Provides new controllers with a foundation in the concepts of managing the accounting department, locating GAAP information, and analyzing and knowing what to do with key accounting information. This title also provides an overview of the controller's responsibilities.

Your crash course to mastering your new role as controller

“Steven Bragg’s The Essential controller: An Introduction to What Every Financial Manager Must know, Second Edition has a broad coverage of topics in the environment of accounting, financial management, financial leadership, and corporate governance, making it a critical resource. The text is written in a clear and concise style with insights into practical situation soften encountered in the world of corporate controllership and the customary financial management role such as policies, procedures, shareholder value, value added reporting, advising management, and compliance that are applicable across a wide industry spectrum.” – John G. Herndon, consultant on accounting, finance, tax, ERP, and venture capital; Adjunct Professor, Accounting and Finance, college of Business and Economics, California State University, East Bay

“Mr. Bragg has solved the mystery of what a CFO, controller, and financial analyst are. This book is a must-read for any CEO challenged by financial roles and responsibilities, and what they should expect from their financial staff. It offers clear and concise prose that ensures actionable and achievable results within your financial department. – Ken Koch, CEO, Business Resource Management, Inc.

Prolific accounting author Steven Bragg shows us how to:

• Implement efficient practices for managing the accounting department
• Analyze information through the use of ratio and trend analysis
• Pinpoint the resolve control problems through control systems changes
• Work with the internal audit group
• Recruit, hire, promote, and motivate your accounting team
• Collaborate with company investors, including the use of a standard disclosure policy

This Second Edition of The Essential Controller includes new coverage of accounting standards codification, finance strategy, update taxation strategy, and internal control flowcharts. Learn the ins and outs of controller ship while avoiding potentially catastrophic pitfalls with expert guidance found in The Essential controller, Second Edition.

Quick-reference guidance showing new controllers how to enhance performance while avoiding pitfalls

Designed to give new controllers a firm foundation in the concepts of managing the accounting department, locating GAAP information, and analyzing and knowing what to do with key accounting information, The Essential Controller, Second Edition is the invaluable primer you can turn to for the foundation you need to succeed. Whether your business is large, small, or medium-sized, this volume provides a complete overview of the controller's responsibilities and the role that today's controllers should be playing.

• Offers new coverage of finance strategy
• Updates taxation strategy
• Includes a new controller checklist
• Quick reference guide that controllers can turn to
• Also by Steven M. Bragg: The Controller's Function: The Work of the Managerial Accountant, Fourth Edition

The Essential Controller, Second Edition is the go-to handbook that you will use every day for dealing with the everyday issues facing today's controllers.