This introduction to accounting and its significant role in making sound business decisions trains readers in becoming wise users, not necessarily preparers of accounting information—a strong user-based approach that's endorsed and supported by the AECC. The authors present accounting information in a broader business context—emphasizing what accounting information is, why it is important, and how it is used to make strategic economic decisions—but still include traditional debit/credit information as optional coverage. Discussions include Introduction To Business In The United States, Economic Decision Making, The Balance Sheet: Initial Financing—Investment by Owners, The Balance Sheet (Continued): Additional Financing—Borrowing from Others, Income Statement and Statement of Owners' Equity, Keeping Score: Bases of Economic Measurement, Accumulating Accounting Data, Challenging Issues Under Accrual Accounting: Long-Lived Depreciable Assets, Challenging Issues Under Accrual Accounting: Merchandise Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold, The Balance Sheet and Income Statement: A Closer Look, The Statement of Cash Flows: Bringing the Focus Back to Cash, Financial Statement Analysis, Management Accounting: It's Environment and Future, Classifying Costs, Determining Costs of Products, Cost Behavior, Business Decisions Using Cost Behavior, Making Decisions Using Relevant Information, The Capital Budget: Evaluating Capital Expenditures, The Operating Budget, Standard Costing, and Evaluating Performance. For practicing office professionals, accounting clerks and paraprofessionals, and staff accountants.