Introduction to Financial Accounting - 2024-A-D

Opinión de Sarah Engle, Instructor, Portland State University on 8/14/25

Exhaustividad clasificación: 5 ver menos

The book provides a comprehensive introduction to financial accounting, starting first with introducing students to the world of accounting and then incorporating debits and credits in the second chapter. Proprietorships and partnerships are addressed in their own separate chapter, easily allowing for this to be a supplemental topic. The table of contents is thorough but I had trouble locating the glossary in the pdf version of the textbook.

Precisión de contenido clasificación: 5

Explanations of new terminology as well as related examples are accurate, free of errors, and unbiased. Additionally, explanations and examples are presented in formats that are easy to read, using tables and flowcharts where needed.

Relevancia / Longevidad clasificación: 5

The textbook content is relevant and up-to-date, with a summary changes provided prior to the table of contents. This book is updated every 1-2 years which is common for this subject matter. The layout of the individual chapters, coupled with the use of a detailed table of contents and learning objectives, should make content updates easy to locate and implement.

Claridad clasificación: 5

The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides adequate context for any technical terminology used. Where needed, footnotes are used to provide additional context of the GAAP rules followed in Canada and/or IFRS. Adequate examples and illustrations of key concepts and terminology are used throughout the book to demonstrate the concepts.

Consistencia clasificación: 5

Each chapter in the textbook is laid out in a consistent manner, starting first with the learning objectives for the chapter, then providing students with a concept self-check from prior chapters to ensure they are ready for this new content. Then each learning objective has its own section within the chapter, followed by a summary of the chapter's learning objectives.

Modularidad clasificación: 5

The book's modularity is adaptable to classes that fit a traditional semester schedule or a shorter quarter schedule. The book is nicely organized with 13 chapters and each chapter is organized by learning objective, making it easy to assign smaller sections of the book to read on a weekly basis.

Organización / Estructura / Flujo clasificación: 5

The textbook topics are consistent with those used in other textbooks for this topic. The authors start by introducing readers to the world of accounting and the key financial statements, then using the next two chapters to present the accounting cycle. After that, the key areas of the income statement and balance sheet are further explored. Lastly, a separate chapter is dedicated to revisiting the statement of cash flows. Then chapter 12 does a nice job of pulling everything together, still at this introductory level, with a focus of key methods used for financial statement analysis.

Interfaz clasificación: 5

At the time of my review, using the pdf version of the textbook, I did not encounter any interface problems. All images and charts were displayed as intended.

Errores gramaticales clasificación: 5

No grammatical errors were noted.

Relevancia cultural clasificación: 5

The book is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It uses inclusive examples.

The coverage of present value calculations is fairly brief. Consider incorporating additional examples where the calculations are performed in Excel.

Opinión de Katheryn Zielinski, Assistant Professor, Minnesota State University Mankato on 6/14/23

Exhaustividad clasificación: 5 ver menos

The text reading follows typical financial accounting flow. Beginning with the foundational introduction to what accounting is through the full accounting cycle, while including financial statement analysis towards the end of the book. Students will find the format helpful; the voice is student-friendly. There is online homework help for students. Instructors will find the text format friendly to semester-long class as concepts broken down into 13 chapters. The chapters explain the learning outcomes, use examples to express concepts, with chapter summary at end. The topics included are consistent with intro accounting courses.

Precisión de contenido clasificación: 5

No issues noticed with accuracy. The text includes accurate financial accounting information.

Relevancia / Longevidad clasificación: 5

For an introductory accounting class with focus on US the concepts covered are typical.

Claridad clasificación: 5

The content is presented in a student friendly manner. Answers are provided. The extra information is helpful for students wanting extra practice.

Consistencia clasificación: 5

The format and layout of the book chapters are consistent. All users will quickly understand the format as it is applied the same to each chapter. This helps provide consistency for students learning introductory accounting.

Modularidad clasificación: 5

The content within the chapters can be broken-down and assigned as instructor plans for the course length. The manner is which the material is presented flows easily as reading.

Organización / Estructura / Flujo clasificación: 5

The text organization is consistent and coherent. Each chapter is presented in same manner.

Interfaz clasificación: 5

No observed tech issues. PDF downloaded and used with ease.

Errores gramaticales clasificación: 5

No grammar or language issues.

Relevancia cultural clasificación: 5

No cultural insensitive or offensive context noted.

This is a student friendly text. However, students might find a glossary helpful, as well as an index.

Opinión de Lawrence Overlan, Part-time Professor, Bunker Hill Community College on 6/4/20

Exhaustividad clasificación: 4 ver menos

I appreciate how the Statement of Cash Flows has a separate chapter towards the end of the book. Might be better to wait until that chapter instead of also discussing it in Chapter One.....lots of material for opening week....

Precisión de contenido clasificación: 5

I sampled several problems...all correct.

Relevancia / Longevidad clasificación: 5

Hard to make accounting obsolete. All the required material is present.

Claridad clasificación: 5

Problems are presented clearly and with good font size. Excellent color schemes and graphics.

Consistencia clasificación: 5

Yes....no problems detected in this area. Very straightforward.

Modularidad clasificación: 5

Chapters contain the right amount of content. Not too long with out breakup diagrams or examples etc.

Organización / Estructura / Flujo clasificación: 5

Standard flow of chapters with excellent subdivisions.

Interfaz clasificación: 5

To the contrary, the graphics and flow charts break up the material very nicely.

Errores gramaticales clasificación: 5

No issues.

Relevancia cultural clasificación: 5

No issues noticed in this area.

Nice work! I will definitely consider adopting.

Opinión de Patty Goedl, Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati Clermont College on 3/27/18

Exhaustividad clasificación: 5 ver menos

The text covers all of the topics normally found in an introductory financial accounting (principles of accounting I) text. The table of contents essentially mirrors the table of contents found in the leading texts in this field. I like that this text also covers the classified balance sheet, financial disclosures and partnerships.

Precisión de contenido clasificación: 5

Content is error-free, accurate, and unbiased.

Relevancia / Longevidad clasificación: 4

The content is up-to-date. Introductory accounting does not change often so future updates should be minimal. The authors used the year 2015 in most of the problem and examples. This might make the text "seem" out-of-date in a few years.

Claridad clasificación: 5

The book is clear and concise. The topics are clearly explained and the technical terminology is appropriate for an introductory level.

Consistencia clasificación: 5

The writing, style, and formatting are consistent throughout this text.

Modularidad clasificación: 5

The text is divided into topical chapters, which is appropriate considering that the concepts build on each other. The chapters are further subdivided into sub-topics. This makes it easy for an instructor to pick which sub-topics to cover.

Organización / Estructura / Flujo clasificación: 5

Excellent organization and flow. The concepts logically build upon each other and the material is presented in a clear fashion.

Interfaz clasificación: 5

The HTML interface is excellent. The book has good graphics, end of chapter content, and even video examples.

Errores gramaticales clasificación: 5

I did not notice grammatical errors.

Relevancia cultural clasificación: 5

The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way

Excellent book that is comparable to any of the leading financial accounting titles. The authors even provide end of chapter problems, videos, and interactive Excel problems for students. Overall, a great resource! I commend the authors for making something of this caliber freely available.

Opinión de Margarita Maria Lenk, Associate Professor, Colorado State University on 1/7/16

Exhaustividad clasificación: 5 ver menos

The content of this textbook matches the content and organization of most introductory financial accounting textbooks. It is written by Canadian authors, but is relevant to US students. The text begins by explaining the role of financial accounting in society, and then describes the underlying structure of double entry accounting systems and the process of recording economic events that impact the value of the organization through the journals and the ledger. The records of these events are then summarized into the primary financial statements. The numeric subtotals and totals on these statements are used to calculate standard financial measures and ratios used to evaluate the organization's performance. The text's organization then proceeds sequentially through the balance sheet accounts, explaining in more detail how the accounting for each category of economic value is recorded and reported. The author's decision to move the most complex content to the end of the book matches how most faculty choose to organize their coverage of these topics.

Precisión de contenido clasificación: 5

My reviewed resulted in highest marks regarding accuracy. The only possible concern I would mention here is that the authors use a commonly used technique in chapter two which sometimes leads to students misunderstanding that revenues and expenses are not part of owners' equity until the revenues and expenses are closed at year end to retained earnings. It is my preference to teach introductory students that revenues and expenses are distinct and separate from equity, and then explain that revenues and expenses ultimately get closed to equity. So, this is not an inaccuracy by the authors, just a point that some instructors may want to know before adopting the textbook.

Relevancia / Longevidad clasificación: 5

It is my opinion that the content of this textbook will be relevant and current for at least a decade. Any changes made to accounting principles, Canadian or International, will be very easy and straightforward to update.

Claridad clasificación: 5

It is my opinion that the clarity of this text is very high. The authors are succinct and use visuals often to highlight the theoretical structures.

Consistencia clasificación: 5

This test is very consistent with the framework that is set up by the authors in the beginning of the text.

Modularidad clasificación: 5

The textbook is very clearly divided into separable modules, making it easy for both students to read and for instructors to choose which modules to include in their course.

Organización / Estructura / Flujo clasificación: 5

The content of this textbook matches the content and organization of most introductory financial accounting textbooks. It begins by explaining the role of financial accounting in society, and then describes the underlying structure of double entry accounting systems and the process of recording economic events that impact the value of the organization through the journals and the ledger. The records of these events are then summarized into the primary financial statements. The numeric subtotals and totals on these statements are used to calculate standard financial measures and ratios used to evaluate the organization's performance. The text's organization then proceeds sequentially through the balance sheet accounts, explaining in more detail how the accounting for each category of economic value is recorded and reported. The author's decision to move the most complex content to the end of the book matches how most faculty choose to organize their coverage of these topics.

Interfaz clasificación: 5

The online text worked perfectly in my Chrome browser. The end of chapter exercises and problems are perfectly formatted on the screen. All assessment materials (quizzes, exams, etc.) are located on a different site that requires registration to have access.

Errores gramaticales clasificación: 5

I found the grammar to be very clear, concise and very effective. Because the book is written by Canadians, expenses are sometimes referred to as revenue expenditures, which does not match how US textbooks refer to expenses, but is perhaps a better learning tool, as the expenses are always recorded in the period in which they match the revenue generation, so I support the authors' choices regarding how they refer to the difference between assets (capital expenditures) and expenses (revenue expenditures).

Relevancia cultural clasificación: 5

The textbook adequately refers to the international accounting standards. That is the only cultural relevance which is relevant to introductory financial accounting.

I found this textbook and its exercises to be a useful teaching and learning tool. Instructors and students have access to pre-made PowerPoint slides, exercises and problems, and there is the option to enrol in an online service for online assessments, which seem to have student feedback capabilities in addition to assessment gathering capabilities.