FT Guide to Using and Interpreting Company Accounts, 4th Edition

1

Introduction to the accounts

Introduction

The amount of information that you’ll find in the accounts and that is publicly available depends on the type of company and its size. All companies registered in the UK have to file their annual accounts at Companies House and, with the exception of small private companies, must have their accounts audited by an independent accountant. This means that, in the UK, company accounts are in the public arena. However, small private companies prepare their accounts using a simpler set of rules and file modified accounts. Medium-sized private companies prepare the full financial statements but can file a simpler set at Companies House. Public companies and large private companies have to file their ...