Abstract

Accounting history continues in Volume II with six chapters, four supplements, plus conclusions. Chapters 1 to 3 of the second volume cover specialty topics, specifically auditing, taxes, and government accounting. Chapters 4 to 6 march along from the New Deal to beyond the mortgage meltdown and Great Recession. Supplements include audit opinions (the audit reports written for the annual financial audits), the scandals and corruption associated with accounting fraud, the formal standard setting process creating generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and finally computer technology, a key component of the accounting profession.

The concept of accounting as a profession developed by the 19th century, as accounting-related services (bankruptcy, taxes, and auditing) became important enough to hire experts and separate businesses to support these functions. Soon, licensing was required, creating organizations often acting something like Medieval guilds. Auditing and tax proved to be major money-makers for accountants. Accounting firms became mammoth and global (especially the Big 4) providing audit, tax, and consulting services to giant multinational corporations as well as smaller business, governments, nonprofits organizations, and individuals.

Keywords

accounting, auditing, capitalism, civilization, cost accounting, doubleentry book keeping, financial accounting, industrial revolution, information technology, public policy, taxes