Features

Moving Ahead
Raef Lawson, CMA, CPA
This first article in a series about the management accounting practices in the People’s Republic of China examines how the finance and accounting function has evolved there as the country moved from a planned economy prior to 1979 to its emergence as a major economic force.

Is Finance a Business Partner Yet?
Tim R.V. Davis and Lance P. McLaughlin
A study of the business partnership practices in the finance units of Fortune 1,000 firms ascertains whether CFOs believe a conflict exists between the need for greater independence of the finance function, as mandated by SOX, and the need for partnering to achieve the improved financial performance demanded by shareholders.

Monster under the Bed
Ramona Dzinkowski
The current state of the economy, the prospect of increased regulatory oversight, and the looming specter of IFRS convergence are just some of the key issues that are preventing controllers from getting a good night’s sleep.

Turning Budgeting Pain into Budgeting Gain
John Orlando
A survey of CFOs shows that the budget process at many companies is broken because of persistent problems in three areas: people, process, and tools. With so much riding on accurate budgets, companies need to find ways to improve all three areas.

Columns

PERSPECTIVES
Becoming Visionary Survivors

TOP LINE
IMA Pledges Timely, Effective Customer Service

TAXES
Economic Stimulus: The Unnoticed Graduation Present

ETHICS
Economic Crime Results from Unethical Culture

FINANCIAL REPORTING
A Fresh Look at Revenue Recognition

ADVOCACY
What Makes a Business “Small”?

IMA LIFE
Achieving Certification

SF BULLETIN
IMA issues business valuation SMA
COSO releases new guidance
Regulation of credit default swaps
Slowdown on IFRS
Letters: Designing effective controls
Books: Leadership model for professionals

EXCEL
Two-Condition Formulas:
SUMIFS vs. SUMPRODUCT

ACCESS
Entering and Editing Data
Using Customized Forms

XBRL
How to Make Your Data Interactive

Departments

TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Amazon Kindle 2, Toshiba TG01, and Nokia n810

TECH FORUM
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly—Scribd