Unit 20: Vocabulary

In a legal and proper manner.

We are not worried about the audit as everything was prepared above board.

Dishonest, unethical or illegal.

The company was fined when the tax authority realized that their return had been prepared in a backdoor way.

To estimate with reasonable accuracy.

They didn't know the exact figure and guessed at 500,000 which turned out to be in the ballpark.

A person who is very concerned with small details.

Even as a young boy Peter was a bean counter, so it made perfect sense when he said he wanted to be a financial controller.

To spend a large amount of money (in a wasteful way).

The new manager didn't know what he was doing and blew the yearly overtime budget in 2 months.

A time when the prices of most shares are rising.

By studying the stock market over a period of time, you can see if we are in a bull market or not.

The end of the working day.

I may be late home tonight as I have to finish this report by the close of play.

Changed numbers dishonestly in the accounts of a company.

The financial controller was fired after he was caught cooking the books.

To make smaller by reducing the number of people working in a place.

A lot of companies have had to downsize as a result of the financial crisis.

To study something in great detail.

We really need to drill down on the budget and find out where we went wrong.

To delay, or wait for something before continuing.

They had to hold fire on the accounts preparation, as they were waiting for the client to supply some missing documents.

To be difficult and time consuming.

Dealing with the IRS can be like herding cats as there are so many forms which need to be completed.

A small mistake in an agreement or law which can be abused for benefit.

The contract was carefully written so that there were no loopholes.

Have just enough money to pay for things you need.

Most people want more than to make ends meet.

More basic or important than other things.

The company produces many items, but the meat-and-potatoes products are plant pots.

Temporarily broken or out-of-order.

I always have a coffee before I go to work as the office coffee machine is usually on the fritz.

Used to show that documents were not prepared by professionals.

The job involves checking PBC documents to make sure they contain no errors.

Something which is not worth what you have paid for it.

That new computer was a real rip-off, he could have bought one much cheaper.

Wealthy, or having money.

John had always been well-off, but after his investments paid off he became a multi-millionaire.

Forced to close because of being financially unsuccessful, to go bankrupt.

When the company went bust over 500 people lost their jobs.