Cash Flow Analysis and Forecasting: The Definitive Guide to Understanding and Using Published Cash Flow Data

Introduction

This book is the definitive guide to cash flow analysis. It is designed to be the definitive first reference on all aspects of historic cash flow analysis. It also provides an incisive overview of the risks to be managed in preparing cash flow forecasts.

It has been written from a cash flow-centric point of view. Other financial and analytical information is introduced whenever relevant to support the process of cash flow analysis.

This book is designed for people trying to understand and analyse cash flows, probably in a professional context. Whilst it contains some theoretical content, the primary objective is to offer a practical handbook of cash flow analysis.

Ideally, it should first be read like a novel and then dipped into chapter-by-chapter as required; a detailed guide to the contents of each chapter follows this introduction. Much of the information in the book has been laid out to facilitate direct reference from the index; also allowing it to be used as a pure reference text.

Considerable effort has been expended to make the book as user friendly as possible. It has been designed to be relevant and useful both to persons who are coming to cash flows for the first time, and to those who are more experienced in the perils of financial statement analysis! I have paid particular attention to the needs of those who are not native English speakers. I have tried to keep the use of English as clear and concise as possible whilst avoiding the use of unnecessary ...