This book, first published in 1984, is concerned mainly with papers published in various Transactions of the Chartered Accountants Students’ Societies of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Many of these lectures were given by eminent accountants from throughout the UK, and soon the activities of the Societies extended beyond lectures. The financial reporting and auditing topics are the major concern of this text – they represent the one category of lectures which have a continuing and international relevance and interest.

This book, first published in 1988, provides an analysis of recruitment to the new profession of nineteenth-century accountancy, and in doing so, gives an insight into the complex origins and behaviour of the emergent professional classes. Unlike most studies, this is a study of all recruits, not only of those who succeeded in becoming qualified. This permits an analysis of the whole process of recruitment, including the choice of accountancy as a career option and as a vehicle of social mobility.

This text provides an in-depth review of recent historical research on the emergence and maturation of institutionalized public accountancy in Scotland. This research is important for understanding the profession, and also provides a template for further studies of public accountancy's origins in other countries.

The first Scottish book on accounting was published in 1683. That book heralded a century during which Scotland established its reputation as a land of accountants: a steady stream of books subsequently appeared from Scottish presses. This bibliography contains over 330 location entries, including 32 non-UK libraries. Periodical articles as well books are included.