Financial Analysis: A Controller’s Guide, Second Edition

Preface

This book is designed to assist a company controller, or any other member of the accounting and finance staffs, in the analysis of all corporate activities. These activities include the ones covered by most traditional financial analysis books—the evaluation of capital investments, financing options, cash flows, and the cost of capital. However, these topics are not nearly sufficient for an active controller who is concerned with not only the performance of every department, but also potential acquisition candidates, the capacity levels of company equipment and facilities, and the relative levels of risk associated with new or existing investments. This book covers all of these additional topics and more. Within these pages, the reader will find a thorough analysis of the following topics:

• Evaluating capital investments, financing options, and cash flows. The first portion of the book attends to these traditional financial analysis topics.

• Evaluating acquisition targets. The analysis of acquisition candidates is a major activity for those organizations that grow by this means. The book itemizes the specific analysis activities to complete.

• Increasing shareholder value. The book describes a number of areas in which shareholder value can be improved.

• Improving intangible asset measurement and performance. The book covers a variety of measurement techniques for such areas as research and development and processes, as well as performance enhancement for research and development. ...