If you wish to understand more about finance and the world of business, perhaps for a qualification or to manage your own enterprise, or just general interest, this introduction is for you. Step by step, you will learn the skill of bookkeeping (the language of accounting) and then go on to acquire insights into corporate finance and the blending of maths, economics and business which lie at the heart of those critical decision-making processes affecting all our lives. Do we start a venture, is a plant going to close or is this company really making that astronomical return on its assets? These are just some of the issues that impinge on all our families and their futures, either directly or indirectly.Yet, business finance could not be simpler to understand. Money comes in and money goes out. If more comes in than goes out, then (yippee!) happy faces all round, we are making a profit. If more money goes out, than comes in, then (glum faces all round), we could be on our way to bankruptcy. Hold on, how can more money go out than comes in: you cannot take more fuel out of the tank than you put in.........can you. You will learn to understand the reality behind the magic and mystery that is the smoke and mirrors of corporate accounting. The tuition assumes no prior knowledge, OTHER THAN A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF MATHS, and is intended for those who aspire to a greater commercial insight, beyond the headline news reports, into some of the fundamental principles of business activity. Over a series of easy-to-follow learning stages, you will build up your perception and penetrate the simple mystery of accounting.With one hundred self-test exercises, complete with suggested answers, you can assess how well your journey of discovery has progressed and ensure your skills are based on a sound footing, to tackle whatever business challenges you encounter in the future. ABOUT THE AUTHORJohn Wyllie graduated from Leeds University in 1973 with a degree in history and philosophy. This proved to be the ideal preparation for life as an accountant! His career started in a small accountant`s office in the 1970s and spans a period which has seen a revolution in technology and the global economy, with the demise of so much manufacturing activity and the rise of knowledge-based service industries. A former chartered management accountant, with over 35 years experience in finance, he has worked in private practice and in industry, with blue-chip companies in both the fast-moving consumer and high-end capital markets. During the last decade, John has spent a number of years acting as an accountancy consultant to several UK government departments and, more recently, a tutor teaching a range of accountancy subjects.