Accounting and Finance for Beginners: Know your Darn Numbers: Real Business Lessons from a Recovering CFO - Hardcover

by Jackie Cahan (Author)

Know Your Darn Numbers is not your typical accounting text-and that's precisely why it belongs in your hands. Originally written over two decades ago to train employees in large publicly traded companies, this manual has become a go-to reference for financial educators, turnaround specialists, and fraud examiners navigating the real-world consequences of not understanding the numbers. Drawing from firsthand experience across startups, distressed businesses, and middle-market operations, author Jackie Cahan uses true case studies to illustrate how financial missteps-big and small-compound when internal controls, clarity, and accountability are absent. From the bankruptcy of exotic car dealers to the $10 million collapse of a third-generation armored transport company, every chapter underscores a single truth: most financial disasters were preventable. This book is a teaching tool, a cautionary tale, and a reality check-bridging the gap between theory and practice. Educators will find digestible lessons on financial literacy, cash flow visibility, and organizational risk, while fraud enthusiasts will appreciate the anatomy of breakdowns that left companies exposed. Whether you're teaching accounting, analyzing forensic failures, or building training modules for future leaders, Know Your Darn Numbers equips readers to recognize red flags, ask sharper questions, and embed financial discipline at every level. Because numbers don't lie-but people often do.