The Financial Times Guide to Finance for Non-financial Managers

Understand the language of finance, so you can make better decisions, and make them more confidently. * *Transform complex financial data into knowledge for action. *Use KPIs and ratios to assess business health and identify 'warning signals' *Make better choices about capital investments. *Communicate more effectively with financial professionals. *Build skills that are essential to helping businesses achieve their goals -- and to moving forward in your career. FT Guide to Finance for Non-Financial Managers teaches non-financial managers the language of finance, so they can translate complex financial data into actionable knowledge for better decision-making. In plain English, Jo Haigh introduces techniques that can make every business professional more effective -- both in the business, and in their own careers. Haigh shows how to: * *Accurately interpret financial reports, and understand the drivers of profit and loss. *Recognize the difference between cash and profit. *Understand balance sheets. *Work with budgets and forecasts. *Use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and business ratios. *Assess the health of the business, and quickly identify 'warning signals' so they can be addressed early and cost-effectively. *Identify opportunities to increase profits and solve business problems. *Compare capital projects and choose better investments. *Communicate and coordinate more effectively with financial professionals. *Take a more proactive role in helping the business achieve its goals The book includes a complete glossary of finance and investing terms, as well as many sample documents, from KPI summaries to sample full and abbreviated published accounts.