This edition provides guidance on the preparation of company annual reports. It aims to set a standard by which all accounts can be prepared. It explains the complex system of rules, regulations, standards, conventions and law and in so doing provides details on the theory and practice of financial reporting in the UK. Among the features of the text are a commentary and interpretation of all current statements of standard accounting practice, a detailed analysis of related requirements of the Companies Acts and the Stock Exchange, and a comparison with International Accounting Standards (IAS) and US equivalents. There is also a comparative analysis of the reporting practices adopted by leading UK companies. The text has been updated to include the 1989 Companies Act and 1990 major company reports.