Finance for Non-Financial Managers (Briefcase Books Series) [Paperback]

Gene Siciliano (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071413774 | ISBN-13: 978-0071413770 | Publication Date: April 25, 2003 | Edition: 1

Financial reports speak their own language, and managers without a strong finance background often find themselves bewildered by what is being said.

Finance for NonFinancial Managers helps managers become familiar with essential financial information, showing them how to "speak the language of numbers" and implement financial data in their daily business decisions.

In addition, it clarifies how and why financial decisions impact business and operational objectives.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A Complete Introduction to Financial Reports--What The Numbers Mean, How to Use Them to Improve Your Business

Financial reports speak their own language, one that many managers have trouble translating. Finance for Non-Financial Managers clears the confusion, helping you to understand the information contained in essential financial reports and then showing you how to use that understanding to make informed, intelligent decisions. Let this latest volume in McGraw-Hill's Briefcase Books series give you an immediate, working knowledge of:

• Basic Financial Reports--All about balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and more
• Cost Accounting--Methods to assess which products or services are most profitable to your firm, and why
• Operational Planning and Budgeting--Ways to use financial knowledge to strengthen your company

Financial decisions impact virtually every area of your firm; as a manager, it's up to you to understand how and why. Let Finance for Non-Financial Managers show you how to understand the information found in everyday financial reports, and use that information to drive the success of both your firm and your career.

Briefcase Books are written specifically for today's busy manager. Each book features eye-catching icons, checklists, and sidebars to guide managers step-by-step through everyday workplace situations. Look for these innovative design features to help you navigate through each page:

[Key Terms icon] Clear definitions of key financial terms, concepts, and jargon

[Smart Managing icon] Ways to use financial knowledge to improve decision-making

[Tricks of the Trade icon] How-to hints for "getting inside the numbers"

[Mistake proofing icon] Advice for limiting finance miscues and mistakes

[Caution icon] Warning signs for potential problems or disasters

[For Example icon] How other managers have confronted and solved financial questions

[Tools icon] Specific methods for utilizing your newfound corporate finance skills

About the Author

Gene Siciliano, C.M.C., C.P.A. is founder and president of Western Management Associates, which provides financial management consulting services to corporate clients.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (April 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071413774
• ISBN-13: 978-0071413770
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Business & Investing > Finance

More About the Author

Gene Siciliano is an author, consultant, speaker and executive coach. He uses his Fortune 500 background in finance to help business managers master the financial tools to turn their companies around from the bottom line up.
A former CPA, Gene has over 30 years of financial and operations management experience, having held top financial management positions with Computer Sciences Corporation, Epson America and several smaller companies. As a business consultant, he has acted as Chief Financial Officer for nearly a hundred publicly traded and privately owned companies - earning him the title of Your CFO for Rent!(R)
And when it comes to relating complex financial ideas in plain English, Gene literally wrote the book on it. (Several actually.) Published in 2003, Finance for Non-Financial Managers (McGraw-Hill), has become a best selling industry standard. It shows managers, CEOs, and business owners how to: create more cash flow, generate more profits, and generally feel more comfortable using financial data. It has been used in classroom instruction all the way from California to Curacao.
Gene's straightforward approach to finance is also translated to non managerial lifestyles as evidenced by the newly released Financial Mastery for the Career Teacher (Corwin Press), a guide for teaching professionals wanting to learn how to create a full life and a satisfying retirement on a moderate salary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, Excellent Reference, June 24, 2003

By 

Roger E. Herman (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finance for Non-Financial Managers (Briefcase Books Series) (Paperback)

Corporate finances are becoming increasingly important in a tight-economy world. The word is out: manage your finances well or you're in trouble. Even as our economy improves, this topic will continue to be critical. Every executive, manager, and aspiring manager must be familiar with the concepts of corporate finance.

If you are not a financial wizard, and most of us aren't, this book will give you the depth and breadth of understanding to "speak the language." Twelve well-organized chapters present the vital information about the role of financial management, the various reports that are generated-why and what they mean, profit and cash flow, and critical performance factors. The author, a Certified Management Consultant and Certified Professional Accountant with years of advisory and teaching experience under his belt, then delves into specialized areas. Readers will learn about cost accounting, business planning, budgeting, financing a business, and attracting outside investors. There is a tremendous amount of information packed into these pages.

As part of McGraw-Hill's Briefcase Book series, this book is filled with seven types of call-out boxes: Smart Managing, Cautions, Tricks of the Trade, Key Terms, Examples, Tools, and Mistake-Proofing. This is the kind of book you will read through to get a comprehensive picture, then return to as a reference book for yourself and others. The author's writing style is personal and conversational---like having a chat with an accountant who can explain what you don't understand...and what you don't even know that you don't understand. The depth is here.

There have been a number of books written on this topic over the years, many of them thick, heavy, and filled with small print and hard-to-comprehend charts and graphs. This book is designed to be enjoyed and absorbed: larger type, lightweight, and readable. Graphs and charts are clear; they make sense.

If you're going to read---and keep---a book on finance for people who don't go there frequently, this is the book. Clear some space on your bookshelf. This one's a keeper!

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Easy to Understand, Financial Analysis in a Nutshell, December 29, 2004

By 

Mark Lieberman (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finance for Non-Financial Managers (Briefcase Books Series) (Paperback)

Give this book five stars. For some reason Amazon inserted only three into my review.

I teach graduate level finance for non-financial managers. I have searched many titles in an attempt to find an easy to understand finance book for students. Thank you, Gene!

The book translates the language of numbers into easy to understand English. Financial concepts are provided in a step-by-step method so that the reader develops skills that may be used immediately.

The book is an easy read with a light touch of humor so that even the non-financial student can grasp and understand difficult topics. Two examples of the way this is approached: "He bit who?" translates to EBITDA; and the checklist for managers at the end of each chapter provides valuable tips for the reader.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally - a financial management guide I can understand!, August 25, 2003

By 

Jeff Condon (Tampa. Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finance for Non-Financial Managers (Briefcase Books Series) (Paperback)

Gene has done a great job of capturing the finance essentials every manager needs to deal with - in a logical, easy to read manner. I found that simply reading - not studying - the book gave me far more financial understanding than any theoretical b-school course, and in much less time. The anecdotal illustrations are very helpful in delivering clear explanations without getting bogged down with jargon. Well worth the read.