A practical and accessible overview of the fundamentals of business finance -- now in its third edition. Managers are constantly expected to make decisions that reflect a full understanding of the financial consequences. In the absence of formal training, few people are prepared for the responsibilities of dealing with management reports, budgets, and capital proposals, and find themselves embarrassed by their lack of understanding. This book is a practical guide to understanding and managing financial responsibilities. Each chapter examines actual tasks managers have to do, from "how to assemble a budget," "how to read variances on a report," to "how to construct a proposal to invest in new equipment," exploring the principles that can be applied to each task, illustrating practical ways these principles are used, and providing guidance for implementation. Guide to Financial Management will help readers understand financial jargon, financial statements, management accounts, performance measures, budgeting, costing, pricing, decision-making, and investment appraisal. This third edition has been fully revised and expanded with detailed examples from 100 leading businesses around the world.

When [the book] was first published more than 20 years ago, our intent was to write an introductory finance text that students could understand. Today, [the book] has become the leading undergraduate finance text.... [The book] is intended for use in the introductory finance course. The key chapters can be covered in a one-term course, or supplemented with cases and some outside readings, used in a two-term course. -Pref.

Designed for those who want to gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts and techniques used in financial management. An underlying premise of the book is that the objective of the firm is to maximize value or wealth. Drawing on a wealth of experience in the academic and professional worlds, the authors discuss how firms can accomplish this objective by making appropriate investment and financing decisions. Bridging the gap between financial theory and practice, the authors present fundamental concepts in an intuitive and nontechnical way, and provide numerous practical financial tips to readers. The focus is on current practice, using results from recent surveys to show the most popular techniques and approaches used by financial managers today. A range of instructor’s resources are available at the accompanying website. Visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/baker for full details.

Indispensable for all types and sizes of nonprofit organizations, this important book imparts a clear sense of the technical expertise and proficiency needed as a nonprofit financial officer and includes real-world case studies, checklists, tables, and sample policies to clarify and explain financial concepts.

Essential tools and guidance for effective nonprofit financial management Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations provides students, professionals, and board members with a comprehensive reference for the field. Identifying key objectives and exploring current practices, this book offers practical guidance on all major aspects of nonprofit financial management. As nonprofit organizations fall under ever-increasing scrutiny and accountability, this book provides the essential knowledge and tools professional need to maintain a strong financial management system while serving the organization’s stated mission. Financial management, cash flow, and financial sustainability are perennial issues, and this book highlights the concepts, skills, and tools that help organizations address those issues. Clear guidance on analytics, reporting, investing, risk management, and more comprise a singular reference that nonprofit finance and accounting professionals and board members should keep within arm’s reach. Updated to reflect the post-recession reality and outlook for nonprofits, this new edition includes new examples, expanded tax-exempt financing material, and recession analysis that informs strategy going forward. Articulate the proper primary financial objective, target liquidity, and how it ensures financial health and sustainability Understand nonprofit financial practices, processes, and objectives Manage your organization’s resources in the context of its mission Delve into smart investing and risk management best practices Manage liquidity, reporting, cash and operating budgets, debt and other liabilities, IP, legal risk, internal controls and more Craft appropriate financial policies Although the U.S. economy has recovered, recovery has not addressed the systemic and perpetual funding challenges nonprofits face year after year. Despite positive indicators, many organizations remain hampered by pursuit of the wrong primary financial objective, insufficient funding and a lack of investment in long-term sustainability; in this climate, financial managers must stay up-to-date with the latest tools, practices, and regulations in order to serve their organization’s interests. Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations provides clear, in-depth reference and strategy for navigating the expanding financial management function.

Adopting an innovative, open-learning approach to introduce the main principles of financial management in an accessible, non-technical way, this fully updated fifth edition provides a unique focus on the practical application of financial management and its role in decision making.New to this edition: Expanded coverage of key topics such as financing the business Increased coverage of corporate governance issues Even more real-world examples to help illustrate the practical application and importance of the topics discussed Financial statements throughout based on the latest International Accounting Standards Full-colour design, packed with pedagogical features, providing an original learning experience Key features: Written in a unique, ‘open learning' style Clear explanations and minimal technical jargon to aid understanding -no previous knowledge of financial management is assumed Based on a solid foundation of theory, but focusing throughout on its value for decision making Covering all the main areas of financial management in sufficient detail to provide a good grasp of the subject Numerous examples, activities and exercises throughout, allowing the reader to test his/her knowledge at frequent intervalsFully supported by a comprehensive range of student and lecturer learning resources, Financial Management for Decision Makers is ideal for undergraduates from a non-finance/accounting discipline taking an introductory module in financial management, and postgraduate/postexperience students on courses such as the ACCA Diploma in Financial Management, Diploma in Management Studies and MBA programmes. The text is also suitable for finance and accounting students as a foundation for further study.Peter Atrillis a freelance academic and author working with leading institutions in the UK, Europe and SE Asia. He has previously held posts as Head of Business and Management and Head of Accounting and Law at University of Plymouth Business School.