Proper cost accounting and financial management are essential elements of any successful construction job, and therefore make up essential skills for construction project managers and project engineers. Many textbooks on the market focus on the theoretical principles of accounting and finance required for head office staff like the chief financial officer (CFO) of a construction firm. This book's unique practical approach focuses on the activities of the construction management team, including the project manager, superintendent, project engineer, and jobsite cost engineers and cost accountants. In short, this book provides a seamless connection between cost accounting and construction project management from the construction management practitioner's perspective. Following a complete accounting cycle, from the original estimate through cost controls to financial close-out, the book makes use of one commercial construction project case study throughout. It covers key topics like financial statements, ratios, cost control, earned value, equipment depreciation, cash flow, and pay requests. But unlike other texts, this book also covers additional financial responsibilities such as cost estimates, change orders, and project close-out. Also included are more advanced accounting and financial topics such as supply chain management, activity-based accounting, lean construction techniques, taxes, and the developer's pro forma. Each chapter contains review questions and applied exercises and the book is supplemented with an eResource with instructor manual, estimates and schedules, further cases and figures from the book. This textbook is ideal for use in all cost accounting and financial management classes on both undergraduate and graduate level construction management or construction engineering programs.

Liquid markets generate hundreds or thousands of ticks (the minimum change in price a security can have, either up or down) every business day. Data vendors such as Reuters transmit more than 275,000 prices per day for foreign exchange spot rates alone. Thus, high-frequency data can be a fundamental object of study, as traders make decisions by observing high-frequency or tick-by-tick data. Yet most studies published in financial literature deal with low frequency, regularly spaced data. For a variety of reasons, high-frequency data are becoming a way for understanding market microstructure. This book discusses the best mathematical models and tools for dealing with such vast amounts of data.
This book provides a framework for the analysis, modeling, and inference of high frequency financial time series. With particular emphasis on foreign exchange markets, as well as currency, interest rate, and bond futures markets, this unified view of high frequency time series methods investigates the price formation process and concludes by reviewing techniques for constructing systematic trading models for financial assets.

This book provides coherent theoretical and empirical analysis of firms' investment and financing decisions. It assesses the role of uncertainty, financial imperfections, corporate governance and taxation. Evidence is obtained using several unique and high quality microeconomic data-sets, which explore features seldom addressed. Overall, the empirical results confirm theoretical precedents. Some firms are indeed financially constrained, for fixed investment as well as for R&D projects. The 'free cash-flow' hypothesis holds, that is managers divert excess funds away for their own interests, but less so in closely controlled companies. In accordance with the real option theory, the results suggest that uncertainty leads firms to adopt a 'wait and see' strategy which eventually reduces investment, especially for irreversible investment. Corporate governance features are shown to affect managers, discipline and companies' restructuring plans. Finally, different tax reforms are evaluated, and an alternative tax structure that would stimulate growth is proposed. Scholars, including those with an interest in microeconomics and econometrics, and staff within central banks and national and international organisations will also find the book of interest, as will policymakers and decision-makers concerned with the role of financing, corporate governance and taxation on firm's decisions.

This volume, originally published in 1995, examines the mechanisms by which businesses that have the capacity to grow - whether in terms of output, innovation or export - acquire the cash that enables growth. Addressing an issue of central importance to the competitiveness of firms and economies, this book draws together research by leading academics in the area. Throughout, research studies develop the themes of market failure, finance gaps and failure of demand. They also bring out the linkages between the financing choices facing the growing firm and the issues of organisation and of corporate governance that have to be address during the process of growth and maturity. Contributors challenge financial orthodoxy throughout, providing coherent analyses of the difficulties faced in the finance of the growing enterprise, from its early dependence on banks and informal finance to the pinnacle of a stock exchange listing.

Energy Risk Modeling is a primer on statistical methods for managers, students and anybody interested in the field. Illustrated through elementary and more advanced statistical Methods, it is primarily aimed at those individuals who need a gentle introduction in how to go about using statistical methods for modeling energy price risk. Statistical ideas are presented by outlining the necessary concepts and illustrating how these ideas can be implemented. This is the first energy risk book on the market to focus specifically on the role of statistical methods. Its practical approach makes the book a very useful reference and an interesting read.

This lecture notes provides an overview of budgeting and financial management in the public and non-profit sectors. Fundamental concepts and practices of budgeting, financial management and public finance are introduced, with special emphasis on state and local government budgeting and financial management in the United States. The objectives of courses in Public Budgeting and this title are to teach the basic concepts and nomenclature of public finance, to develop an understanding of budget processes as well as the sources and uses of public revenues, and to make relatively simple, but useful computations in an intelligent way. Key course learning outcomes include the abilities to: There are no indispensable pre-requisites by the reader, and it has been designed for students from a wide variety of backgrounds and undergraduate majors. Although this works well as an introductory text to a broader public administration curriculum, it also can make sense for students to take after some more basic courses in economics, policy analysis, and public organizations. Issues of tax incidence and the effect of taxes on economic efficiency can be covered in greater depth.

If your institution's like most and your gap position (the difference between the repricing periods of a bank's assets and liabilities) is the only interest rate risk you currently measure - then you should be warned: the regulators are coming. New banking regulations require that you keep a close eye not only on gap, but also on other key risks, less obvious on the balance sheet, such as basis risk and imbedded options. Simple gap analysis just isn't enough anymore. And that's just the beginning of what regulators are now asking for. But - even though the array of available sophisticated simulation models and financial tools is bewildering - you needn't worry thanks to this remarkable how-to guide from two leading authorities of the asset/liability management world. Step by step, Bitner and Goddard take you through a concise history of asset/liability management science since the early '80s to help orient newcomers to the field; comprehensive guide to jump-starting an asset/liability management program, including organizing an A/L management committee, writing an interest rate management policy (that states your interest rate risk exposure parameters), and selecting the best risk modeling system; comprehensive arsenal of techniques for identifying, measuring, and managing interest rate risk, including critical forecasting and self-analysis methods that ensure your institution stays on track; total framework for integrating your asset/liability management processes and putting them into action; and helpful section of advice and insights from leading A/L management practitioners. With a record number of failed or failing banks and thrifts on their hands, the regulator's vigilance hasnever been greater. That's why your financial institution needs to identify and measure the impact of a broad range of interest rate movements on its earnings and net value - and why you need Successful Bank Asset/Liability Management.

Fundraising: How to Raise Money for Your Library Using Social Media introduces the phenomena that many members, supporters and fundraisers are not using social media to fundraise for their libraries, and may not be aware of its strengths and pitfalls. The book discusses why social media should be used to fundraise and how to successfully employ social media campaigns, also providing examples from library funding initiatives that libraries can follow. Since social media changes relatively quickly, library staff members, supporters and fundraisers need up-to-date information on how to craft messages for the platforms that they use. This book presents less on best practices for specific social media platform, focusing more on library social media fundraising strategies that have been found to be effective (for example, how libraries have successfully created fundraising campaigns with hashtags).

Uncover hidden fraud and red flags using efficient data analytics Fraud Data Analytics Methodology addresses the need for clear, reliable fraud detection with a solid framework for a robust data analytic plan. By combining fraud risk assessment and fraud data analytics, you'll be able to better identify and respond to the risk of fraud in your audits. Proven techniques help you identify signs of fraud hidden deep within company databases, and strategic guidance demonstrates how to build data interrogation search routines into your fraud risk assessment to locate red flags and fraudulent transactions. These methodologies require no advanced software skills, and are easily implemented and integrated into any existing audit program. Professional standards now require all audits to include data analytics, and this informative guide shows you how to leverage this critical tool for recognizing fraud in today's core business systems. Fraud cannot be detected through audit unless the sample contains a fraudulent transaction. This book explores methodologies that allow you to locate transactions that should undergo audit testing. * Locate hidden signs of fraud * Build a holistic fraud data analytic plan * Identify red flags that lead to fraudulent transactions * Build efficient data interrogation into your audit plan Incorporating data analytics into your audit program is not about reinventing the wheel. A good auditor must make use of every tool available, and recent advances in analytics have made it accessible to everyone, at any level of IT proficiency. When the old methods are no longer sufficient, new tools are often the boost that brings exceptional results. Fraud Data Analytics Methodology gets you up to speed, with a brand new tool box for fraud detection.

Risk behaviour and risk management in business life influence a wide range of fields in which only a very limited amount of research has been undertaken. These topics have often been treated as if they were theoretically and practically isolated from other fields, the so called risk archipelago problem. What is actually needed is another focus, in which the problem of risk is treated as a central theme. The demand for interdisciplinary research means that there is a need for crossing scientific boundaries. In approaching risk problems from a holistic perspective there is also a parallel need for linking the scientific and the business worlds. Researchers must work closely together in concrete multidisciplinary research projects and in co-operation with the industrial world in seeking out and solving research problems of importance. This book contains selected and re-written papers, and key-note speeches presented in a risk-seminar that Stockholm University organised in June 1997. The seminar, in which 200 researchers and practitioners from 26 countries participated, was divided into four main topic areas: Risk Assessment and Credit Management, Psychology in Business Life, Risk Management in Small Firms and Law and Business Risk. In writing this book, the editor invited eight professors from four continents to assist him in introducing the reader to the different and scientific disciplines and in explaining the need for interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary risk research projects. The book consists of eight chapters and the target groups are researchers, doctoral and master students at universities and business people working in the risk management area.

This book provides a new point of view on the subject of business failure prediction, through the application of multicriteria analysis methods. The aim of the book is to provide a review of the research in the area and to explore the adequacy of these methods to one of the most complex problems in the area of financial management. In addition, the book explores the applications of the methods so that it can become a very useful tool for researchers and practitioners. The analysis of the modeling and the results in these applications provides the background for further employment of the methods.

Praise for Internal Control Strategies A Mid to Small Business Guide
"Internal Control Strategies is an excellent field guide for the implementation and maintenance of efficient and effective internal control systems. The book provides a practical approach to interpreting guidance from oversight agencies and integrating it with industry practice in a real-world environment. This handbook is an essential tool for managers and professionals going through the day-to-day struggle of managing auditor expectations and permitting business to proceed in the most efficient manner."
-Michael Rodriguez, former senior manager of finance, Qualcomm Incorporated
"Internal Control Strategies is the clearest path forward for middle-market SEC registrants and their independent registered public accounting firms as they streamline the SOX 404 compliance process in 2008 and beyond."
-Stephen G. Austin, MBA, CPA, Managing Firm Partner, Swenson Advisors, LLP, Regional PCAOB Accounting Firm
"Clearly written and practical, Internal Control Strategies is a must-read for every chief audit, finance, or compliance executive."
-Jeff Miller, Partner-in-Charge, Business Risk Services, Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP
"As a CFO of small to mid-sized publicly traded and privately held companies, one is usually faced with the challenge of developing and implementing the right levels of internal controls and compliance within the restrictions of limited financial and human resources. Internal Control Strategies presents the relevant topics in a clear and concise manner, allowing the reader to understand the internal control framework and specific underlying requirements quickly. The author's vast experience with SOX compliance ensures a targeted and pragmatic approach for the successful implementation of internal controls. Her recommendations are 'to the point' and eliminate some of the guesswork we all have experienced while working towards SOX compliance."
-Robert S. Stefanovich, Chief Financial Officer, Novalar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The SEC requires all publicly traded companies to attest to theeffectiveness of their internal controls.
Is your business ready?
Internal Control Strategies: A Mid to Small Business Guide clearly explains the latest PCAOB, SEC, and COSO guidance, providing you with an effective tool and reference guide for successful implementation of sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Extremely knowledgeable and insightful, author Julie Harrer brings practical clarity to this complex topic, leading you step by step in addressing the challenges associated in bringing your business in compliance with SOX.

This cash management and investment handbook for nonprofit managers helps managers from diverse backgrounds learn to manage their organization's money. It examines traditional treasury functions including banking and cash flow and explores investment management and strategies for managing excess cash, endowment, and long-term (planned) gifts. It also examines financial management strategies that impact cash flow, including borrowing, risk management, benchmarking, and long-term planning. Addresses the needs of all types and sizes of organizations, from small religious groups and community social service agencies to major cultural institutions and colleges and universities. Includes a diskette with spreadsheet solutions to common financial management problems, such as interest rate calculations, basic yield calculations, financial rations and more.

Agriculture remains an important means of alleviating poverty, but shortage of finance can constrain its development. At the same time, agriculture is evolving towards a global system requiring high-quality, competitive products, and is organized in value chains which often exclude smallholders. Value chain financing in agriculture offers an opportunity to increase the scope, and reduce the cost and risk of financing to agriculture. It can also help value chains to be more inclusive, by making resources available for smallholders to be integrated into higher value market opportunities. Agricultural Value Chain Finance provides a comprehensive look at the models, tools and approaches used by industry leaders in all parts of the developing world. These are described, analysed and illustrated by many rich examples in order to demonstrate how they work, and to extract lessons and applications for others to adapt. The book builds on the deep experience of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) in agricultural development and finance This book is essential reading for agribusiness leaders and technical staff, bankers and cooperative leaders working in agriculture, NGO and microfinance development practitioners, researchers and policy makers. Published in association with FAO.

Risk Monetization: Converting Threats and Opportunities into Impact on Project Value addresses the organizational, political, cultural, and technical issues related to implementing a successful risk assessment, management, and monetization process. Suitable for readers in any organization or area of expertise, the book assumes no prior background in risk assessment, management, or monetization. With more than three decades of experience in risk-process implementation, the author first explains the benefits of the risk-monetization process and how risk matters are generally not handled properly in contemporary organizations. He then introduces the terms and definitions essential to making risk monetization successful in a project. The text goes on to give examples of risk-monetization techniques applied in a variety of settings before discussing the typical risk situation for most projects and the shortcomings of conventional processes. It also describes how risk identification, assessment, management, and monetization processes are set up in an ideal environment as well as in imperfect situations. The final chapter focuses on how investment decisions are made based on the monetization and ranking of risks. Enhancing your project's value, this book offers step-by-step practical guidance on identifying, assessing, managing, and monetizing both threats and opportunities so that risk impedes the bottom line as little as possible. It shows you how to convert probable risks into positive impacts on the chance of success and/or profitability of any project.

The world of construction is intrinsically linked with that of finance, from the procurement and tendering stage of projects right through to valuation of buildings. In addition to this, things like administrations, liquidations, mergers, take-overs, buy-outs and floatations affect construction firms as they do all other companies. This book is a rare explanation of common construction management activities from a financial point of view. While the practical side of the industry is illustrated here with case studies, the authors also take the time to build up an understanding of balance sheets and P&L accounts before explaining how common tasks like estimating or valuation work from this perspective. Readers of this book will not only learn how to carry out the tasks of a construction cost manager, quantity surveyor or estimator, they will also understand the financial logic behind them, and the motivations that drive senior management. This is an essential book for students of quantity surveying or construction management, and all ambitious practitioners.

Presenting a vision of the luxury sector and its management, this edited book describes "the new luxury" through a comprehensive view of the value chain, from concept to market. The authors argue that the main characteristics of "luxury" are linked to specific resources and competencies found throughout the value chain and that value is a result of the interaction between the brand and stakeholders, and more precisely with their clients. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, New Luxury Management encompasses both strategic and functional aspects of luxury management, providing innovative solutions to the successful creation and management of value across the organization, from leadership, human resources, financial management, marketing and economic perspectives.

"This comprehensive and detail-rich book is a great addition to a fundraising library. Novices will find their anxiety banished and seasoned professionals will find they still can learn some things. If you want maximum mileage out of your events, use this book!"
--Kim Klein, Publisher
Grassroots Fundraising Journal

"Applause for Alan Wendroff's book, Special Events: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fundraising, called for a Second Edition--an encore. Alan Wendroff uses his return to the stage as an opportunity to expand upon and enrich his previously presented special event strategies. In this updated edition, Wendroff guides the reader onto the Internet with its cost-effective, timely, and considerable means for planning and conducting special events. The web-based strategies discussed in the Second Edition include volunteer enlistment, marketing to an expanded audience, and moment-by-moment stewardship. The newly presented strategies can further your event's success and attract greater returns for addressing organizational mission objectives."
--Skip Henderson, MSW
Providing Fund Raising Counsel

"Alan Wendroff takes special events seriously. This updated edition of his work is essential for organizations seeking to involve today's potential donors and volunteers."
--Eugene R. Tempel, Executive Director
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, headquartered at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

"Once again, Alan Wendroff provides 'doable' step-by-step planning and strategizing for special events fundraising. His proven method is so sufficiently down-to-earth that both volunteers and staff can benefit tremendously from this simpleimplementation guide. In fact, it would make an excellent 'thank you' gift for volunteers. They'll feel empowered and more equipped to assist with the charitable cause for which they are willing to give time and money."
--Nancy May, Resource Development Consultant
Good Samaritan Foundation

"Alan Wendroff significantly upgrades every development officer's library with Special Events: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fundraising, Second Edition. In one volume, Alan provides specifics that are culled from his years of experience and delivers his counsel with the touch of a mentor and a sense of humor. This work provides additional and valuable resources for the experienced professional and sage advice for the novice."
--Paul I. Kuznekoff, Director of Development
The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

A top risk management practitioner addresses the essential aspects of modern financial risk management

In the "Second Edition" of "Financial Risk Management + Website, " market risk expert Steve Allen offers an insider's view of this discipline and covers the strategies, principles, and measurement techniques necessary to manage and measure financial risk. Fully revised to reflect today's dynamic environment and the lessons to be learned from the 2008 global financial crisis, this reliable resource provides a comprehensive overview of the entire field of risk management.

Allen explores real-world issues such as proper mark-to-market valuation of trading positions and determination of needed reserves against valuation uncertainty, the structuring of limits to control risk taking, and a review of mathematical models and how they can contribute to risk control. Along the way, he shares valuable lessons that will help to develop an intuitive feel for market risk measurement and reporting.Presents key insights on how risks can be isolated, quantified, and managed from a top risk management practitionerOffers up-to-date examples of managing market and credit riskProvides an overview and comparison of the various derivative instruments and their use in risk hedgingCompanion Website contains supplementary materials that allow you to continue to learn in a hands-on fashion long after closing the book

Focusing on the management of those risks that can be successfully quantified, the "Second Edition" of "Financial Risk Management + Website"is the definitive source for managing market and credit risk.

Since 2007, the repeated financial crises around the world have brought to the headlines financial practices and models considered to fuel the economic instabilities. Deep Dive into Financial Models: Modeling Risk and Uncertainty comes handy in demystifying the underlying quantitative finance concepts. With a limited use of mathematical formalism, the book explains thoroughly the models, their hypotheses, principles and other building blocks. A particular care is given to model limitations and their misuse for investment strategies, asset pricing, or risk management. Its reader-friendly nature provides readers with a head start in quantitative finance.

'The book is an ideal complement to existing monographs on financial risk management. The reader will benefit from a standard background in no-arbitrage pricing. A tour of risk types and risk management principles is presented in a terse, no-fuss manner. Plenty of pointers to additional literature are given, allowing the interested reader to go deeper into any of the topics presented.'Newsletter of the Bachelier Finance Society The Economic Foundations of Risk Management presents the theory, the practice, and applies this knowledge to provide a forensic analysis of some well-known risk management failures. By doing so, this book introduces a unified framework for understanding how to manage the risk of an individual's or corporation's or financial institution's assets and liabilities. The book is divided into five parts. The first part studies the markets and the assets and liabilities that trade therein. Markets are differentiated based on whether they are competitive or not, frictionless or not (and the type of friction), and actively traded or not. Assets are divided into two types: primary assets and financial derivatives. The second part studies models for determining the risks of the traded assets. Models provided include the Black-Scholes-Merton, the Heath-Jarrow-Morton, and the reduced form model for credit risk. Liquidity risk, operational risk, and trading constraint models are also contained therein. The third part studies the conceptual solution to an individual's, firm's, and bank's risk management problem. This formulation involves solving a complex dynamic programming problem that cannot be applied in practice. Consequently, Part IV investigates how risk management is actually done in practice via the use of diversification, static hedging, and dynamic hedging. Finally, Part V applies these collective insights to six case studies, which are famous risk management failures. These are Penn Square Bank, Metallgesellschaft, Orange County, Barings Bank, Long Term Capital Management, and Washington Mutual. The credit crisis is also discussed to understand how risk management failed for many institutions and why.

A COMPLETE UPDATE AND REVISION OF THE CLASSIC TEXT "At last, a manual of operations for comparing the cost-effectiveness of a preventive service with a treatment intervention." -American Journal of Preventive Medicine Twenty years after the first edition of COST-EFFECTIVENESS IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE established the practical benchmark for cost-effectiveness analysis, this completely revised edition of the classic text provides an essential resource to a new generation of practitioners, students, researchers, and policymakers. Produced by the Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine-a team of 13 experts from fields including decision science, economics, ethics, psychology, and medicine-this new edition is a comprehensive guide to the use of cost-effectiveness analysis as an evaluative tool at the institutional and policy levels. As health care systems face increasing pressure to derive maximum value from expenditures, the guidelines in this new text represent not just the best information available, but a vital guide to health care decision-making in a challenging new era. Completely revised and enriched with examples and expanded coverage, this second edition of COST-EFFECTIVENESS IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE builds on its predecessor's excellence, offering required reading for both analysts and decision makers.

This nuts-and-bolts guide examines all aspects of an M&A due diligence--from coming to the decision to acquire a company, to who should be on the due diligence team, to the actual process and the final report and post-closing follow up. It advocates a focus on both risk mitigation and shareholder value creation, and emphasizes a holistic approach that spans from planning to post-acquisition integration. The tentative contents is: (1) Introduction; (2) Planning for value creation: growth strategy; (3) Engagement and pursuit; (4) Preparing for due diligence; (5) Validation of value: performing due diligence; (6) Assessment of due diligence results; (7) Optimizing value: post diligence negotiation; (8) Extracting value: post-transaction integration.

This topical and timely book presents and innovative approach to dealing with the complexities of cost planning in PFI. PFI/PPP projects have a significantly different costing environment from conventionally procured projects, requiring cost analysts to use their expertise and innovative thinking to develop whole-life cost solutions that deliver value for money to the client, thus improving public building assets performance. Abdelhalim Boussabaine provides a thorough grounding in the theory of PFI, from its early evolution through to examples of current projects. In particular, the rationale for private financing of public services, arguments for and against PFI and 'value for money' mechanisms are discussed. The book presents an innovative framework for whole-life value and calls for changes in the way whole life cycle value is perceived, created and exchanged. Cost Planning of PFI and PPP Building Projects provides the reader with existing knowledge as well as present innovative thinking for future development and management of PFI/PPP cost planning processes. Given the importance and novelty of this book, academics, professionals, undergraduate and postgraduate students will find this book valuable.

This book, which was first published in 1972, is not a collection of case-studies in cost-benefit analysis, of which there had been already several in use employing techniques of varying degrees of sophistication. Nor is it a manual of instruction with particular orientation for less developed counties, such as those produced under the auspices of the U.N. and the O.E.C.D. What this volume does attempt is to introduce the student of economics to the logic and the concepts used in cost-benefit analysis.