Expanding the Role and Influence of CPAs in Organizations

A major duty of CPAs is to protect the assets of their organization. This requires a clear understanding of the key functions of the business and its environment as well as expanded and improved analytical techniques. This course identifies numerous practices, techniques, and analytical tools, and relates them specifically to key tasks and functions of CPAs and other financial professionals. These activities include general business analysis, decision making, cost and capacity management, selected accounting practices, budgeting, forecasting, measuring, and reporting. Observations and ideas concerning capital expenditures and compensation programs are also addressed. The material builds upon and expands some traditional accounting activities, provides insights on managing through a business cycle, identifies the impact of global markets, outlines techniques for conducting a customer analysis, and redefines some ideas about risk management. Examples and exercises using actual companies and events are included.

Objectives:
- Identify practices that can negatively impact an organization
- Use a series of practical steps and tools to improve their analysis of a variety of situations
- Assist management in navigating the organization through the business cycle
- Isolate cost drivers and trends
- Improve typical budgeting and other resource management processes
- Perform market and customer valuation analysis
- Better identify and manage risk

Prerequisite: Management responsibility in finance, accounting, or operations

Advanced Preparation: None