Robert Leach was the first Artistic Director of the Lichfield Mysteries, and he selected and edited the plays in the cycle.
He is a prize-winning poet, theatre director and academic. He has been Reader in Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham, and Senior Lecturer in English Literature at Edinburgh University.
He has acted professionally in Britain and U.S.A., and directed plays in Russia as well as Britain. His production of I Want a Baby by Sergei Tretyakov at the Teatr u Nikitskikh Vorot in Moscow in 1990 was the Russian premiere of this 1920s play which was banned in the Communist Soviet Union for decades.

I. WHY YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO IGNORE COMPANY ACCOUNTS
Introduction
Aim of this book
II. THE 10 TESTS THAT A SET OF ACCOUNTS MUST PASS
1. Is the company growing?
- Sources of sales
- Business focus
- The future sales outlook
2. Are costs under control?
- Comparison to sales
- Extraordinary and exceptional items
- Depreciation
- Working capital
- Tax
- Research & development
3. Does it make a profit?
- Profit margins
- Gross profit
- What is the return on capital employed?
- What is EBITDA?
4. How much cash does it have?
- Cash generation and consumption
- Paying suppliers
- Getting paid by customers
5. Is its market value supported by assets?
- Market value
- Enterprise value
- Fixed assets
- Current assets
6. Is it using debt wisely?
- The level and type of debt
- Paying off debt
7. Are there any hidden nasties?
- The level of liabilities
- Contingent liabilities
- Tax
- Pension liabilities
8. Is management good enough?
- The Combined Code
- Incumbents
- Strategy
- Directors' salaries
- Shareholdings
- Employment contracts
9. Can I expect a reliable income?
- Dividend policy
- The 'price' of dividend income
10. Are there any threats to my interests?
- Who owns the company?
- Other issues
- External threats to shareholders
- The ultimate threat
III. APPLYING THE 10 TESTS TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESS
Aerospace, AIM companies, Airlines, Alcohol and breweries, Automobiles, Banks, Business Services, Chemicals, Construction, Construction materials, Engineering, Food manufacturing, Food retailing, Football clubs, Household goods, Insurance, Internet companies, Investment trusts, Leisure industry, Media, Mines, Oil industry, Pharmaceuticals, Property, Retailers, Shell companies, Technology companies, Telephone companies, Television companies, Tobacco companies, Utilities, Wholesalers & distributors
IV. THE RELIABILITY OF REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS
- The main financial statements
- Are accounts reliable?
- The Auditor's report
- Legitimate ways for companies to 'improve' their results
- Fraud
V. SUPPORTING INFORMATION FROM OUTSIDE THE ACCOUNTS
- Updating the information in accounts
- Independent research
- Directors' dealings
VI. SUMMARY
- 10 signs of a company in good health
- 10 signs of a company in trouble
- Key accounting ratios and measures
APPENDICES
1. Sources of company accounts
2. Software for investors
3. Glossary of accounting terms
4. Common abbreviations in accounts and investment
5. Companies mentioned in this book
6. Further reading on company accounts
INDEX