March 2010
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Creating Effective Dashboards
By Brian Ballou, Dan L. Heitger, and Laura Donnell
Dashboards can be valuable tools in helping companies monitor and
mitigate risk. They present real-time pictures of key metrics, providing
executives with the most relevant information they need to make
informed business decisions. For a dashboard to be effective, however,
executives must ensure that it identifies the metrics and information
most critical to managing their company’s risk. The authors describe the
challenges in implementing a dashboard and offer solutions to help
tailor the dashboard to your specific company.
Excel-Based Budgeting for Production
By Teresa Stephenson, CMA, and Jason Porter
Part 2 of the six-part series on creating an effective Excel-based
Master Budget details the steps leading to the creation of the
Production Budget, the Direct Materials Budget, the Schedule of Cash
Payments, and the Direct Labor Budget. The information used in these
budgets will help with production estimates, the quantities and costs of
materials, timing of payments for materials, and the expected hours and
costs of direct labor employees.
Preserving Control
By Ramona Dzinkowski
A panel of corporate controllers recently talked about major issues that
may require significant attention: downsizing and restructuring
activities during the current economic environment, implementing and
monitoring risk management efforts, SOX reporting, supply chain
strategies, and the convergence of IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
Take Less—and Earn More
By Joseph M. Hargadon, CMA, CPA, and Lori R. Fuller, CPA
Because of changes to the Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) and
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams, it’s now possible for
undergraduate students to pass both the CMA and CPA exams within six
months after graduation. Accounting majors who have completed additional
courses in finance can follow the nine-step process outlined here to
take advantage of the timing of their coursework and maximize their
chances of passing the exams—and begin their careers already on the path
to success.
PERSPECTIVES
Setting the Right Goals
TOP LINE
Join Us in Baltimore
BEST PRACTICES
Wolverine vs. Superman: The Anger Debate
TAXES
Theft Loss Deductibility
ETHICS
Fight Against Corruption Escalates
FINANCIAL REPORTING
Another Step Along the Path to Transparency
CAREERS
Personalize Your Career Development Plan
ACADEMIC CORNER
Solving Self-Regulated Learner Issues
IMA LIFE
Publish or Perish?
SF BULLETIN
• Business Disputes Some Provisions of New Generally Lauded SEC
Capitalization Leeway
• SEC Policy Statement on Cooperation by Corporate Officials
• Tips for Business Owners
• Corrections
• Letters: Add a Step in the Ethics Process, An Excellent Example, Learn
from Haier’s Restructuring Efforts
• Books: Be a Better Leader
EXCEL
Reporting a Count of Records by Geography
ACCESS
Using Forms, Queries, and Reports to Create Ad Hoc Reporting
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Apple iPad, Plustek OpticFilm 7600i Ai, SanDisk slotRadio, ATX Tax
Packages
TECH FORUM
The Digital Wars
Back
