acquisitions. In short, the book offers a wealth of information for understanding nonprofit transactions and financial statements. [Buy]


Oil & Gas Accounting: Third Edition
Oil and gas operations have some of the most unique accounting issues found in any industry. Oil & Gas Accounting delves into acquisition, exploration, development, and production activities, covering many industry-specific accounting issues. Topics covered include the successful efforts method, full cost method, reserve reporting, the unit of production method, severance taxes, take-or-pay arrangements, transfers of mineral interests, and joint interest accounting, as well as industry-specific controls that should be installed. In short, this book is the essential oil and gas desk reference for the accountant. [Buy]


Payables Management: Third Edition
The accounts payable function represents one of the greatest opportunities for increasing efficiencies within the accounting department. Payables Management shows the accountant how to set up and run the payables function, including many tips for operational improvements. The book goes further, exploring the accounting for payables transactions, record keeping, measurement systems, unclaimed property reporting, cost recovery activities, use taxes, and more. In short, this book provides the accountant with a complete toolkit of solutions for improving the payables function. [Buy]


Payroll Management: 2024 Edition
This book shows the accountant how to improve the functions of the payroll department, enhancing efficiency and reducing error rates. Topics covered include time tracking, payroll processing, procedures, controls, and recordkeeping. The book also addresses the United States payroll regulations and reporting requirements related to compensation, benefits, payroll taxes, and tax remittances. It is updated annually for the latest payroll regulations. Payroll Management is ideal for anyone new to payroll, or who wants to enhance an existing system. [Buy]


Public Company Accounting and Finance: Fourth Edition
This book shows the accountant how to deal with the unique aspects of accounting and finance in a publicly-held business. These issues are significantly different from those encountered in a private company, so this book can be crucial for the accountant who is making the transition from private to public companies. Topics covered include earnings per share, segment reporting, and Staff Accounting Bulletins, as well as quarterly and annual reporting to the SEC. In addition, the book addresses initial public offerings, registration statements, and selling shares under various SEC exemptions. [Buy]


Real Estate Accounting: Fifth Edition
The real estate professional needs to be aware of the accounting rules for real estate, in order to avoid adverse reporting outcomes. Real Estate Accounting covers the accounting rules for every type of real estate transaction, which can be used to structure real estate deals appropriately. The book covers the accounting for real estate sales, property exchanges, property management, and time-share intervals. It also reveals the related financial statement presentations and accompanying disclosures. In addition, it describes the accounting related to the rental of property, and investments in real estate ventures. In short, this book is the go-to reference for discerning the proper accounting treatment for a real estate transaction. [Buy]