Management accounting news and resources

TOPICS

November 1, 1999

Hedging Your Megawatts

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ELECTRIC UTILITY DEREGULATION introduces new price risks for companies that consume large quantities of power. Several electric utilities have been surprised by sudden dramatic electricity price moves. Hedges can reduce that risk. A HEDGING STRATEGY CAN BE as simple as a long-term fixed-rate contract or as complicated as

October 1, 1999

A Graceful Exit

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FORMULATING A successful exit strategy requires figuring out what your client really wants and devising a plan to get there. CPAs in public practice and in industry are uniquely positioned as trusted advisers to develop a sound exit strategy. FINDING OUT WHAT YOUR CLIENT WANTS is the first

August 1, 1999

Eastern Exposure

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON SUMBAWA, A REMOTE INDONESIAN ISLAND east of Bali, Newmont Mining Corp. began developing a huge mining project that represented tremendous opportunity as well as political, social and financial risk. Newmont tried to anticipate risk during the 13-year development of Batu Hijau but did not foresee government overthrow,

July 1, 1999

What a PEO Can Do for You

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, BOTTOM-LINE-CONSCIOUS companies are outsourcing HR functions by making use of professional employer organizations. PEOs perform a wide variety of tasks ranging from payroll management and employee benefit design and administration to tax filings and compliance with state and federal workplace legislation. GIVEN THE MYRIAD

July 1, 1999

Staff Performance Advice for CPAs

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXPERIENCED HUMAN RESOURCE directors are implementing changes in performance management that not only make your job as the de facto personnel director easier but also usually improve the performance of the entire staff—making you look good. SOME HR DIRECTORS are introducing values-based systems that integrate the company’s mission

September 1, 1997

Getting the Best From Staff

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ANNUAL RAISES AND PROMOTION opportunities arent always enough. Managing the changing needs of professional staff requires individualized attention, specialized incentive programs and compensation plans more closely tied to individual achievement and performance. A STANDARD COMPENSATION PLAN or a firmwide incentive program will not have the same effect on

September 1, 1997

Best Practices for CPA Firms

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE AICPA HAS COMPLETED TWO projects to identify “best practices” for accounting consultations and auditor communications with boards of directors and audit committees. These practices are intended to help CPA firms evaluate and enhance their policies and procedures in these critical areas. IN FIRMS THAT FOLLOW BEST PRACTICES,

September 1, 1997

Internal controls.

Internal Control Checklist An effective internal control system enables you to manage significant risks and monitor the reliability and integrity of financial and operating information. It also ensures that the audit committee acts as a powerful and proactive agent for corporate self-regulation. The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway

January 1, 1997

Squeeze Play

The management accounting profession is going through a major sea change as two opposing forces come into play. The first is the downsizing through reengineering of the financeand hence management accountingfunction; the second is the growing importance of cost management. (For more on these subjects, see A Smarter Way to

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Right-sizing risk management

Sole practitioner or small firm? Risk management doesn’t have to be “one size fits all.” Learn how to help protect your practice without adding unnecessary admin time.