Right on! Yes, I agree fully with Jason. I have an accounting background and it has definitely been a huge resource of knowledge in my career as an analyst.

My input for the cure for #2: Get an accountant to give you two successive trial balances. Don't leave your desk until you can create a set of financials where the cash on your balance sheet foots to the second period's ending cash balance. If you can do that, you've got about 90% of GAAP.