Bulletin HASKINS & SELLS 43
Lighting Up the Truth
THE practice of accountancy is so complex
that one may easily get the impression
of contradiction in various precepts
of procedure which are laid down for
guidance.
Starting from the premise that a dull,
dead report is an abomination unto a client
the natural course is to argue for reports
which are live and interesting.
We are told that statistics improve a report.
There is at present a distinct tendency
to make increasing use of ratios.
There is a marked urge to present data
which is illuminating. Almost in the same
breath there is the counsel of caution in the
use of these methods.
Statistics reduce large numbers to proportions
which the mind grasps with more
ease. Ratios make clear relationships which
otherwise would be abstruse. Carefully
selected and presented data gain and sustain
the attention and tend to convey a
situation with precision.
However, the statistics must represent
