Book Description

The perfect speedy reference for today's overburdened financial managers

The Vest Pocket CFO, Second Edition offers vital support for CFOs and financial executives who need to simplify their day-to-day workloads. Written in any easy Q & A format and packed with checklists, samples, and worked-out solutions to a wide variety of finance and accounting problems, it speeds readers through such complex tasks as Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, internal control and financial reporting, financial statement analysis, and much more. This small but powerful resource helps busy financial managers:
* Solve business problems with instant access to key techniques, tips, and strategies
* Analyze, evaluate, and solve financial issues in a hurry with handy ratios, procedures, and rules of thumb
* Use sample reports and guidelines to help complete complex tasks in a jiffy ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great quick-reference guide for all business people
I found this guide to be a great resource for a variety of business needs.The cover of the book refers to it as a great reference for the CFO and the like.I want to expand that to say it is a great quick-reference bookfor all business people.Whether you're in entry-level sales, middlemanagement, or executive level, you need to understand the financial basisfor each decision.This book allows even a financial novice to quickly getenough information to intelligently approach financial issues. ... Read more

Book Description

By focusing on three elemental themes--economic factors, measurement issues, and decision-making perspective--Jamie Pratt's book provides an enlightening coverage of financial accounting from an economic perspective, at once tightening the conceptual framework while enriching the essential contextual relevance of principles every business manager needs to understand. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

THIS IS THE STUDY GUIDE, NOT THE ACTUAL TEXT
THIS IS THE STUDY GUIDE, NOT THE ACTUAL TEXT ... Read more

Book Description

From balance sheets to income statements, learn the keys to unlocking the powerful and useful information buried in common financial statements. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Decent Primer for Beginners
This is an excellent introduction to analyzing financial statements, at least for those who have never done so before or who have no background in business. It even is of benefit to seasoned financial people who don't necessarily spend a lot of time reviewing financial statements.

It covers quite a bit of information in a relatively small number of pages: taxation, inventories, cash flow, depreciation, capital investments, and even intangibles like Research and Development and market position. It is well organized and presented in plain Englsih, much to its credit.

However, keep in mind that this is more of a starting point. If you plan on spending a lot of time doing indepth analysis of financial statements, I would recommend starting with this book to provide the basics and then moving on to a more technical and detailed volume. You might want to pick an accounting and/or finance course along the way, too.

make it easily
with this book it will be easy for any one to start reading abourt financial statements.

Not As Good As They Say
I bought this guide to financial statements, and I was impressed on how much was covered in such a short book.However, much is vague and misleading to the reader.I would recommend questioning why all the reviewers that rank this book so well are from PA.Those reviews are undoubtably from people representing the authors.You may want to look elsewhere for more thourough input on financial analysis.

Good for novices
This is a good book if you do not know anything about financial statements analysis.However, since it belongs to the "Pocket MBA series", one would expect more advanced content.

How to convince your friends you are a CPA in ten minutes
Dr. Press has taken the time to consider the needs of everyaccountingenthusiast from the non-matriculated MBA student to the corporate CFO inthis fine reference authority.A must for any eager minded businessprofessional. ... Read more

Book Description

Financial Statement Analysis shows stock market investors how to profit from the knowledge, insights and perceptions of professionals who use financial statement analysis tools and techniques on a day-to-day basis. This book is designed to provide the essential basics required to read, interpret and analyze a company's financial statements prior to making important investment decisions. Inside you'll learn:

• Horizontal and Vertical Analysis
• Common-Size Statements
• Financial Ratios
• Liquidity and Activity Ratios
• Profitability Ratios
• Capital Structure
• Solvency Ratios

Reviews (3)

Do Not Recommend
This book is not for the easy minded. It's definitions and explanation are often difficult to follow and needlessly technical. I skimmed most of it rather than reading it end to end. In fact I'm buying another book on financial statement analysis.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

Written by a professor, for other professors
This book was a huge disappointment. It is overly technical, dense, and difficult to read. The author uses technical language to such an extent that his information is circular. Technical language to explain technical concepts leaves the reader who is not already an accountant in the dark. Here is an example. "Assets are probably future economic benefits obtained or controlled by a particular entity as a result of past transactions or events. Future economic benefits refers to the capacity of an asset to benefit the enterprise by being exchanged for something else of value to the enterprise, by being used to produce something of value to the enterprise, or by being used to settle its liabilities." (p. 24) If you think this kind of explanation is helpful, you might like this book. I have been in business for 25 years, and to me it is turgid and impossible.

Not really designed for the investor
The title of this book is mis-leading and the author missed a golden opportunity to write a book that truly is a self-study guide to interpreting and analyzing financial statements. This book appears to be written by an accountant for accountants - it goes into excessive detail without ever addressing the needs that an investor has. I was looking for a relatively simple, straightforward book that addresses stock selection on the basis of information gleaned from financial statements. This book claims on its back cover to "show stock market investors how to profit from the knowledge of professionals,... " It doesn't do that. It goes into endless, minute detail about statements but never relates it to stock selection. I feel ripped-off. ... Read more

Book Description

With that statement, writer and editor Raymond E. Perry throws down the gauntlet. A basic understanding of derivatives accounting is essential for maximizing your investment returns from these volatile instruments. In Accounting for Derivatives, Raymond Perry and other financial professionals explain every aspect of accounting for derivatives in today's exploding derivatives market. Topics include: Accurate determination of the fair value of derivatives; Accounting for derivatives; Making sense of the existing authoritative guidance for derivatives. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Outdated - don't buy this book
Due to the arrival of FAS 133, this book is obsolete. The few examples the book had were difficult to follow. I bought this book before FAS 133 was issued and now,I regret I bought this book. Whatever you do don't buy it.

Poorly written-of absolutely no use to practitioners
No examples, no illustrations. Just a repetition of some FASB guidelines. Useless to a practitioner. And I can't see why a non-practitioner would ever want this. Give this one a pass. If you really need guidelines, just pay up and get a written opinion. ... Read more

Book Description

Reducing variables and negotiating risk in lucrative emerging markets

"A timely book on the critical subject of valuation in emerging markets. Academics and practitioners have provided over the last few years many pieces of the puzzle, and Pereiro successfully puts them all together. With a broad overview of the underlying theory and many examples in which the theory is put to work, this book is bound to become one of the must-read references on the topic."
––Javier Estrada, IESE Business School (Barcelona, Spain), Editor-in-Chief, Emerging Markets Review

"Valuation is a key factor for success in the business of private equity. This is a fundamental book to be read by all professionals involved in private equity in emerging markets. Valuation of Companies in Emerging Markets: A Practical Approach contains a comprehensive set of valuation tools, and the book provides a very focused and pragmatic approach to the techniques that are applied in practice by private equity investors in nontraditional markets."
–– Carlos Wagener, HSBC Private Equity Latin America

"Two mistakes are common in the valuation of companies in emerging markets: inappropriate application of models originally developed for mature economies, and the use of black boxes–– displaying numbers without explaining the rationale behind them. Valuation of Companies in Emerging Markets: A Practical Approach adds value to the theory and practice of company valuation and helps to avoid these mistakes."
–– Ernesto Gaba, Chief Economist, BBVA Banco Franc`es

"A required reading for practitioners and everybody who deals with investment in emerging markets. This book contains a comprehensive set of tools and examples for tackling practical problems of valuation. Pereiro’s balanced exposition of theory and practice as it applies to the changing conditions of emerging markets fills an important gap in the literature."
–– Enrique R. Arzac, Professor of Finance and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Columbia University

"...a well-structured analysis of valuation in emerging countries. I find the conceptual framework attractive and the empirical applications excellent."
–– Bruno Solnik, Professor of Finance, HEC-School of Management (France)

"What I like about the book is that it delivers what it promises–– it is practical. Better yet, it achieves this without descending to the mere cookbook-recipe level. The user gets a good review of the defensible alternatives, with pros and cons; and where judgment is required, the recommendations reveal a great deal of common sense."
–– Piet Sercu, Professor of International Finance, PwC Chair "Value and Risk", DTEW, University of Leuven (Belgium) ... Read more

Book Description

The first book on the market to approach this topic from a comprehensive perspective, Entrepreneurial Financial Management offers an applied, realistic view of finance for today's entrepreneurs. This book emphasizes that entrepreneurial finance is not just about raising money and creating financial statements: it explains that management is the key to success for any new business venture.It provides an integrated set of concepts and applications that draw from entrepreneurship, finance, and accounting, and will prepare users for the world they will face as they start their new businesses. Proper attention is paid to venture capital and public offerings, but these are put in their proper perspective, as less than 1 percent of new ventures should even consider these financing vehicles.Based on practical experience and informed by theory, this book will prove useful for accountants, finance professionals, and entrepreneurs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A fine tour of the role of finance for the entrepreneur
This book has many virtues. First, it knows its audience. While generalities are subject to all kinds of exceptions, entrepreneurs tend to be active people. This book is written concisely, but covers a comprehensive list of subject. However, it is essential to understand that it doesn't cover any of the subjects exhaustively. It is more like a tour of finance for entrepreneurs. Few people who have what it takes to start businesses will handle all of the financial subjects covered in this book without help and advice from professionals (nor should they), but every businessperson should have an understanding of every subject in this book at least to the level discussed in this very fine book.

The treatment of forecasting, sources of funding, and valuation (including cash flow analysis) are vital topics that too many entrepreneurs treat too cursorily. The discussion in this book is certainly not sufficient to make you an expert on any of these subjects, but sill certainly assist you in becoming sufficiently conversant to speak knowledgably with professionals or prepare you for deeper study. The discussion of accounting is a very quick introduction to the subject and will definitely require deeper study unless you are going to completely outsource your accounting.

I think this is a terrific textbook that could be used as part of a one term course on the subject and hope that it gets adopted at many universities, colleges, and I could even see it used in specialized high school settings for the right kind of bright and driven students.

The material in the book isn't particularly hard, but it is broad. While it can be read alone (especially if you have some familiarity with the subject), it will definitely benefit most students to have the guiding hand of a skilled instructor, class discussions, and applied projects.

I think this is a fine and successful book that will benefit many. ... Read more

Book Description

"JoAnn Senger has gone out of the box to address fundamental compensation issues too-often ignored in the public and not-for-profit sectors. She peels away the 'second-class citizen' label and provides effective compensation structures that reward top performers."
—Jonathan Fraser Light Senior Partner, Nordman, Cormany, Hair & Compton

A step-by-step plan to design and manage a compensation system for not-for-profit organizations

Written by recognized not-for-profit human resource specialist JoAnn Senger, Designing a Not-For-Profit Compensation System provides a step-by-step method to help human resource professionals design and manage a successful compensation system for any public or not-for-profit organization.

When it comes to compensation systems, the not-for-profit sector is rife with complexities, including legislative approval requirements and the board of directors' direct involvement in compensation matters. Addressing these and other unique obstacles, Designing a Not-For-Profit Compensation System:

• Defines various types of not-for-profit and public organizations
• Identifies current types of compensation structures
• Identifies organizational characteristics influencing the usefulness of each structure, including the organization's budgeting and accounting processes and timetables
• Covers maintenance for all compensation structures and the interaction among organizational units
• Details the usefulness of each compensation structure, including midpoint calculations, rate adjustments, variable pay, and market surveys

Book Description

For new students of accounting, entry-level accounting professionals, and business professionals whose own work relates directly to thenumbers on the ledger, a basic understanding of core accounting functions and documents is critical. Accounting Demystified provides a simple andstraightforward description of universal elements of the accounting process, plus accessible tutorials in creating, interpreting, and using financialstatements. Haber's clear language will let readers:

* understand accounting basics * find errors quickly * prepare accurate financial statements * analyze financial documents * determine the financial health of a business * prepare a financial prospectus for potential investors and lenders

From the classroom to the back room to the board room, Accounting Demystified serves as a valuable primer on the basics of accounting and thepurposes they serve. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A sure cure for "accounting phobia"!
Dr. Haber's book admirably accomplishes its goal: to make the basics of accounting understandable in plain English. He walks the reader through terminology and numbers, starting with simple concepts and building on them logically and painlessly. Clear examples and even occasional dry humor make this an ideal introduction for the neophyte. A sure cure for "accounting phobia"!

Cool Book MY Mom Bought
Senioritis hit me hard and accounting basics was going to sideline me from special activities unless my grades improved.My mom ordered Accounting Demystified.Less than 200 pages and paperback was just my size.It showed me how to do journal entries and how to check my work. For almost everything the glossary was all I needed.

Students' Little Helper
I desperately needed help getting through the 800 page beginning accounintg text I was assigned.A friend recommended Accounting Demystified and it saved me from certain failure.It is a fabulous guide; easy to follow, direct, with clear examples of each transaction. My text used tens of pages to explain the basics in convoluted fashion while this slim, concise guide accomplished the goal in just a few pages. It helped me pass the course without wasting hours reading a huge, boring text. ... Read more

Book Description

Phone systems, service, data networks, and the Internet are critical pieces of any company’s communications. And most IT professionals don’t understand the effects of deregulation and parallel technologies on the bottom line. Telecommunications companies have more than a 30% error rate on their billing each month. There are only about 4,000 telecom consultants in the country who do nothing but find errors on bills.The economy seems to be crying out for just this type of study.This work explores the various technologies in terms of cost and ROI, sets up some case studies to solve real communications issues, offers cheap ways to meet bandwidth requirements, looks at the players in the marketplace in terms of technology as well as cost, explains what a tariff is and how it can be made to work for you, gives a better understanding of telecom taxes, which ones are required and to what degree, and provides international strategies to manage costs of a national and global network.Reading this book will be like hiring that telecom consultant. · SAVINGS!!! – realize 40-60% savings with the information contained in the book· “Show me the money” demo included · Review – assessing bills to know if you’re overpaying · Analysis–benchmarking, comparative technologies, ROI, tariff info, etc. · Negotiation – how to work with your various services to ensure you’re getting the best rates possible · Cost Justification– finding costs in other areas to justify expenditure in technology · Vendor Management– understanding where and how to go to get the best price · Recovery of capital – finding out if and when you’ve overpaid, and getting back $$$ when it’s due · Tax Rebates, Relocations, Growth Assessment, and Telemanagement – exploring all the angles to get the most of your telecom dollars ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good overview
While this book does not cover every possible situation, it does provide insight into those which are most relevant. It was well written and proceeds in a logical fashion. I found chapter 10, covering taxes and fees, particularly helpful. If you are new to the commercial aspects of the telecom world, this is a good place to start. I have read several books on the subject and found this one to be the most complete. ... Read more

Book Description

Combines financial and managerial/cost accounting, focusing on the concepts underlying accounting systems, statements and reports most commonly encountered in industry today along with the analysis of those reports and statements. As procedures and analytical techniques are introduced, the role of compromises, estimates, assumptions and omissions is emphasized. Contains a large number and diversity of end-of-chapter problems plus discussion questions and four case studies. ... Read more

Book Description

This reference book guides readers in the application of statistical and nonstatistical sampling-to auditing financial statements, testing internal control, and assessing compliance with laws and regulations. Featuring simple discussions of all types of audit sampling, the book contains practice aids for planning, performance, and evaluation. ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive guide to success in business interruption litigation

Whether they result from a business interruption or other corporate events, commercial damages are often difficult to measure.

The process can be complicated, with millions of dollars at stake for claimants and/or plaintiffs, as well as insurance companies and defendants–all of whom must rely on accurate calculations of losses that will hold up in negotiation or litigation.

A must for accountants, insurance adjusters and other insurance professionals, attorneys, and economists, Measuring Business Interruption Losses and Other Commercial Damages helps you navigate the complexities of this interdisciplinary field. Here, you’ll find overviews of research and practices in subfields of economics, giving you points of reference that you can use in working with a team of professionals. The book also applies a much-needed, cohesive framework to the study of forensic economics: the first half of the book reviews damages resulting from the interruption of a business’s operations; subsequent chapters then discuss related types of commercial damages.

Measuring Business Interruption Losses and Other Commercial Damages is your blueprint for expertly analyzing business interruption losses–and, ultimately, success in your practice. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Unintended benefits
I discovered this book after reading "A Guide to Forensic Testimony" (ISBN 0201752794), which is aimed at IT professionals. I had little interest in being an expert witness, but have been a witness in litigation and wanted to better understand the process. In my quest for another book I came across this one, and benefited from two levels - (1) I learned even more about rules of evidence, and expert testimony, and (2) discovered a methodology for computing values associated with business interruptions that have some potential to meet requirements of Rules 104(a) and (e), and 703 [Federal Rules of Evidence].

First, the material related to evidence and expert testimony - this book covers qualifications, expert roles and advice to the expert, and expert reports and admissibility of evidence with respect to economic, accounting and damages experts. More importantly, the author provides excellent advice on using experts from multiple disciplines, which is prudent given the complexity of measuring business interruption losses. The material about this aspect of the book is not only consistent with the book I cited above in general terms, but also went much deeper, and completely addressed the issues and factors associated with the subject from a legal point of view.

The second aspect of this book, the methodologies for analyzing loss attacks the problem from multiple angles, which can be aggregated or tailored to the legal theory of a particular case. The angles include an economic framework for the lost profits estimation process, and how to conduct a business interruption loss analysis. The book goes into more depth with a comprehensive description for conducting an industry analysis, especially with respect to relating overall industry growth to the plaintiff's growth, and in-depth chapters on projecting lost revenues and cost analysis and profitability. The methodologies alone or in total are complete, and should meet and Rule 104(a), (e), or Rule 703 test (i.e., "Daubert" issues).

Unintended benefits from this book came in the methodologies. I am an IT consultant who specializes in service management, which encompasses business continuity and system availability, among other things. The methodologies, I discovered, can be as easily applied to a proactive approach to determining cost of system unavailability of company-critical systems as they can be in determining after-the-fact losses. This allows realistic impact analyses that show costs, trade-offs and affects on the loss of critical systems. Not so coincidently, this same data can be used in court to show prior due diligence if loses do occur based on third-party breaches of contracts or warranty issues. More importantly, even though this book was written before the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the methodologies given in this book can be used to validate compliance with certain sections of the act, most notably 404 (also, to a degree, 302, 409 and 906).

Overall, this book is one of the best professional investments I've made - and the reasons for it are purely serendipitous. ... Read more

Book Description

Revised and updated to reflect the latest thinking in the area of cash flow analysis, Cash Flow and Security Analysis, is written with the underlying assumption that cash flow analysis is the most important tool at the investor's disposal. You will discover why cash flow is quickly replacing earnings as the primary tool among securities analysts and how they can identify undervalued securities using cash flow analysis. This important reference shows you how to avoid common costly mistakes. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great book to read, and excellent example
The best thing I like about this book is that the author guide you step by step in calculating free cash flow of the firm.

He also talked about how to estimating corporate fat, off balance sheet liabilities, and many insighful idea to the investment world.

Personally, I would recommend you to buy this book. I personally like it. Not like a bunch of academic theoritical BS that is floating around.

UP 45% LAST YEAR THANKS TO THIS BOOK!!
I'VE COMPLETELY AVOIDED THE INTERNET HIGHFLYERS-THEY DON'T GENERATE FREE CASH FLOW. ON THE OTHER HAND THE BOOK PUT ME INTO COMPANIES WHOSE UNDERVALUED STOCKS QUICKLY TURNED AROUND WITH THERE LOW DEBT HIGH FREE CASH FLOW. I PARTICULARLY LIKED THE WAY THE AUTHORS LOOK AT CORPORATE FAT

Best Investing Book I Have Ever Read
This book lays the foundation for making money in the markets. It is clear and to the point. The only book you really need.

Reasonable explanation on fundamentals; no great insights
If you don't understand corporate accounts, or don't read beyond the corporate Profit & Loss account, then this book might be worth a look, especially in light of the various accounting shenanigans of the last few years. Cashflow is a less precise but more realistic way to measure corporate earnings than the hopelessly etheral and flexibly-defined "profit" of US GAAP - and this book explains it for you. However, it does not contain much of use for more experienced investors, and the techniques contained will not make money in isolation.

Not Helpful
I re-read sections of this book on cash flow analysis and found it much less useful than 5 years ago when I read the first edition. The market does not care anymore about smaller high free cash flow and low debt companies. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in its Third Edition, Financial Accounting by Kimmel, Weygandt, and Kieso has been tested and approved in the classroom. This best-selling text has helped students hit the road with a practical set of tools, and the confidence they need to use those tools effectively in making business decisions.

Financial Accounting provides students with an understanding of those concepts that are fundamental to the use of accounting. Starting with a "macro" view of accounting information, the authors present real financial statements and establish how a financial statement communicates the financing, investing, and operating activities of a business to users of accounting information. They motivate students by grounding the discussion in the real world, showing them the relevance of the topics covered to their future career.

Student Workbook:  This valuable study guide, written to use side-by-side with the Financial Accounting textbook provides the guidance and assurance you need to exceeed in the course.  Included a re study objectives, demonstration problems, true/false and multiple-choice questions, solutions, to exercises, chapter outlines, and blank working papers. ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive guide to the principles of finance and accounting--revised and updated and including access to interactive worksheets online.

Mastering the fundamentals of financial management is a must for those with a stake in their company's and their own professional future. Packed with step-by-step examples and illustrative case studies, and fully updated to reflect the latest changes in tax laws and accounting requirements, Finance and Accounting for Nonfinancial Managers is one-stop shopping for managers, entrepreneurs, seasoned executives, teachers, and students alike.
Reading a balance sheet
Mastering the accounting cycle
Making long-term investment decisions
Conducting breakeven analysis for profit planning
Calculating cost of capital
Evaluating closely held companies ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Bit Too Theoretical
This is not a bad book. It covers a lot of ground. But at times it gets a bit too theoretical, rather than being down to earth. I saw the reviews that liked it, but several of them were by financial managers. For those of us who are not financial managers, there is quite of a bit of mathematics and theory. For example, for capital budgeting there is a whole chapter of mathematical formulas with a small paragraph saying no one really uses the formulas - they use calculators or computers. But there was no discussion about what calculator or computer program to buy or how to do the calculations with a calculator or computer. The book is also pretty much out of date, espeically in areas like the tax chapter.

Easy to read and understand for the non-technical person
This book does a great job of helping managers understand the financial world. It takes the basics of finance and accounting and describes them in a very non-technical and easy to understand manner. I am a degreed accountant with a strong finance and economics background and find it difficult to explain things to business owners and managers in a way that makes sense to them. This book resolves that problem. By the time they read through it once we can at least talk together and I don't feel like I am using a foreign language.
A very valuable book that should be required reading for anyone who goes into business for theirself or moves up the corporate ladder to a position where understanding these things is beneficial for their career. While it is not a treatise on the details of accounting and finance it will give you a broad enough scope to understand what you should be doing and why things work the way that they do. A recommended read.

Great book when paired with another one.
This is a very readable book about business finance and accounting. I have used it, along with a study guide I prepared for it, to help train people who were becoming instructors for business training classes. It certainly helps to be able to discuss the material in the book with someone who knows more about what's in it than you do. Even so, Droms does a good job with his material and you can use the book for later reference -- I do. You'll get even more out of this book if you order another book to go with it. That book is "Business Basics Bestseller #1." [...]

Great for project managers
It is concise and easy to understand. Helps you understand basic accounting and business finance without having a background in accounting.

A fine overview for nontechnical managers.
Professor Droms has re-edited his well known book: FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING FOR NONFINANCIAL MANAGERS. I, for one, am very glad to see that it continues in print and available.

This book provides remarkable insights into why things financial are the way that they are. His examples are clear and understandable. His explanations are coherent and make sense.

Perhaps, the only critique I can make for this useful and easier to follow book, is that it is too short.

Henry H. Goldman, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Business Administration TOURO UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL ... Read more

Book Description

This text/manual introduces students to the procedural aspects of accounting. It was written to accompany the Interactive Financial Accounting Lab, also written by Smith/Birney. Although the manual and software focus on accounting rules and procedures, students are also encouraged to understand, apply, and be able to explain these rules and procedures. ... Read more