Audra Ong – författare

Increasing business competition is compelling managers not only to develop realistic and achievable strategies but also to analyze goals in financial terms and to evaluate performance. Whether in manufacturing, service, or the non-profit sector managers need to know the key methods and techniques of cost analysis. The interaction of the organisation's activities, the influences of the external world and the responsibilities of managers need to be captured in financial terms to plan, control and make decisions.

Sales managers, production managers, HR managers, amongst others, are recipients of financial information which they are expected to understand. They need to appreciate the impact of their decisions on costs, selling prices, investment decisions and profit. They must be able to analyse, communicate and act on financial information to be a valuable member of the management team.

This text explains in simple language the methods and techniques of cost analysis that can be applied strategically at any level in an organization. The busy manager will find that the cost information provided will help them plan and control the activities for which they are responsible and also make strategic decisions in the most effective way. Whether you are in a manufacturing or service organisation, the book will help you to answer the four questions: What did it cost? What should it have cost? How can we improve? What is our next strategic move? No prior knowledge of accounting or statistics is required. The book defines all key terms and emphasizes the essential knowledge of analyzing cost in a strategic context.

The disciplines of accounting and finance have been rapidly changing in recent years. The methods and techniques now being used have created a new language for managers, students, practitioners, academics and all those who are connected in some way with business and investment activities. To understand and work within an environment that is in a constant state of flux can be challenging and this book provides a resource of information and guidance.The Guide focuses specifically on the terms used in accounting and finance. Important terms and phrases are identified but with a much longer, in-depth explanation than you would normally find in a dictionary. Not only does each entry gives a thorough explanation of each term, most entries provide two or more references to academic articles that go into much greater depth. Hence, the entries give the reader immediate access to the literature.The Guide also comments on the contribution of the articles which adds to our knowledge. This approach allows the reader to obtain a much deeper level of understanding much more quickly than is available from the usual dictionary. At the end of the book, the full reference to all the articles that have been cited in the text is given including a list of the many acronyms used in the world of accounting and finance.

Business has become more international and more complex. Whether you are a manager, a student, or someone generally interested in corporate financial information, you want information and you want to understand that information. Companies in all countries are required to generate financial information, if for no other reason than to settle their tax obligations.If you are interested in the larger companies, such as those listed on a stock exchange, they must make financial information public, and the nature and type of that information is strictly regulated. Companies must comply with accounting standards. Many countries use the International Accounting Standards issued by the IFRS Foundation. This is a not-for-profit international organization that has developed a single set of high-quality global accounting standards. These standards can be complex, but this book explains clearly the main requirements.

This book is not an introduction to accounting. It is an explanation of how accounting is used for pursuing business success and avoiding failure. All types of organizations keep some form of accounting records, whether it is an international conglomerate or a local charity concerned with the welfare of stray animals.The simple reason is that organizations do not want to go “bust” and they need to know how they can best understand and control the financial consequences of their activities. In addition, financial information enables organizations to strategize and make decisions that are in line with their mission and objectives.Much of the accounting information these organizations generate is provided to their stakeholders. Certain types of information are mandatory and legally regulated by regulatory bodies. International conglomerates must report to their stockholders, charities to their donors, and governments to the electorate. In this book, we concentrate on for-profit businesses, although most of our explanations and discussions can be applied to many types of organizations.In Chapter 1, we discuss different types of businesses and how this can determine the nature of the financial information that is generated and how it is used.We continue this theme in Chapter 2 that explains financial accounting, what is meant by that term, and how such information is used. Chapter 3 focuses on making business decisions internally.We explain the various decisions that businesses have to make.These can range from deciding on the price to charge for their products or services to downsizing or globalization.All of these internal decisions need financial information and this leads us to Chapter 4 Management Accounting.We explain the various techniques that can be used and how this financial information assists managers in decision-making. In our final chapter, we explain new developments that are taking place in and accounting and business and the effects they have on each area. Developments such as algorithms, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and big data are not just jargon but impact what businesses do and how we account for them. In each chapter we provide straightforward explanations without the use of jargon.We also include copious references so that readers who wish to pursue a topic further can do so.

If you want to understand the regulations and practices of financial accounting and reporting, this is the book for you! The authors of this book have developed a unique set of material on corporate financial reporting based on their collective years of teaching experience. In this book, they explain, in non-technical language, the financial information that companies are required to provide.What are companies? Why are they formed? Companies are not charities but are formed to provide a good income to their shareholders by selling us goods and services. Large companies in the UK are mostly known as Public Limited Companies (PLCs). There are about 2,000 PLCs in the London Stock Exchange. But do we understand these companies' objectives and activities? We can do so by examining the financial information they provide publicly in their annual financial reports.To be able to examine the financial statements issued by companies, you need to understand the regulations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). This book explains the requirements of Financial Reporting Standards. Guidance on the disclosure requirements and examples from companies' financial reports are also provided and explained. Many of these company names are synonymous with our everyday lives. Think about Cadbury Chocolate, Unilever, Diageo, Shell, Boots. It is difficult to conceive our lives without their products and services. The explanation and guidance provided in this book will allow you to understand fully the operations of such companies. This is vital knowledge if you intend to do business with the companies, buy their products and services or find employment with them.