Job of the Accounting Manager
Authors: Michael P. GriffinC.M.A., Stephen J. Griffin
Credit: 2.0 CEUs
Testing Format: multiple choice
Your Price: $159.00
ISBN: 9780761213444
Format: Book
Overview
Functional expertise still matters—but it isn’t enough in today’s business environment.
The accounting manager’s role has changed dramatically in recent years. Once an overseer of transaction processes and financial reporting, today’s accounting manager must be prepared to play a larger role—as planner, leader, communicator, internal consultant and business partner to senior management. Functional expertise still matters, but it isn’t sufficient for excellent performance in today’s business environment.
The Job of the Accounting Manager: Leading-Edge Strategies is written for accounting managers and all those who aspire to that position. It provides a solid grounding in all the traditional responsibilities of accounting management, including the latest on IT/accounting systems content and activity-based costing. But it goes much further, imparting the broader business knowledge, skills, and competencies that every accounting manager will need today and in the years ahead.
The course is amply illustrated with exercises, exhibits, and helpful checklists.
Course Objective: Orient accounting professionals to the duties, functions, and responsibilities of the accounting manager.
Selected Learning Objectives
• Fulfill the role of a technical accountant managing other accountants
• Take a larger part in internal consulting, process improvement, and performance evaluation
• Assist senior management in budgeting and strategic planning
• Be a better communicator—both verbally and in writing
• Develop team skills
• Collaborate effectively with other business functions
Testing Format
This course contains one multiple choice test valued at two Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Table of Contents
About This Course
How to Take This Course
Pre-test
1. The Fundamental Expertise of the Accounting Manager 1
Introduction
The Basic Skills of the Accounting Manager
Core Responsibilities
Technical Accounting Skills
General Ledger Maintenance and Monthly Closing
and Reconciliation Processes
End-of-Period Reporting
Financial Analysis
Tax Planning
Internal Audit
Interaction with External Auditors
The Accounting Manager’s Relationship with Management
The Accounting Manager’s Interaction with the Board
of Directors
The Accounting Manager’s Role in Computer-Based Systems
General Ledger Packages
Enterprise Resource Planning
Data Warehousing
High-Speed Telecommunications Capabilities
Course Outline
Recap
Review Questions
2. Cash Management 19
Introduction
The Cash Forecast
The Long-Term Cash Forecast
The Short-Term Cash Forecast
Handling Cash Receipts
Handling Cash Disbursements
Cash and Fraud Prevention
Electronic Data Interchange
Investing Idle Cash
Financial Risk
Interest-Rate Risk
Liquidity
Taxability
Recap
Review Questions
3. The Accounting Manager’s Role with Accounts Receivable Management 37
Investment in Accounts Receivable
Credit Policy
Monitoring
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Relationship of Receivables to Cash Management
Recap
Review Questions
4. The Accounting Manager’s Role with Inventory and Its Management 51
Introduction
What Is Inventory?
The Importance of Inventory
Internal Control of Inventory
Requisitioning
Receiving
Storing
Consumption
The Physical Count
Inventory Management
Inventory Costs
Just-in-Time Systems
Recap
Review Questions
5. Long-Term Operational Assets and Other Long-Term Assets 63
Introduction
Fixed and Other Long-Term Assets and the
Accounting Manager
What Are Long-Term Assets?
Depreciation and Amortization
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Internal Controls and Operational Assets
A Word About Capital Budgeting
Internal Controls
Recap
Review Questions
6. Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities 75
Introduction
The Purchasing and Procurement Process
Recording Accounts Payable
Other Liabilities
Payroll
Taxes
Revolving Lines of Credit and Long Term Debt
Relationship of Payables to Cash Management
Financial Ratios and Analyses
Internal Controls
Recap
Review Questions
7. Budgets and the Profit Plan 89
Introduction
The Accounting Manager’s Role in Budgeting
Budget Coordination
Responsibility Accounting Systems
How a Responsibility System Works
Successful Design and Maintenance of a Budget. System
Responsibility Accounting: Primary and Secondary Advantages
The Operating Budget
The Capital Budget
Economic Value Added Concept
The Accounting Manager as a Strategic Planner
Recap
Review Questions
8. The New Profile of the Accounting Manager 103
The Old and New Paradigms
Business Partnering and Your Self-Assessment
AICPA Competency Model
Personal Attributes
Personal Attributes Action Plan
Ethics and the Accounting Manager
Codes of Conduct
Competence as an Ethical Issue
Commitment to Learning
Recap
Review Questions
9. The Accounting Manager and Leadership 121
The Accounting Manager as a Leader
Strategic Thinking and Planning
The Mission Statement and Strategic Planning
Creating a Vision for the Accounting Department
Goal Setting and Measurement
Communication Skills and the Accounting Manager
Writing Skills for the Accounting Manager
Writing Is a Process
Oral Communication: Preparation Is the First Step
Staff Management
Building the Accounting Department Staff
Developing Your Staff
Job Analysis and Description
Departmental Depth
Departmental Teamwork
Delegating the Work
Recap
Review Questions
10. The Broadening Business Perspective of the Accounting Manager 145
Introduction
Industry Expertise
Leveraging Print and Electronic Media
Cross-Functional Involvement
Risk Management
Intellectual Property and Proprietary Technologies
Information Systems
Local Area Networks (LANs)
Enterprise Reporting Packages (ERPs)
Broad Regulatory Knowledge
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Laws
Nonroutine Transactions
Recap
Review Questions
Bibliography
Post-test
Index