Creative Accounting, Fraud and International Accounting Scandals - by Michael J Jones (Hardcover)

About the Book

Includes a series of studies of accounting scandals from 14 different countries.

Book Synopsis

Business scandals are always with us from the South Sea Bubble to Enron and Parmalat. As accounting forms a central element of any business success or failure, the role of accounting is crucial in understanding business scandals. This book aims to explore the role of accounting, particularly creative accounting and fraud, in business scandals. The book is divided into three parts. In Part A the background and context of creative accounting and fraud is explored. Part B looks at a series of international accounting scandals and Part C draws some themes and implications from the country studies.

From the Back Cover

From the South Sea Bubble to Enron and Parmalat, business scandals have a long and varied history which continues into the present day. As accounting is central to the success or failure of any business, so creative accounting has always played a key role in these scandals, reflecting the extremes of how numbers can be manipulated to deceive or even defraud.

Creative Accounting, Fraud and International Accounting Scandals explores the role of accounting, particularly creative accounting and fraud in business scandals from around the world. It features a collection of 13 chapters by international authors, which detail accounting fraud and scandals in both developed and developing economies including Australia, China, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden the UK and US.

To enhance the international perspective even further, a series of case studies, contributed by accounting experts, is also included.

This unique, global perspective on accounting scandals provides the background for discussion on the role of powerful individuals, the motives and methods of management who are complicit in these scandals and the failures of internal control and external auditing, as well as the long term impact of business scandals on the regulatory environment.

One of the few books on this subject, its accessible treatment of this relevant topic is fascinating reading for a wide audience. It also provides a highly useful reference for professional accountants and business people worldwide and students taking courses in forensic accounting and fraud, as well as providing more general background for most accounting courses.

Review Quotes

"AS A JOURNALIST I must confess I don't usually read the accounting books that drop onto my desk on a weekly basis but Michael Jones' hefty tome - Creative Accounting, Fraud and International Accounting Scandals - is different. Indeed, it is a rare thing in this sector, a real page turner." (Accountancy Age, November 2010)

About the Author

Michael Jones, MA Oxon, is Professor of Financial Reporting at Bristol University. He has taught accounting for 33 years at all levels from GCSE to final-year degree course, and has published over 140 articles in professional and academic journals, covering a wide range of topics including financial accounting, the history of accounting and international accounting.

He is joint editor of the British Accounting Review and serves on two more editorial boards. He is Director of the Financial Reporting and Business Communication Unit and he chairs the British Accounting Association Financial and Reporting Special Interest Group. He has served on the British Accounting Association Committee and on the Committee for Professors of Accounting and Finance. He is also the author of three textbooks: Accounting, Financial Accounting and Management Accounting.