This title focuses purely on company accounts, rather than dealing with areas such as group accounts, sole traders and partnerships. Many accounting reference works are aimed at larger businesses and take into account the additional requirements imposed by the Financial Services Authority (for listed companies) or international financial reporting standards. It is aimed at accountants in small to medium sized companies as it will focus on the UK accounting requirements as they affect private companies, and will pay particular attention to the exemptions available to companies that qualify as "small" under the Companies Act 1985. The principal sections consider each item in the profit and loss account and balance sheet, drawing together the current requirements of company law and accounting standards in respect of that item and setting out practical guidance on issues that commonly arise out of those requirements, together with examples of suggested accounts disclosures. These detailed sections are supplemented by chapters giving an overview of more general issues such as the legal requirement to prepare accounts, basic accounting concepts and what constitutes a true and fair view. There is also a separate chapter on the content of the Directors Report. INDICE: General accounting requirements: Accounting standards, accounting principles and accounting rules.The true and fair view.Substance over form.Accounting policies.Comparative figures and prior period adjustments.Foreign currency translation.Small and medium-sized companies. Profit and Loss Account: Profit and loss account formats.Turnover.Staff costs and employee numbers.Retirement benefits.Depreciation.Other income and expenses.Taxation.Dividends and other appropriations.Directors' remuneration.Other profit and loss account disclosures. Balance Sheet: Balance sheet formats.Intangible fixed assets.Tangible fixed assets.Investments.Stocks.Long-term contracts.Debtors, prepayments and accrued income.Debenture loans