The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual (Wiley Desktop Editions) [Hardcover]

Steven M. Bragg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0470082003 | ISBN-13: 978-0470082003 | Edition: 2

Filled with pragmatic insights, proactive strategies, and best practices, The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual, Second Edition is destined to become your essential desktop companion. This thorough guidebook is essential reading for the CFO requiring an overview of strategies, measurement and control systems, financial analysis tools, funding sources, and management improvement tips.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Today's Chief Financial Officer is faced with responsibilities that have become as diverse and dynamic as they are important. In addition to the management of day-to-day financial activities and the implementation of a long-term fiscal strategy, the CFO must also keep abreast of up-and-coming key issues such as electronic commerce, shared services, and outsourcing. These duties require both a thoughtful consideration of the changing nature of this job, as well as a reliable step-by-step guide to the nuts and bolts. Now in a Second Edition, The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual is the blueprint for the next millennium, filled with the best practices to help CFOs improve efficiency, mitigate risks, and keep their organizations competitive.

Covering essential topics such as what to do in the first days on the job to deciding which products, if any, to eliminate, this valuable handbook equips CFOs with a comprehensive overview of their place in the corporation and straightforward advice on handling strategic decisions related to a variety of financial, tax, and information technology issues.

The Second Edition is thoroughly updated and includes:

• A new chapter on corporate restructurings with?a discussion of spinoffs, divisional consolidations and splits, outsourcing and reacquisition of R&D units, and partnership arrangements
• Updated information on the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on the CFO
• Changes to the bankruptcy law

Brimming with tools, including an itemized list of the key tasks that a new CFO should complete when first entering the position, a checklist of 100 performance measures, and a detailed discussion of employee compensation plans, The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual is a handy desk reference that CFOs, controllers, and treasurers will return to time and again.

From the Back Cover

Praise for the First Edition of The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual

"Steve Bragg has done it again! This manual shows what a CFO needs to do to truly add value. It should be mandatory reading for all CFOs who want to play a strategic role in their organizations."
—Janice M. Roehl-Anderson, Partner Deloitte Consulting LLP

"This timely guide will help CFOs master the right thinking and management skills. An effective tool for navigating today's corporate financial waters."
—Clint Davies, Principal Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker

"An excellent reference book and good reading besides. This book is a how-to for new and experienced CFOs. It is one place for new CFOs to get information on how to start in their job as well as functioning as a continuing reference on many issues—such as personnel, accounting and reporting, banking, credit, taxes, and so on."
—Gail W. Sevier, CPA Member/Manager of Marrs, Sevier & Company LLC

"What are my specific responsibilities? How do I increase the company's return on assets?"

How can today's CFOs make crucial decisions in today's increasingly competitive, fast-paced, and volatile environment? The answers are found in the Second Edition of The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual. This thorough guidebook is essential reading for the CFO requiring an overview of strategies, measurement and control systems, financial analysis tools, funding sources, and management improvement tips. Filled with pragmatic insights, proactive strategies, and best practices, The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual, Second Edition is destined to become every CFO's essential desktop companion.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 456 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (February 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470082003
• ISBN-13: 978-0470082003
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.5 x 9.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Caveat emptor, March 8, 2007

By 

Reader (Princeton, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual (Wiley Desktop Editions) (Hardcover)

I browsed the book and found the table of contents to contain many interesting topics. With the "surprise me!" function, I happened upon the Sale and Leaseback discussion, a topic with which I am familiar professionally.

In my view, the author completely failed to grasp sale-leaseback decision analysis. Leasing is another form of debt financing (with some nuances), which can be very expensive and administrative. Rating agencies and competent creditors will simply capitalize your lease payments (at the cost of debt) and treat it as debt. It actually reduces your debt capacity, not increase it as the author suggests (in his excess cash example). Also, having idle excess cash to borrow against is expensive as the cost of debt exceeds the returns you can use on cash. And buying shares (i.e. returning capital) to "prop up" the share price is an irresponsible, simplistic and inaccurate view.

The treatment of the topic surprised me. God help the company with a CFO that would think as the author does.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good summary of a CFO job, November 11, 2008

By 

Marius Ghica (Romania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual (Wiley Desktop Editions) (Hardcover)

I find the book well written for its purpose. It does not give you technical advice, you are supposed to know that, but what are the main areas of responsibility of a CFO and how to organise practically your finance department. It is very good for somebody new in the job or for young organisations striving to define processes and responsibilities. It is easy to read and focused on important things that a CFO should manage.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The New CFO Financial Manual - Review, February 8, 2008

By 

Juan A. Classen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual (Wiley Desktop Editions) (Hardcover)

Very well comprehensive, organize, and with a new perspective of the CFO role in the industry. Appendix C is very interesting and very detail in all aspects of Due Diligence. In my opinion this is a great book and I encourage all financial students and practicians to buy this product for professional reference.