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Learn how to write effective and easy-to-understand financial reports How to Write a Financial Report accompanies the hugely successful
How to Read a Financial Report (now in its 10th Edition) and helps readers learn the essential skills needed to write, analyze, and communicate financial and accounting reports, statements, and information. Designed specifically for non-specialists, this reader-friendly resource covers the fundamentals of financial reporting and writing in jargon-free English. The books value is enhanced by offering the unique view of not just how financial information is interpreted from external parties reading financial reports from the "outside looking in", but more importantly, how financial information is accumulated, prepared, and reported from the "inside looking out", to the target audience, whether external professionals or internal management. Veteran financial consultant and author Tage C. Tracy breaks down the content provided in this book into three easy-to-understand parts. To start, part one helps readers understand the importance of effectively communicating financial information to their target audience, especially concerning where the data is sourced from, how the data is consolidated, and more. The basics of financial statements, reports, and information is covered second, as no one can write a financial report without this fundamental knowledge. Tracy concludes by discussing the importance of utilizing different financial statements, reports, information, KPIs, and other strategies in presenting the financial performance story that needs to be communicated to all the readers of your report, even if they aren't experts in accounting and finance.
How to Write a Financial Report earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of investors, lenders, business leaders, analysts, and managers looking for the practical knowledge needed to write an effective and communicative financial report from start to finish.
List of contents
List of Exhibits vii
Preface xi
Part One-Financial Report Writing Basics - What You Absolutely Must Know! 1 1 Communicate or Die! 3
2 Target Audience "E" - External Users 15
3 Target Audience "I" - Internal Consumers 27
4 Introducing CART - To Start, the Big "C," Completeness 37
5 Embracing CART - Accuracy, Reliability, and Timeliness, the Best of Friends 49
Part Two-Financial Statements - The Economic Heartbeat of a Company 61 6 Understanding the Income Statement 63
7 Trusting the Balance Sheet 73
8 Relying on the Statement of Cash Flows 85
9 Connecting the Financial Statement Dots 97
10 The Significance of Financial Forecasts 107
Part Three-The Types and Targets of Financial Reports 123 11 The Role of Accounting 125
12 Preparing Financial Reports from Company Financial Statements - External Users 137
13 Preparing Financial Reports from Company Financial Statements - Internal Consumers 151
14 Preparing Financial Reports from Company Financial Information 165
15 Revisiting Our Example Company with a Slight Twist 179
About the Author 197
Index 199
About the author
Over the past 30+ years,
Tage C. Tracy has operated a financial consulting firm focused on offering CFO/executive-level support and planning services to private companies on a fractional basis, working primarily with startups, rapid growth companies, strategic exits and acquisitions, and turnarounds and challenged environments.
