Financial Planning & Analysis and Performance Management

Praise for Financial Planning & Analysis and Performance Management

"Financial Planning & Analysis and Performance Management provides a comprehensive yet pragmatic framework to deliver value from finance and contribute to overall business success. Addressing not only the science but the ′art′ of FP&A, a truly valuable resource to both the finance executive defining the roadmap to FP&A excellence and the analyst establishing credibility as a business partner."
Michael Rossi, MBA, Healthcare CFO

"Beyond academic theory, I have witnessed firsthand Alexander′s framework–driven concepts improve firm profitability and value. This comprehensive book is a required read and reference for finance executives and FP&A teams."
William W. Benton, CFA, Investment Analyst, Partner, William Blair Investment Management, LLC

"Well written and comprehensive, Jack Alexander′s latest work leads you to the true drivers of business performance in a business world awash with detached KPI′s and useless dashboards. An essential read for any Human Resources leader who wants to speak intelligently about the business and to be an effective business partner. The sections on Innovation, Agility, and Human Capital Management are refreshing and precisely on target."
Warren Davis, Vice President, Human Resources, JMA Wireless

"A terrific resource for all finance professionals, with actionable content for improving key areas of FP&A. Once again, Jack has captured practical tools and techniques, providing them for such critical areas as analysis, modeling, rolling forecasts, KPI′s and dashboards, valuation and capital investment decisions. The book will serve as a great future reference for our FP&A group."
Dan Heaney, CFO, Public Consulting Group

"Financial Planning & Analysis and Performance Management is an invaluable reference tool for finance professionals from entry–level to CFO, written with a refreshing clarity that non–finance professionals also will appreciate. The practical techniques, KPI′s and dashboards are easy to execute with the power to transform your business′s decision–making and drive operating performance and profitability."
Laura J. Goedken, CFO, TaxAct, Inc.

Preface

About the Companion website

1. Introduction to Financial Planning & Analysis and Performance Management

Part I: Fundamentals and Key FP&A Capabilities

2. Fundamentals of Finance

3. Key Analytical Tools and Concepts

4. Developing Predictive and Analytical Models

5. Building Analytical Capability

6. Presenting and Communicating Financial Information

Part II: Performance Management

7. Business Performance Management

8. Dashboards and Key Performance Indicators

9. Institutionalizing Performance Management

10. Measuring and Driving What s Important: Innovation, Agility, and Human Capital

11. The External View: Benchmarking Performance and Competitive Analysis

Part III: Business Projections and Plans

12. Business Projections and Plans: Introduction and Best Practices

13. Budgets, Operating Plans, and Forecasts

14. Long–term Projections

Part IV: Planning and Analysis for Critical Business and Value Drivers

15. Revenue and Gross Margins

16. Operating Expenses and Effectiveness

17. Capital Management and Cash Flow: Working Capital

18. Capital Management and Cash Flow: Capital Assets

19. Risk, Uncertainty, and the Cost of Capital

Part V: Valuation and Capital Investment Decisions

20. Capital Investment Decisions: Introduction and Key Concepts

21. Capital Investment Decisions: Advanced Topics

22. Business Valuation and Value Drivers

23. Analysis of Mergers and Acquisitions

24. Summary and Where to from Here?

Glossary

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Index

JACK ALEXANDER is an experienced CFO and operating executive turned consultant, author, and educator. As the founder of Jack Alexander & Associates, LLC, he provides advice to businesses across a wide range of financial and operating areas, with a focus and passion on Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and Performance Management (PM). The firm also offers customized training and workshops on FP&A. He is a frequent speaker on FP&A and PM. He is the author of Performance Dashboards and Analysis for Value Creation and Financial Planning and Analysis and Performance Management, both from Wiley.