Overview

Finance doesn't have to be complex to be clear. It can be seriously fun. Once Upon a Balance Sheet isn't your typical finance book. It's a story-driven experience designed for leaders, professionals, and teams who have always felt a little unsure around numbers and are finally ready to understand financials with clarity and confidence. Beyond formulas and ratios, you'll meet a cast of memorable characters such as Count Jargon, Miss Numbers and Master C FOO, inside the Financial Storyverse. Each one helps you make sense of concepts that once felt overwhelming. This is Financial Storytelling in action: visual, engaging, and surprisingly enjoyable. It's about making finance seriously fun while giving you the confidence to use numbers with purpose and clarity in real-world situations. Whether you're sharpening existing skills or starting from scratch, this book will help you read financial statements with new eyes, make smarter decisions, and build financially impactful teams, conversations, and culture. It equips you not just to understand numbers, but to interpret them, communicate them, and act on them with confidence. Inside, you'll discover how to: Understand the Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, and Cash Flow without jargon Spot red flags early and avoid costly mistakes Connect numbers to real-world business decisions that drive growth Engage in confident conversations about financials, even without a finance background Turn numbers into a strategic advantage for your organization In today's fast-changing world shaped by AI and accelerating change, finance must become more than just a language of business. It needs to become the language of leadership that blends clarity, empathy, and impact - where numbers are not just reported, but understood, communicated, and acted upon. That philosophy is what James C Foo Leong calls finance with heart and a smile. It is the foundation behind his Financial Storytelling way, an approach that not only makes finance simpler but also deeper, actionable, and unforgettable. Developed through years of teaching, leadership, and real-world application, it reflects a belief that financial clarity should be accessible to everyone, not just finance professionals. This approach has been applied in classrooms, boardrooms, and leadership settings, helping individuals and teams move from confusion to clarity, and from hesitation to confident decision-making. Endorsed by board chairs, independent directors of listed companies, CEOs, professors, entrepreneurs, and global business leaders, including leaders in finance, law, education, and the public sector. The mission of the book is to help organizations unlock one of the most overlooked levers of sustainable growth: financial learning, understanding, and capability - turning clarity into better decisions, stronger teams, and long-term impact. Once Upon a Balance Sheet is your gateway to the Financial Storyverse. Probably the happiest place to learn finance. An Amazon Bestseller in Management Accounting, it speaks directly to those who have long felt that finance was difficult, distant, or overly technical, and offers a refreshing alternative grounded in clarity and relevance. This makes the book especially valuable for non-finance leaders who need to engage with financials regularly, make informed decisions, and communicate with confidence. It bridges the gap between technical knowledge and practical application, helping readers move from passive understanding to active leadership.

Full Product Details

9789819427161

Table of Contents

Reviews

""I would strongly encourage you and your team to make full use of this invaluable resource to grow a successful business."" - Lim Ming Yan, Chairman, Changi Airport Group; Lead Independent Director, Sembcorp Industries; Former President & Group CEO, CapitaLand ""Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a student, or someone eager to enhance your financial literacy, this indispensable guide is a must-read."" - Fann Kor, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants ""Once Upon a Balance Sheet is a revelation in the world of financial literature. It simplifies complex concepts while empowering readers to become fluent in the language of numbers."" - Alfred Chia, CEO, SingCapital; Former President, Financial Planning Association of Singapore ""This is an indispensable guide that belongs on the shelf of any HR practitioner serious about driving business success from the inside out."" - Dr Fermin Diez, Adjunct Professor, NUS & SMU; Governing Council Member, Singapore Institute of Directors ""Lawyers like me who appreciate the need to have a working knowledge of accounting principles will find this an excellent companion."" - Associate Professor Stephen Phua, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore ""I highly recommend this book to fellow business owners, regardless of your financial background."" - Dr Jerome Joseph, CEO, The Global Brand Academy; Speaker Hall of Fame ""Once Upon a Balance Sheet uniquely demystifies finance, translating complex concepts into plain language and empowering readers with strategic financial insights."" - Daniel Jackman, Board Chair; Former CFO ""James lives making financial literature easy to understand, and Once Upon a Balance Sheet is an enjoyable and effective way to grasp financial concepts and jargon."" - Robin Speculand, Author, World's Best Bank ""James has certainly made finance seriously fun, proving that learning typically dry financial statements can be both enlightening and engaging."" - Leong Yoke Leng, Lee Kuan Yew Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School

Author Information

James C Foo Leong is an Adjunct Associate Professor, keynote speaker, and the author of the Amazon bestselling book Once Upon a Balance Sheet. He is the creator of Financial Storyverse(R), a framework that helps leaders understand financial statements with clarity and confidence. With over three decades of experience in finance and training, he works with organisations to turn financial clarity into a leadership advantage.

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