Bøker av Steven M. Bragg

A business may need a well-defined budgeting process in order to estimate its future financial situation and arrange for appropriate amounts of financing and personnel. Budgeting: A Comprehensive Guide provides clarity to the process by showing how to assemble a complete set of budgets, as well as supporting procedures, controls, and reports. It also addresses several variations on the basic budgeting concept - the flexible budget and the zero-base budget. And for those organizations that prefer to operate without the rigidity of a formal budget, the book discusses how to do so. In short, Budgeting provides the complete toolkit of solutions for building a tailor-made budgeting system.

The proper management of cash is an essential part of business operations. Corporate Cash Management provides an essential framework for the development and operation of a cash management system. It does so by showing how to forecast cash flows, which can then be used as the basis for a campaign to enhance the inflow of cash to the organization. The book also notes the systems used to collect, concentrate, invest, and disburse cash, as well as the supporting controls and measurements needed to monitor these systems. It also covers the related topics of fundraising and risk management. In short, Corporate Cash Management is a useful tool for developing a comprehensive system of cash management

A thorough knowledge of finance is needed in order to successfully operate a business of any size. Corporate Finance concentrates on the finance essentials needed to run a business, including fund raising, internal cash management, and the deployment of funds to dividends, capital expenditures, investments, and acquisitions. It addresses such core issues as how to develop an appropriate capital structure and determine the best types of available funding. The book also covers risk management for foreign exchange and interest rates. In short, Corporate Finance provides the finance professional with a complete toolkit of solutions.

The accountant is responsible for many activities, which may require years of training and experience to fully comprehend. The breadth of knowledge required can seem overwhelming. The Accountants' Guidebook is designed to simplify matters by providing the accountant with a practical knowledge of how to complete many accounting tasks, while also imparting an understanding of the more critical accounting standards. Topics covered include accounting procedures, GAAP for common transactions, closing the books, producing financial statements and other reports, collection tactics, payroll management, budgeting, and much more. In short, this is the essential desk reference for the accountant.

Fraud Examination is a practical reference for how to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud within a business. It can be used to identify the different types of fraud, as well as to construct an environment in which fraud is minimized. In addition, it describes the many indicators of fraud, so that it can be detected early. The book also describes the process for investigating fraud, including interviewing techniques, document examination, and how to write a fraud report. In short, Fraud Examination is an essential tool for anyone interested in how fraud is perpetrated and how to conduct an investigation when fraud is suspected.

A new manager can be overwhelmed with the responsibilities of the job, and cannot afford to learn through trial and error. The New Manager Guidebook provides the essential knowledge needed to excel as a manager. It is packed with detailed guidance about how to recruit, coach, and train employees, as well as how to develop plans, organize work, and motivate staff. The Guidebook thoroughly addresses the management of teams, special projects, and start-up businesses, always with a focus on avoiding errors and delivering within expectations.

The typical business needs a system of policies and procedures in order to reduce errors, minimize fraud, and maintain tight control over its operations. The Accounting Procedures Guidebook contains the detailed procedures and forms needed for every accounting system, from accounts payable to treasury, as well as for such operational areas as order entry, shipping, purchasing, and receiving. Procedures are separately stated for manual and computerized accounting systems. The book also addresses how to create and enforce procedures, as well as when to update them. In short, this book provides the baseline policy and procedure information needed to enhance the operations of any business.

Inventory is expensive and difficult to manage, and yet is an essential requirement for providing great service to customers. Inventory Management provides the tools to retain enough inventory to assure high levels of customer service, while avoiding excessive inventory levels that can absorb cash and generate losses. Topics covered include inventory policies, materials planning, purchasing and the supply chain, receiving, storage, shipping, production activities, record accuracy, warehousing efficiencies, measurements, and much more. This book covers a mix of classic and advanced management techniques to help the user maintain firm control over the mix and amount of inventory kept on hand.

This practical guide shows how to create and operate a nonprofit accounting system and produce financial statements, all while operating in accordance with nonprofit accounting standards. The book walks the accountant through basic nonprofit accounting concepts and then discusses more advanced topics, including budgeting, controls, revenue recognition, joint costs, split-interest agreements, tax reporting, and mergers and acquisitions. In short, the book offers a wealth of information for understanding nonprofit transactions and financial statements.

Inventory is expensive and difficult to manage, and yet is an essential requirement for providing great service to customers. Inventory Management provides the tools to retain enough inventory to assure high levels of customer service, while avoiding excessive inventory levels that can absorb cash and generate losses. Topics covered include inventory policies, materials planning, purchasing and the supply chain, receiving, storage, shipping, production activities, record accuracy, warehousing efficiencies, measurements, and much more. This book covers a mix of classic and advanced management techniques to help the user maintain firm control over the mix and amount of inventory kept on hand.

Financial statements are designed to show the performance, financial condition, and cash flows of a business. The Interpretation of Financial Statements reveals how to convert these statements into an open book that can be explored in depth, giving crucial insights to investors, lenders, and creditors. It does so by describing the structure of the financial statements, noting a number of tools for extracting information from the statements, and providing a wealth of additional insights into the reasons for the presence of or changes in certain numbers within the statements. In short, this book contains the complete set of tools for breaking down and examining a set of financial statements.

Nearly every business decision calls for a clear understanding of the underlying numbers. A manager needs this information to understand how well a business unit is performing, whether a new venture can achieve a reasonable profit, how much debt to take on, and so forth. Financial Analysis can assist with these decisions by focusing on the key indicators in a business that will drive its future performance. It does so by describing how to extract meaningful information from financial statements. It also delves into a number of analyses that are linked to specific business decisions, such as price optimization, constraint management, and credit granting. Another area addressed is financing, where the book covers financial leverage, capital structure, and foreign exchange risk. Other topics include financial forecasting, discounted cash flow analysis, and the valuation of acquisitions. In short, Financial Analysis is the essential desk reference for anyone who wants to make better-informed decisions.

Delayed payments by customers can seriously impact the finances of a business, but it is usually necessary to offer some level of credit to them. The Credit & Collection Guidebook shows how to strike a balance between more sales and a reasonable amount of bad debt. It does so by focusing on when to extend credit to questionable customers and how to select the best approach to collecting from late-paying customers. The discussion includes credit policies, credit monitoring, collection techniques, and the necessary controls, procedures, and reports to manage the process. The book also addresses more advanced concepts, such as credit and collection technology, the role of product and service improvements, and litigation tactics.

The Cost Management Guidebook shows how to stay competitive by paring away nonessential costs. It discusses how to examine the cost structure of a business in order to better understand which costs must be incurred and which can be reduced. Hundreds of specific cost reduction tips are covered in all areas of a business, including compensation, sales, production, procurement, and administration. There are extensive discussions of asset reduction techniques, as well as cost management reports and measurements. This book is the essential toolkit for anyone who is serious about managing costs.

A startup business or small company may have no formal accounting system in place, which leads to endless difficulties with record keeping and producing reliable financial statements. The Bookkeeping Guidebook eliminates these problems by showing how to set up and operate a double entry accounting system, create journal entries, and record information in a general ledger. With this framework in place, the book also discusses how to issue billings, process cash receipts, calculate depreciation, value inventory, pay employees and suppliers, file tax returns, and produce financial statements. In short, this is the desk reference needed by anyone who wants to create or operate an accounting system.

The CFO manages the financial structure and oversees the financial performance of an organization, so this is a critical and demanding management position. The CFO Guidebook provides the CFO with detailed advice regarding how to be most effective in every aspect of the job. The book covers all parts of the CFO's traditional finance role, including budgeting, fundraising, investments, going public, investor relations, and share management. It goes on to address more recent additions to the job, such as strategic planning, risk management, the control environment, and information technology. Given its comprehensive coverage of the CFO position, The CFO Guidebook can serve as a reference manual for anyone wanting to become more effective in the position.

This book shows the accountant how to deal with the unique aspects of accounting and finance in a publicly-held business. These issues are significantly different from those encountered in a private company, so this book can be crucial for the accountant who is making the transition from private to public companies. Topics covered include earnings per share, segment reporting, and Staff Accounting Bulletins, as well as quarterly and annual reporting to the SEC. In addition, the book addresses initial public offerings, registration statements, and selling shares under various SEC exemptions.

The accountant needs to be competent in many areas in order to be an effective controller - the person responsible for all accounting operations. The New Controller Guidebook covers every aspect of being a controller, including the management of accounts payable, cash, credit, collections, inventory, payroll, and more. The book also shows you how to close the books, which reports to issue to the management team, how to create a budget, and how to select and install an accounting computer system. In short, this book provides the accountant with the most essential information needed to be a successful controller.

A public company should communicate with the investment community, to clarify how it creates value and to set expectations for its performance. The Investor Relations Guidebook is a valuable resource for dealing with investors. It delves into the construction of a value proposition for a business and how to communicate it to investors, as well as how to conduct an earnings call and provide guidance. The book also describes the various types of SEC filings, how to organize an annual shareholder meeting, the mechanics of road shows, and the steps involved in an initial public offering. In short, the Investor Relations Guidebook is the go-to resource for anyone wanting to engage in investor relations.