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Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in Financial Reports, Third Edition [Hardcover]

Howard Schilit , Jeremy Perler
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 14, 2010

From the “ Sherlock Holmes of Accounting,” the tools you need to stay a step ahead of the crooks

“Howard Schilit is the authority on forensic accounting. Financial Shenanigans is invaluable reading for market participants seeking to identify deceptive behavior in company financial statements.” Julian Robertson, legendary investor and founder, Tiger Management

“A must-read! The authors teach forensic financial statement analysis in an easy-to-digest format with lots of war stories. Guaranteed to help investors in their quest to avoid ticking time bombs in their portfolios.”
Marc A. Siegel, board member, Financial Accounting Standards Board

“This is a timeless guide to better understand how financial malfeasance can be spotted early. Financial Shenanigans teaches all of us fraud-detection-made-easy.”
Jules Kroll, pioneering private investigator and founder of Kroll Associates and K2 Global

“Required reading for every investor who desires to avoid financial losses. This new edition is a classic and better than ever.”
Thornton L. O’glove, author, Quality of Earnings

“If the original Financial Shenanigans was the Bible of detecting accounting frauds, then this latest version is the Talmud of cooked books. Regulators, audit committee members, and business journalists should be required to read this work if they are involved in public companies.”
Boris Feldman, partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Palo Alto

“An incisive and entertaining review of the recipes used by corporations and executives to ‘cook the books.’ It’s a must-read for investors, lawyers, corporate directors, and anyone else interested in the integrity of the accounting and governance process.”
Joseph A. Grundfest, professor of law and business and codirector, Rock Center on Corporate Governance, Stanford Law School

About the Book:

With major financial scandals popping up in greater numbers—and with more inevitably on the way—it has never been more important for you to understand what dishonest companies do to trick investors. Since the early 1990s, Financial Shenanigans has been helping investors unearth deceptive financial reporting at the most critical time— before they suffer major losses.

Now, the third edition broadens its focus to include the newest, most sophisticated techniques companies use to mislead investors.

Referred to as the “Sherlock Holmes of Accounting” by BusinessWeek, Howard Schilit and renowned forensic accounting expert Jeremy Perler take you deeper into the corporate bag of tricks, exposing new levels of accounting gimmickry and arming you with the investigative tools you need to detect:

  • Earnings Manipulation Shenanigans: Learn the latest tricks companies use to exaggerate revenue and earnings.
  • Cash Flow Shenanigans: Discover new techniques devised by management that allow it to manipulate cash flow as easily as earnings.
  • Key Metrics Shenanigans: See how companies use misleading “key”metrics to fool investors about their financial performance.

Financial Shenanigans brings you completely up to date on accounting chicanery in the global markets, shining a light on the most shocking frauds and financial reporting miscreants. This insightful, detailed guide written by recognized experts on the subject provides the knowledge and tools you need to spot even the most subtle signs of financial shenanigans.


Best Value

Buy Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in Financial Reports, Third Edition and get The Secret Language of Financial Reports: The Back Stories That Can Enhance Your Investment Decisions at an additional 5% off Amazon.com's everyday low price.

Financial Shenanigans:  How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in Financial Reports, Third Edition + The Secret Language of Financial Reports: The Back Stories That Can Enhance Your Investment Decisions
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Howard Schilit, Ph.D., CPA, is the founder and chief executive officer of the Financial Shenanigans Detection (FSD) Group, LLC, which alerts its clients to accounting chicanery. Previously he founded the Center for Financial Research and Analysis (CFRA). Smart Money magazine twice selected him as one of the “Power 30” of investing.
Jeremy Perler, CFA, CPA, is codirector of research of RiskMetrics Group’s forensic accounting research boutique (formerly CFRA). RiskMetrics is a global leader in risk management, corporate governance, and financial research services. Mr. Perler is frequently featured at industry conferences and training seminars, as well as in media outlets such as Barron’s, BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC.


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 3 edition (April 14, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0071703071
  • ISBN-13: 978-0071703079
  • Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.1 x 9.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I should begin by saying that I completely agree with the previous five star reviews. This is a magnificent book, and the second edition had a great influence on my investing. All serious investors should read this.
I would like to draw attention though, to the changes made since the second edition. The second edition described seven basic shenanigans which, for the most part, manipulated earnings and revenue, as these are the headline numbers that the bulk of investors look at. The third edition covers the same shenanigans, though the sections have been re-written, and the examples have been changed and updated. The third edition adds sections on shenanigans to manipulate cash flow numbers (yes, this can be done) and metrics that investors use frequently. The new sections are worth the upgrade to me, though if you read widely in the area, you won't find much new. Mulford and Comiskey's Creative Cash Flow Reporting, for example, covers the same material as the section on cash flow.
Those who haven't read the second edition should be aware that portions of the second edition have been eliminated. The sections on "Problem Areas" and "Looking Back . . . Looking Forward" are gone, but the topics they deal with have either been absorbed into the rest of the text or can be dropped without great consequence. The section on "Techniques for Detecting Shenanigans" has also been dropped, and I believe that this is unfortunate. While some readers may already be familiar with common-size analysis, for example, many investors don't have formal education in accounting and could use the explanation and examples. It was this chapter of the second edition that promped me to create common-size balance sheets and income statements for all potential investments, and I've found the exercise invaluable, both for detection of possible shenanigans and for general understanding the companies I'm researching.
If you are new to this area of stock analysis, or new to accounting, I would recommend buying both the second and third editions. The second edition should be cheap, as used copies of older editions are not usually in high demand. The third edition gives investors more to look out for, but without a systematic way to apply the techniques, I doubt many will put their new found knowledge to good use.
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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Tool for any Finance/Accounting Professional October 4, 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a financial accountant, I have special appreciation for "Financial Shenanigans" by Schilit and Perler. Like the preface mentions, this book truly provides the "post-mortem analysis" it promises. It clearly narrates the most infamous financial reporting failures in history (US, Europe, & Asia), and the lessons such fraudulent mistakes offer those who wish to learn. Not only does it serve as a quick reference for all possible fraudulent methods to date, but also as a review of core financial accounting principles (US GAAP) and basic performance ratio calculations.

In addition, it is intelligently written, and easy to follow and comprehend. More specifically, it also employs humor in a smart, witty manner. It does a great job of drawing in readers who appreciate reading up-to-date, practical accounting/finance material they can apply to their professions (outside of academia). Best of all, it isn't dry, but engaging!

I expect my copy will become worn and dog-eared within a short period of time, as this book has become my most trusted coworker and best companion at the office. I am looking forward to following these two authors and reading more of their upcoming work.

My personal opinion, of course, but perhaps more MBA's and senior executives ought to read this book and educate themselves! We're on to you, C-suite!

Brilliant, useful, and insightful! Well done! 10 out of five stars!
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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By nyg91
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of the best books I have ever read. This book provides you with all the defenses to protect against agressive and fraudulent accounting. Most interesting part was to learn how easily management can manipulate CFFO. It has been traditionally believed that this number is reliable because it is harder to manipulate, in fact analysts don't even check its quality like they do for earnings. Skepticism is a powerful tool.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars very useful material presented brilliantly
I gave this book 5 stars because it is very informative. The information and approach with the various anecdotes is translatable as is the behavior, amongst other tendencies. Read more
Published 1 month ago by matthew
5.0 out of 5 stars An important and worthwhile read!
This was a great book. No investor should invest without the knowledge and expertise provided in this book. This book will save you money.
Published 1 month ago by BONG
2.0 out of 5 stars Forget this edition--the gold is in the second edition of this book
This edition of Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks and Fraud in Financial Reports is not a tenth as good as the second edition. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bookkeeper
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ FOR INVESTORS!
This is, hands down, the best book I've read on corporate finance shenanigans. I highly recommend all serious investors read this book before looking to invest for themselves.
Published 3 months ago by Christian Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written review of various kinds of financial statement fraud
I bought the book to learn more about statement of cash flows manipulation. The book covers much more than that and does so in an entertaining manner. Read more
Published 4 months ago by E. Guttman
5.0 out of 5 stars Hidden gem for all equity investors
Perhaps like many great investments this unassuming book flies under the radar. This is an invaluable addition to all equity investors no matter your skill or the size of your... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Houman Tamaddon
5.0 out of 5 stars Good to know so much about financial features of investment
Excellent and well-organized books I ever read about and finished without hesitation. So great journey to explore financial world of investment and mental spirit of the management. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Pen Name
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Read
The information is old but (I think) it is still relevant. Of course financial managers have become more smart these days but the information in this book still serves as a good... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Sal
2.0 out of 5 stars Financial Shenanigans
Mr. Schilit does make valid points about companies that have clearly colored outside the lines in reporting their financials. However, I feel Mr. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mstr_Acct_03
4.0 out of 5 stars must read!!
A fantastic book about how the accountants or the intent to tweak and alter the books, and their ways of making the books look elegant enough. Details on how to spot these tricks. Read more
Published 10 months ago by David Ip
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