Proven guidance for expertly using analytics in fraud examinations, financial analysis, auditing and fraud prevention Fraud Analytics thoroughly reveals the elements of analysis that are used in today's fraud examinations, fraud investigations, and financial crime investigations. This valuable resource reviews the types of analysis that should be considered prior to beginning an investigation and explains how to optimally use data mining techniques to detect fraud. Packed with examples and sample cases illustrating pertinent concepts in practice, this book also explores the two major data analytics providers: ACL and IDEA. * Looks at elements of analysis used in today's fraud examinations * Reveals how to use data mining (fraud analytic) techniques to detect fraud * Examines ACL and IDEA as indispensable tools for fraud detection * Includes an abundance of sample cases and examples Written by Delena D Spann, Board of Regent (Emeritus) for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), who currently serves as Advisory Board Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Board Member of the Education Task Force of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists ASIS International (Economic Crime Council) and Advisory Board Member of the Robert Morris University (School of Business), Fraud Analytics equips you with authoritative fraud analysis techniques you can put to use right away.

This new addition to the Wiley Financial Series is edited by a practitioner and teacher of the topic. It includes 35 cases on various aspects of international finance that can be used in any advanced course on the subject covering areas such as international financial markets; foreign exchange; foreign investment; international accounting and taxation; and financing international operations.

This book focuses on the concepts and applications of risk-based asset allocation. Markowitz's traditional approach to asset allocation suffers from serious drawbacks when implemented. These mainly arise from the estimation risk associated with the necessary input the most critical being expected returns. With the financial crisis, there has been an increasing interest in asset allocation approaches that don't need expected returns as input, known as risk-based approaches. The book provides an analysis of the different solutions that fit this description: the equal-weighting approach, the global minimum-variance approach, the most diversified portfolio approach and the risk parity approach. In addition to a theoretical discussion of these, it presents practical applications in different investment environments. Three different evaluation dimensions are considered to put these approaches to the test: financial efficiency, diversification and portfolio stability.

In this book, the relationship between financial decision-making and chronic regulatory focus is explored to provide a better understanding of consumer decisions. Financial decisions are modelled on the basis of assets and portfolios sensitive to particular regulatory foci. Studies in the book test whether participants select assets/portfolios that conform to their respective foci. In addition, given that gender, age and education can shape financial decisions, further hypotheses are put forth to explore whether these are related to asset and portfolio selection and regulatory focus. As consumers tend to make financial decisions prior to priming, this book diverts from previous research involving primed states of regulatory focus and instead explores the chronic state. The study employs two complementary instruments, the eye tracker and self-report, to explicate the hypotheses. As the main hypotheses were not supported, the author posits that the harsh worldwide financial climate may have acted as an external influence, moving participants to select assets and portfolios not aligned with their foci. This study marks a valuable contribution to the current literature concerning financial decision-making, the underlying motivational systems and external influences, and will promote further research in these areas. It offers an essential resource for academics and students interested in how regulatory focus interacts with financial decisions and the overarching economic climate.

This is the first text that has been developed specifically to examine what revenue managers in the hospitality industry must know and do to be successful. Numerous cases and practical examples are used to illustrate revenue management concepts. Chapter ending questions and problems help them perform the calculations and practice the decision-making skills that are used in the field. "RM in Action" shows how the revenue management principles can be clearly illustrated using real-world examples reported in various news outlets. "RM on the Web" offers sites listed on the Internet to provide supplemental information about a topic or issue. Revenue managers will then gain hands-on skills to effectively manage their inventories and prices.

Simplify and streamline your way to a winning legacy Winning CFOs is a hybrid handbook and toolkit with over 100 lean practice solutions and a wealth of practical tools for senior financial managers of small, midsized and large companies. This book outlines the mindset of paradigm shifters relevant to future-ready finance teams, and contains guidelines on how to become an effective change leader. Guidance from world leading expert David Parmenter provides the insight and tools you need to reach your true leadership potential and achieve more for your organization. Packed with templates and checklists, this book helps you adhere to the best practices in reporting, forecasting, KPIs, planning, strategy, and technology. The companion website a complete toolbox for positive, entrenched change gives you access to additional resources that reinforce the Winning CFO strategy. This new second edition has been updated to reflect the latest practices and technology to streamline your workflow and get more done in less time without sacrificing quality or accuracy. As an all-in-one resource for the CFO role, this book provides a clear, practical strategy for demonstrating your value to your organization. * Selling and leading change effectively * Get more accurate information from your KPIs * Attracting, recruiting and retaining talented staff * Invest in and implement new essential tools * Investing wisely in 21st century technologies Report the month-end within three days, implement quarterly rolling forecasting, complete the annual plan in two weeks or less, and bring your firm into the 21st century with key tools that get the job done. Be the CFO that your organization needs and the leader that your teams deserve. Winning CFOs gives you everything you need to achieve more by doing less.

Ever wish your company could raise capital the Kickstarter(R) way? Equity crowdfunding is finally here, opening new funding avenues for small businesses and start-ups. In April 2012, President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups--or JOBS--Act into law. This groundbreaking legislation empowers privately-owned companies to raise capital from investors without going through the rigorous IPO and private placement processes. When the SEC hands down the last regulations, the floodgates will open and companies will be free to compete for funding. Small business and legal expert Cliff Ennico has followed the equity crowdfunding story since its inception. Now, in "The Crowdfunding Handbook," he explains the JOBS Act and translates the regulations into a clear set of do's and don'ts for entrepreneurs and small-business owners looking to get in early--and do things right. Need help pricing your securities? Pitching a project to the public? Choosing between funding platforms? Figuring out disclosure documents and reporting requirements? This book delivers targeted answers--whether crowdfunding is your best bet, picking the right legal entity, selecting types of securities to offer, reaching the most promising investors, keeping crowds under control, and more. IPOs are expensive, and venture capital nearly impossible to attract. Crowdfunding is changing the game for private companies . . . and this book will lead the way.

Financial management practices are likely to have a marked effect on the financial performance of a corporate enterprise. Therefore, sound financial decisions/practices can contribute towards meeting the desired objective of having profitable operations. This subject assumes paramount significance in view of the present dynamic and turbulent business environment, which has produced more intense competition and smaller profit margins across the world. In this context, the financial management practices of the corporates in India, a country with a vast potential for economic growth, can offer valuable insights. The present study explores whether there has been a major change in the financial performance (measured in terms of profitability) and financial policies/decisions of the sample companies over a fixed period (2000-2001 to 2010-2011), with a special focus on pre and post-recession analysis. It delves deeper into current research areas such as zero working capital, real options in capital budgeting, pecking order in capital structures, and clause 49 as reflected in the financial management decisions of sample companies, and provides a broader perspective by identifying trends (if any) in certain aspects of financial decision-making over the past two decades. A comprehensive study, covering all the major aspects of financial management practices, also contains an inter-sectoral study (among the sample companies) and develops an index of professionalism in financial management based on the practices of the sample companies. The book is primarily targeted at teachers/students of finance, management, commerce, accounting and related professional disciplines/fields. Practitioners/professionals will find it an invaluable text that helps guide them to better decision-making.

Ernesto Caravantes was among the multitudes of people who were affected by the Recession of 2008, the financial impact of which continues to be felt to this day. Rather than focus on how people can return to their former consumerist lifestyle, he decided to explore how people can trade one paradigm of conspicuous consumption for another of frugality and simplicity. The author uses a reader-friendly approach to exploring these issues, and combines both personal narrative and practical advice to make his point. With over one hundred easy-to-do fun ideas and entertaining activities that are free or very low in cost, the reader is shown the possibility of a life beyond spending. Caravantes explains that now is the time to embrace a simpler manner of living, one free of the constant need to spend and acquire. He also says that the human spirit can be nurtured by such a change. He emphasizes that it is our connection to others, to ourselves, and to the larger forces in the universe which ultimately matter the most

An authoritative handbook on risk management techniques and simulations as applied to financial engineering topics, theories, and statistical methodologies

The Handbook of Financial Risk Management: Simulations and Case Studies illustrates the prac-tical implementation of simulation techniques in the banking and financial industries through the use of real-world applications.

Striking a balance between theory and practice, the "Handbook of Financial Risk Management: Simulations and Case Studies" demonstrates how simulation algorithms can be used to solve practical problems and showcases how accuracy and efficiency in implementing various simulation methods are indispensable tools in risk management. The book provides the reader with an intuitive understanding of financial risk management and deepens insight into those financial products that cannot be priced traditionally. The "Handbook of Financial Risk Management" also features: Examples in each chapter derived from consulting projects, current research, and course instructionTopics such as volatility, fixed-income derivatives, LIBOR Market Models, and risk measuresOver twenty-four recognized simulation modelsCommentary, data sets, and computer subroutines available on a chapter-by-chapter basis

As a complete reference for practitioners, the book is useful in the fields of finance, business, applied statistics, econometrics, and engineering. The "Handbook of Financial Risk Management" is also an excellent text or supplement for graduate and MBA-level students in courses on financial risk management and simulation.

Companies' decision-making and planning systems find themselves in a constant tug of war between strategic and financial considerations. The authors analyze these two opposing currents in business thinking, dissecting their differences and identifying their best practices. They also develop an approach that reconciles the two conflicting schools of thought - without watering down their differences. Schwenker und Spremann argue that both strategic and financial perspectives can serve as a compass in management's decision-making processes: Which perspective to choose depends on the phase of business. The authors distinguish four phases in the company lifecycle - phases in which the business must find the proper position, develop, grow and, ultimately, earn. In the first two phases, strategic considerations should take priority; in the latter two phases, financial considerations rule the day.

In Valuing and Selling Your Business: A Quick Guide to Cashing In, author and valuation expert Tim McDaniel, a veteran of over 2,000 valuation engagements and dozens of M&A deals, covers the essentials in a short value-packed book of valuing and selling your business for an acceptable price. And if the valuation doesn't suggest the price you have in mind is possible, McDaniel shows you how to increase the value before putting your company on the market. It probably won't surprise you that 60-80% of a business owner's wealth is tied up in the value of the business. This is your most important asset, but you probably only guess at its value and you may have no concrete plan to increase that value. Even if you're not planning to sell in the near future, it's good to know what your business is worth so you can take the steps McDaniel outlines to make it more attractive to prospective buyers. This book covers: How valuations are done Whom to engage as a valuator How to increase the value of your business Insider tips on the sales process Best sales practices Valuing and Selling Your Business: A Quick Guide to Cashing In-an abridgement of McDaniel's Know and Grow the Value of Your Business-helps you get the most for your business when you decide it's time to move on.

Learn to create and understand financial models that assess the value of your company, the projects it undertakes, and its future earnings/profit projections. Follow this step-by-step guide organized in a quick-read format to build an accurate and effective financial model from the ground up. In this short book, The Basics of Financial Modeling-an abridgment of the Handbook of Financial Modeling-author Jack Avon equips business professionals who are familiar with financial statements and accounting reports to become truly proficient. Based on the author's extensive experience building models in business and finance, and teaching others to do the same, this book takes you through the financial modeling process, starting with a general overview of the history and evolution of financial modeling. It then moves on to more technical topics, such as the principles of financial modeling and the proper way to approach a financial modeling assignment, before covering key application areas for modeling in Microsoft Excel. What You'll Learn Understand the accounting and finance concepts that underpin working financial models Approach financial issues and solutions from a modeler's perspective Think about end users when developing a financial model Plan, design, and build a financial model Who This Book Is For Beginning to intermediate modelers who wish to expand and enhance their knowledge of using Excel to build and analyze financial models

No other management tool provides the operational direction that a well-planned budget can. Now in a new edition, this book provides updated coverage on issues such as budgeting for exempt organizations and nonprofits in light of the IRS' newly issued Form 990; what manufacturing CFOs' budgeting needs are; current technology solutions; and updated information on value-based budgets. Controllers, budget directors, and CFOs will benefit from this practical "how-to" book's coverage, from the initial planning process to forecasting to specific industry budgets.

Since its publication, Complex Adaptive Leadership has become a Gower bestseller that has been taught in corporate leadership programmes, business schools and universities around the world to high acclaim. In this updated paperback edition, Nick Obolensky argues that leadership should not be something only exercised by nominated leaders. It is a complex dynamic process involving all those engaged in a particular enterprise. The theoretical background to this lies in complexity science and chaos theory - spoken and written about in the context of leadership for the last 20 years, but still little understood. We all seem intuitively to know leadership 'isn't what it used to be' but we still cling to old assumptions which look anachronistic in changing and challenging times. Nick Obolensky has practised, researched and taught leadership in the public, private and voluntary sectors. In this exciting book he brings together his knowledge of theory, his own experience, and the results of 19 years of research involving 2,500 executives in 40 countries around the world. The main conclusion from that research is that the more complex things become, the less traditional directive leadership is needed. Those operating in the real world, nonetheless, need ways of coping. The book is focused on helping practitioners struggling to interpret and react to increasingly VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) times. The book will particularly appeal to practitioners wishing to improve their leadership effectiveness as well as for students and researchers in the field of leadership.

Part of a series which focuses on advances in futures and options research, this volume discusses a variety of topics in the field.

A practical, real-world guide for implementing enterprise risk management (ERM) programs into your organization Enterprise risk management (ERM) is a complex yet critical issue that all companies must deal with in the twenty-first century. Failure to properly manage risk continues to plague corporations around the world. ERM empowers risk professionals to balance risks with rewards and balance people with processes. But to master the numerous aspects of enterprise risk management, you must integrate it into the culture and operations of the business. No one knows this better than risk management expert James Lam, and now, with Implementing Enterprise Risk Management: From Methods to Applications, he distills more than thirty years' worth of experience in the field to give risk professionals a clear understanding of how to implement an enterprise risk management program for every business. * Offers valuable insights on solving real-world business problems using ERM * Effectively addresses how to develop specific ERM tools * Contains a significant number of case studies to help with practical implementation of an ERM program While Enterprise Risk Management: From Incentives to Controls, Second Edition focuses on the "what" of ERM, Implementing Enterprise Risk Management: From Methods to Applications will help you focus on the "how." Together, these two resources can help you meet the enterprise-wide risk management challenge head on and succeed.

Financial Ratios for Executives is written specifically with today's global executive in mind. It makes financial ratios easy to understand and use effectively. This short book will prove invaluable to both financial and non-financial executives looking for easy, intuitive methods to assess corporate health and assist in strategic decision making. Financial Ratios for Executives contains over 100 financial ratios and other useful calculations. It includes ratios that are commonly used, such as return on investment (ROI), return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), economic value added (EVA), and debt-to-equity ratio, just to name a few. It also includes many less-well known-yet powerful-ratios that can provide unparalleled insight into operations, financial management, sales and marketing efforts, and overall performance, among other areas. Using realistic financial and operational data from two fictional companies, the explanation of each ratio includes: Type of ratio Formula for calculating the ratio Description of the ratio Example based on ABC Company or XYZ Company Additional comments or insights In addition to the section on financial ratios, financial experts Michael Rist and Albert Pizzica have included a section on capital budgeting, an understanding of which is essential for both the financial and non-financial executives before they take part in an annual budget meeting or any other business meeting where capital allocation is discussed. It includes the most important tools of finance, such as net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), payback method, and total cost of ownership. Who gets ahead in the business world? Those who understand the numbers. It's as simple as that. Financial Ratios for Executives is for those who want to understand how to use financial data to support their initiatives, solve persistent problems, uncover opportunities, bolster company health, and shine in corporate meetings.

Bernadette Gral examines the relationship between financial slack and corporate performance in the European pharmaceutical industry during the financial crisis of 2007 to 2010. Her investigation includes correlational and regression analyses as well as the qualitative content analysis of newspaper articles. The results show that financial slack influences corporate performance measured as ROA based on net income, thus implying that firms use slack resources to enhance performance during crises. The findings support the arguments for a beneficial effect of financial slack on performance according to the resource based view and behavioral theory of the firm.

Risk control, capital allocation, and realistic derivative pricing and hedging are critical concerns for major financial institutions and individual traders alike. Events from the collapse of Lehman Brothers to the Greek sovereign debt crisis demonstrate the urgent and abiding need for statistical tools adequate to measure and anticipate the amplitude of potential swings in the financial markets-from ordinary stock price and interest rate moves, to defaults, to those increasingly frequent "rare events" fashionably called black swan events. Yet many on Wall Street continue to rely on standard models based on artificially simplified assumptions that can lead to systematic (and sometimes catastrophic) underestimation of real risks. In Practical Methods of Financial Engineering and Risk Management, Dr. Rupak Chatterjee- former director of the multi-asset quantitative research group at Citi-introduces finance professionals and advanced students to the latest concepts, tools, valuation techniques, and analytic measures being deployed by the more discerning and responsive Wall Street practitioners, on all operational scales from day trading to institutional strategy, to model and analyze more faithfully the real behavior and risk exposure of financial markets in the cold light of the post-2008 realities. Until one masters this modern skill set, one cannot allocate risk capital properly, price and hedge derivative securities realistically, or risk-manage positions from the multiple perspectives of market risk, credit risk, counterparty risk, and systemic risk. The book assumes a working knowledge of calculus, statistics, and Excel, but it teaches techniques from statistical analysis, probability, and stochastic processes sufficient to enable the reader to calibrate probability distributions and create the simulations that are used on Wall Street to valuate various financial instruments correctly, model the risk dimensions of trading strategies, and perform the numerically intensive analysis of risk measures required by various regulatory agencies.

Business of all sizes have a problem: How do you knowin real timewhether you are earning the profit you need to grow or even just stay in business? And which products or services are doing the heavy lifting in contributing to profit? Financial statements tell only part of the story. They are backward looking, for one thing, and they generally show results only in the aggregate. Worse, they never seem to reflect the hard work you're doing on a daily basis. As one manager said, If I'm adding 25% profit to every job, why am I getting barely 5% net profit at the end of the year? Improving Profit: Using Contribution Metricsto Boost the Bottom Line solves this dilemma. As this book shows, Contribution-Based Activity (CBA) measures focus on two key levers that are fundamental to the operation of any business: financial contribution and units of activity. Knowing how to use these levers gets your company off the treadmill and on your way to stellar profitability. And as the 21 case studies show, CBA is surprisingly easy to apply to businesses of all types and all sizes. What is financial contribution? Simply the amount above and beyond the cost of goods or materials sold that contributes to covering overhead and creating profit. As entrepreneur, business consultant, and professor Keith Cleland shows, few managers actually know the financial contribution their products and services make, nor how to amplify that contribution by incremental adjustments to one or both levers. As you'll learn, the financial tool Cleland created, TARI (Target Average Rate Index), provides insight into each product's value. You'll not only learn which products are contributing the most to the bottom line, but how to unlock the profit potential in run-of-the-mill products or services. Improving Profit will help you: Restore and boost profit levels for your entire operation Relate your daily efforts toa transaction'sactual profitability Focus on the two key performance indicators that can help you identify and solve problems affecting finance and productivity Help everyone in the companyfrom CEO to janitorunderstand how their activities help or hinder the company's fortunes Make effective financial decisions

If you've ever wondered why your results don't match your hard work, hopes, and dreams, read this book. As the case studies make clear, identifying and applying TARI results in a significantand often dramaticboost to the bottom-line. What you'll learn Readers will learn to: Improve the profitability of a job, product, service, or department Price products and services correctly Conserve cash and avoid financial crunches Win desirable quotes and tenders Identify and track productivity Who this book is for

This book is for business managers, directors, consultants, students, professors, CPAs, and business advisers of all types. Table of Contents Background to Contribution-Based Activity (CBA) Kitchen Utensil Manufacturer Taken to the Cleaners Printing Business Multiplies Net Profit by 500% Furniture Manufacturer Climbs Out of the Red Contractor Overcomes Competition to Make a Profit Horticultural Equipment Proprietor's Moment of Truth Wholesaler Nets $2.5M in 10+ Months Jeweler's Changed Focus Turns Red into Black Upmarket Cafe Learns How to Stay on Track Diesel Repair Shop Rescued from Sand-Up- Hill Country Garment Maker Multiplies Net Profit by 700% Switchboard Manufacturer Climbs into the Black Baker Identifies W here the Rubber Meets the Road Architectural Practice Eradicates a Malignant Cancer Accounting Firm Wins by Losing a Third of Its Fees Legal Firm Transfers Productivity to the Bottom Line Contractor Increases Strike Rate to 1 in 4 Hot Bread Baker Discovers More to Bread than Flour Window Manufacturer's Flawed Foundation Multi-Home Contractor Discovers a New Way Home Award-Winning Hairdressing Salon Cuts Its Way Out of Bankruptcy Multi-Department Store Whitewashes the Past 14 Businesses Explore CBA/TARI Questions Answered Fast-Track Problem Resolution Guide Definition of Terms The Business Wheel Epilogue: Why Contribution Metrics?

The Handbook is a virtual encyclopedia of public financial management, written by topmost experts, many with a background in the IMF and World Bank. It provides the first comprehensive guide to the subject that has been published in more than ten years. The book is aimed at a broad audience of academics/students, government officials, development agencies and practitioners. It covers both bread-and-butter topics such as the macroeconomic and legal framework for budgeting, budget preparation and execution, procurement, accounting, reporting, audit and oversight, as well as specialist subjects such as government payroll systems, local government finance, fiscal transparency, the management of fiscal risks, sovereign wealth funds, the management of state-owned enterprises, and political economy aspects of budgeting. The book sets out numerous examples and case studies describing good practice in public financial management, and is highly relevant for use in both advanced and developing countries.

Asking is more than a skill it's a lifestyle The Ask is your personal manual for building the best, most fulfilling personal and professional life possible. Crafting the perfect ask can fund your new business, support your favorite charity, and get more quality time with your significant other but it can do so much more than that. It can change your life. In learning how to ask for what you really want and deserve, you lose your fear of rejection and judgement. You create the greatest sense of self-worth that no one can give you, you give it to yourself when you ask. The critical moment is when you turn your skills inward and make the hardest asks, the ones you ask yourself. This book is designed to make you an Exceptional Asker, and in the process, give you the confidence and skills you need to achieve all your goals and realize your dreams. You'll learn how to prepare, what words to use, what to avoid, and how to follow up, and you'll purge the natural hesitancy that has been holding you back for so long. Asking is about empowerment. It shows the world that what you want matters. It defines who you are, where you're going, and who will be by your side. This book provides over 175 sample asks, with clear actionable steps to help you claim your space in relationships, at work, and in the world. * Rewrite your own rulebook and find empowerment in asking * Learn the simple five steps to craft the perfect ask * Discover the secret of the ask its two sentences and a question * Remove your Money Blockers and turn a bad ask into a win * Conquer the hardest asks you'll ever make the ones you ask yourself Mastering the art of the ask reconfigures your approach to life, and changes the way you tackle challenges and goals. The Ask gives you the skills and the mindset you need to accomplish anything you can dream.

Especially in times of an economic boom following a crisis, companies have to deal with the phenomenon of the "working capital trap," which signifies a company's increasing need for financial liquidity in times of hindered access to debt capital, caused by the increasingly restrictive credit approval processes of financial institutions. As a consequence of cost savings, this situation is often reinforced by a low level of inventory.

This book takes up the problem and shows ways of escaping the "trap" by identifying and strengthening in-house financing potential. First, different operating ratios will be introduced. These refer to the amount of capital committed to the flow of goods and to the amount of in-house financing possible. Subsequently, methods for consolidating in-house financing that are affected by procurement processes will be presented from the company's and the supply chain's perspective.

From a company's perspective, the methods for consolidating the amount of in-house financing over the following topics: The Management of Payment Terms, Inventory Management and Product Group and Supplier Management

From the supply chain's perspective, the following methods for extending the possible amount of in-house financing will be discussed: Finance-Oriented Supply Chain Sourcing, Supply Chain-Oriented Supplier Financing, Collaborative Cash-to-Cash Management, Collaborative Cash Pooling and Netting, Supply Chain Financing Platforms.

The conceptual models will be clarified using a practical example from the automobile industry. Finally, the "Procurement Value Added" (PVA(c)) approach will be presented, a concept that measures the contribution of procurement to the company's success.