Strategic Finance articles from January 2005

Strategic Finance archives from January 2005

How to budget for enterprise software.(Budgeting)
January 1, 2005... "So, how much is it really going to cost?" That's one of the first questions most executives ask when they are considering a new software purchase, especially those who are planning a major financial/enterprise resource planning (ERP), human...

2005 accounting hiring trends.(Careers)
January 1, 2005... The hiring outlook for 2005 is positive as companies devote greater attention to accounting issues. Even organizations not directly affected by new corporate governance requirements are recognizing the value of hiring employees who can ensure...

Dramatic 2002 CFM completers ranking changes.(Certification)(Certified Financial Manager)
January 1, 2005... In the July 2003 issue of Strategic Finance, we ranked the top 20 colleges and universities that produced successful Certified Financial Manager (CFM) exam completers through December 2001. This report updates that information based on the exam...

Weaving the wireless wardrobe.(End Note)(Personal Area Network garments)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... You're already hooked up to LANs, WANs, and probably a few VPNs, so the question is, can you handle one more network? What about one with sleeves that you wear like a jacket--a PAN (Personal Area Network)? Technology Enabled Clothing[R], LLC,...

Is this the age of whistleblowers?(Ethics)(reporting corporate corruption)
January 1, 2005... In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Board member Charles Niemeier of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) called today's business environment "the age of whistleblowers"--a new corporate culture in which...

The effect of affect.(Best Practices)
January 1, 2005... "You should have seen Karen; smoke was coming out of her ears," Jerry told his rapt audience. "She was presenting right after Judith, who'd dazzled the group for more than an hour. The room was so small that Judith sat down right under Karen's...

How to take a computer disaster in stride.(Risk Management)
January 1, 2005... When it comes to dealing with computer disasters, the ideal strategy is to continue operating right through them, even if the company's offices have been destroyed. Maintaining business continuity is critical. Companies that can't access their...

Balanced forecasts drive value: crown castle USA leveraged the balanced scorecard and strategic meeting management techniques to improve financial, customer, and operational results.(Performance Measurement)
January 1, 2005... Corporate America is littered with examples of failed strategies despite expending significant resources on balanced scorecard (BSC) programs. How is it that many well-intended companies come up short and leave large groups of investors,...

Accounting specialties need more public recognition.(Perspectives: message from the chair)
January 1, 2005... Professionals specialize in a complex world. You don't just go see a doctor or a lawyer. You don't hire an engineer. You specify with a fair amount of accuracy the type of problem you are attempting to solve or service you require. Why is...

Financial executives evaluate SOX compliance.(News)(Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
January 1, 2005... A majority of financial executives (79%) say their companies have stronger internal controls as a result of complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and 74% say their companies have realized a benefit from compliance. As to what kind of...

FASB issues final rule on stock options.(streetwise)(Financial Accounting Standards Board )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Last month the Financial Accounting Standards Board published Statement on Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment," which requires companies to recognize in their financial statements compensation cost...

Ethics isn't just doing the right thing.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I wanted to respond to the article "Corporate Greed vs. IMA's Ethics Code" from the November 2004 issue of Strategic Finance. As I found from completing the CPA licensing requirements, ethics is not simply about doing the right thing. It...

Impressed by ethics coverage.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I was impressed by the coverage devoted to ethics issues in the November 2004 issue. I found the column "CEOs Set Ethics Priorities: Ordinary Citizens Define Ethics Broadly" and the article "Corporate Greed vs. IMA's Ethics Code" especially...

Bush to push for tax changes.(Government)(George W. Bush)
January 1, 2005... Simplifying corporate accounting will be one of the rallying cries heard clearly on Capitol Hill as President Bush pushes his effort to reform the U.S. tax system. During the campaign, the President talked about lowering the 35% corporate tax...

Real-time opportunity.(Books)(Heads Up: How to Anticipate Business Surprises and Seize Opportunities First)(Book Review)
January 1, 2005... Business surprises of all sizes occur with alarming frequency. Managers are using outdated and practically useless information to make critical business decisions, which leads to missed opportunities at best or disastrous failures at worst. By...

The consequences of misclassifying workers.(Taxes)
January 1, 2005... Classifying workers as employees or independent contractors can be a difficult task, with each classification triggering different tax reporting and payment responsibilities. For example, employers are obligated to withhold employment taxes...

Convergence and clarity.(tools of the trade)(BlackBerry's new 7100t)(Jawbone)
January 1, 2005... BlackBerry's new 7100t combines a multitude of functions in a single device. It's a wireless phone that also manages e-mail, instant messaging, SMS (Short Message Service), and wireless data access and has a built-in address book, Internet...

Dragon and drawing.(tools of the trade)(Dragon Naturally Speaking 8)(SmartDraw 7)
January 1, 2005... The new Dragon Naturally Speaking 8 from ScanSoft offers a number of improvements, the most important of which are improved speed and accuracy. It is noticeably faster, and the improved speech engine is 20% more accurate than version 7, the...

Hackable house.(Tech Forum)(Smart Home Hacks by Gordon Meyer)
January 1, 2005... WHEN PBS INVITED SOME FAMILIES to return to the past and spend a few months in log and sod huts in Montana or in a cold, gaslit Victorian London townhouse, the rest of us were able to watch and be reminded of the many inconveniences we have...

A slower-growth economy in 2005.(Financial News)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. economy is expected to experience a solid year in 2005, according to research and forecasts from Economy.com. Real GDP growth is projected to come in at 3.5% and inflation close to 2%. That compares to GDP growth in 2004 expected to be...

Post Sarbanes-Oxley: does XBRL hold the key?(Rivet Software chose Extensible Business Reporting Language as a fundamental component of their software)
January 1, 2005... What would you do if you were asked to reinvent accounting software given the changes to the accounting profession in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) era? Significant new requirements have begun to take hold in corporations all around the globe....