CFO Techniques: A Hands-on Guide to Keeping Your Business Solvent and Successful

by Marina Zosya

Overview

CFO Techniques: A Hands-on Guide to Keeping Your Business Solvent and Successful is a comprehensive and instructive working manual for multitasking chief financial officers and controllers working in the fast-paced commercial environment. Every senior financial professional with an ever-broadening span of control will benefit from this complete outline of the core activities—with specific descriptions of individual tasks—comprising the daily agenda of a successful CFO or controller. It covers everything from traditional responsibilities like budgeting and financial reporting, to more innovative tasks like performance analytics and business strategy development.

While emphasizing specific guidelines on what it takes to excel as a company's head of finance, the book refrains from overwhelming dryness by using cultural references, real-life examples, and a casual tone. With its bite-sized, easy-to-read chapters, CFO Techniques serves as both an invaluable desktop reference handbook and a good bedtime read. Whether you need a quick recommendation on treasury procedures, adhering to GAAP, keeping funds safe from embezzlers, or advice on dealing with the CEO, you will find the answers in this book.

• Guides you through CFO/controller core responsibilities, function by function
• Serves as a reference manual on financial matters specific to the small and mid-size commercial environment
• Goes beyond finance and accounting, addressing the administrative and behavioral issues all CFOs occasionally must address

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781430237563
Publisher:	Apress
Publication date:	12/22/2011
Edition description:	1st ed.
Pages:	380
Sales rank:	942,532
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Marina Guzik s career in finance and accounting spans 24 years, with the last 17 years in chief financial officer and controller positions in small and mid-size companies. She has worked in both the public and private sectors, including manufacturing, global supply chain, e-commerce, professional services, asset management, and consulting. Marina s functional expertise spans a broad range of tasks and duties, from international treasury to mergers & acquisitions and everything in between. She holds several academic degrees, including a master's in business administration in accounting. She believes in the strength of fundamental knowledge and commercial acumen, which can be intelligently applied to any particular business model.

Table of Contents

Introduction: What It Takes to Succeed, or How Long Is Your Hat Rack?

• What's So Special About Smaller Businesses?
• Titles vs. Job Description
• CFO's Mission and Aspirations
• The Eight Balls You Cannot Afford to Drop
• Essential Knowledge Prerequisites
• Commercial and Financial Policies
• Procedures Development and Documentation
• Internal Controls
• The Weakest Link
• Budgeting as a Control Mechanism
• Commercial Control
• Variety and Nature of Capital Resources
• Business Type vs. Financial Resources
• Soliciting Lenders and Investors
• Nurturing Financial Relationships
• Essence of Treasury Function
• Cash Flow Projections
• Cash Position Reports
• Receivables and Payables Management
• Cash Management Services
• Information Technology Needs and Decisions
• Data Processing and Quality Control
• Performance Analytics and Executive Reports
• The Importance of Segmental Analysis
• Ad-hoc Reporting
• Find Your Applicable GAAP, FASB, SFAS, and SOP
• Accounting Cycles Identification
• The Most Important Statement: Cash Flow
• Choose Your Auditors Wisely and Educate Them
• What Guarantees Fast and Painless Audits
• Insured Risks
• Commercial Risks
• Tax and Regulations Compliance
• Strategic Planning
• Practical Forecasting and Scenario Modeling
• New Ventures
• Exit Strategies
• Human Resources Management
• Hiring and Outsourcing
• The Importance of Behavioral Assessment