Creative accounting
How to read better financial reporting

Creative accounting consists in modifying the presentation of financial statements, while respecting the law, in order to give a more flattering image of the company, or at least one that is more in line with the wishes of management. The existence of practices aimed at improving the accounts is not new. From time immemorial, companies have sought to "optimize" their results, upwards or downwards, for tax or economic reasons, and it may even be argued that the development of more repressive regulations has undoubtedly reduced...