Steven M Bragg

"Once again, Bragg has turned his discerning eye and formidable talents on a topic and the results are outstanding. Both those new to the business and the long-established entrepreneur will benefit greatly when he joins forces with E. James Burton to produce this outstanding work." —Mary S. Schaeffer, Editorial Director Accounts Payable Now & Tomorrow "I use the tips and practices found in [this book] all through the year. They are clear, direct, and efficient-which, in turn, improves our company and our bottom line. I recommend [this book] to anyone wanting to improve their own bottom line." —D. R. Drum, CIO, CSO Engineering/Accounting, Dragon Moon Productions "Eminently accessible, this book is a must-read for the entrepreneur, both new and established alike. Organizationally, the work flows smoothly and logically in a way that is valuable for the start-up as well as the veteran needing a refresher on specific aspects of the small business accounting/financing picture. I found particularly useful the rich resourcefulness that Messrs Burton and Bragg brought to the table in compiling the essential checklists for every conceivable corner of the entrepreneur's financial realm from fraud prevention to financing options. As a small business owner myself, I was well pleased with the real-world guidance and instant 'useability' this book offers." —David Struthers, JDFacilitator/Trial Lawyer "This book is essential for any small business owner, manager, or accountant's business tool kit. This easy-to-read book distills complex subject matter into meaningful and understandable information and is a great refresher course for those deeply involved in the accounting and financial matters of a small business. The book contains many examples that can be used immediately in daily operations to improve the quality of information for better decision making. The book provides those involved in small business the framework to manage what they measure." —Jim Bologa, CFODaticon, Inc.

"As companies in growing numbers look to outsource functions not related to their core competencies, Bragg's work provides an excellent road map. Demonstrating a firm grasp of the topic, he intelligently walks the reader through the maze, analyzing all aspects of the process (including whether the function should or should not be outsourced). This is a must-read for both novices and veterans alike." --Mary S. Schaeffer Editorial Director and Publisher Accounts Payable Now & Tomorrow "Steve Bragg's Outsourcing gives business decision-makers the insights needed to make the case for or against outsourcing. The first half provides a thorough discussion of all aspects, including evaluating risks and rewards, selecting, contracting, and terminating. The second half provides in-depth analysis of ten different types of outsourcing services, including janitorial, customer service, and accounting. This book provides practical advice that will benefit everyone regardless of the extent of their prior experience." --Dr. Will Yancey, PHD, CPA Independent Consultant "Once again, Steve Bragg has compiled a comprehensive, well-written book that will yield an excellent return on time invested by readers. This is a must-have guide in outsourcing for any manager, whether newly exposed or an expert. I came away with some great ideas from the book!" --James A. Bologa Executive Vice President and CFO Daticon Inc. "Use of carefully considered outsourcing can be a critical component of any corporate strategy. In Outsourcing, Steve Bragg has given an excellent overview of why and when outsourcing should be considered, some precautionary thoughts, and specifics of how to successfully implement and manage any outsourced functions. He has created an excellent guide to the use of outsourcing as a means to enhance corporate success in today's challenging business climate." --Richard V. Souders President and CEO Premier Data Services

120 best practices to improve the total process of the payroll department Payroll Best Practices examines, in great detail, best practices for the payroll function, and how to install them to provide readers with an in-depth knowledge of how this critical functional area can be improved. Here, controllers, payroll managers, and CFOs will discover the exact work plans needed to implement each best practice in their organizations, and lays out pitfalls likely to be encountered and avoided along the way. This how-to resource for payroll improvements includes: * Techniques for reducing the workload and error rate of the payroll staff * Methods for switching from an in-house to an outsourced payroll solution * Ways to create or outsource a Web-based timekeeping system * Approaches to switching to an employee-driven payroll deduction system * Graphics indicating the cost and implementation duration for each best practice * Policies and procedures that support the best practices * A simplified best practices implementation plan * An appendix that summarizes the large number of best practices presented * A glossary of key payroll-related terminology * And much more

Dramatically improve inventory accuracy with bestselling author Steven Bragg's step-by-step guidelines Inventory Accounting is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to setting up an inventory accounting system and keeping it running at maximum efficiency. This hands-on book provides accounting professionals with essential information on how to: * Set up an accounting system that efficiently handles accumulating inventory costs, summarizing accounts, and standard journal entries used to record transactions * Use best practices to increase the efficiency of inventory-tracking and costing functions * Install unique controls to combat inventory fraud * Implement a step-by-step checklist of activities for inventory counting procedures * Save hours of valuable time researching various GAAP reference manuals * Adapt inventory tracking and costing systems to accommodate a variety of manufacturing systems Spanning the entire spectrum of inventory accounting, Inventory Accounting deftly explores every facet of the field to help professionals eliminate inaccuracies from their inventory accounting systems.

Controller's Guide to Costing is a comprehensive source for all issues related to cost accounting, detailing aspects of creating costing systems, how cost accounting systems work, interpreting the results, and how the resulting information can be used, including: Provides an overview of various costing methodologies. Written in easy to understand language?from one controller to another. Includes information on application, implementation, reporting, problems that can arise, and example case studies.

A one-stop resource for setting up or improving an existing payroll system The most comprehensive resource available on the subject, Accounting for Payroll: A Comprehensive Guide provides up-to-date information to enable users to handle payroll accounting in the most cost-effective manner. From creating a system from scratch to setting up a payroll department to record-keeping and journal entries, Accounting for Payroll provides the most authoritative information on the entire payroll process. Ideal for anyone new to the payroll system or as a skill-honing tool for those already immersed in the field, this hands-on reference provides step-by-step instructions for setting up a well-organized payroll system or improving an existing one. Featuring checklists, a dictionary of payroll terms, information on Internet payroll sources, and much more, Accounting for Payroll shows CFOs, controllers, accounting managers, and systems analysts how to: *Create a payroll department from scratch *Increase the efficiency of the payroll function through best practices *Reduce payroll data entry time and transactional errors *Evaluate the services of a payroll outsourcing provider *Set up and maintain an outsourcing relationship *Set up an efficient payroll system

The Controller’s Guide to Planning and Controlling Operations is a comprehensive guide for controllers, CFOs, and budget managers who need to determine: The soundness of sales forecasts The best approach for setting product prices The profitability of customers and market segments Federal tax remittance rules The impact of a just-in-time system on inventory levels Packed with clear and realistic strategies, it helps create a coherent framework of financial plans that apply to the full breadth of ongoing corporate control systems, as well as illustrates: When to use labor and materials standards to control manufacturing How to control research and development costs How to grant appropriate credit levels to customers How to set up an effective capital budgeting process How to create a cost-of-capital calculation

* Details how cost accounting systems work and how the resulting information can be used. * Includes a list of the most common costing problems, along with recommended solutions. * Provides case studies on costing issues and sample journal entries for the most common cost entries. * Includes a dictionary of cost accounting terminology. * Includes flowcharts and control point listing for several types of costing systems.

Ensure a smooth-running operation with the indispensable guidance offered in Sales and Operations for Your Small Business. Here is detailed information on how to plan for and integrate departments, analyze markets, forecast sales, set pricing levels, manage inventories, outsource selected functions, and much more. Complete with easy-to-read discussions of relevant concepts along with practical examples of highly effective solutions, you'll also find: * Numerous ready-to-use forms, checklists, sample spreadsheets, and calculations showing practical applications of real-world examples * Step-by-step procedures for incorporating proven theories into your day-to-day business * Proven tools for easy forecasting of demand, optimal pricing of products and services, and managing your inventories for enhanced profitability * Special tips for developing an elite advisory team and valuing the business Take advantage of the comprehensive, expert advice provided by Sales and Operations for Your Small Business and step up your small business planning, marketing, and management function today.

New history of British seaside resorts 1920-40.

As paradoxical as it sounds, one of the toughest problems facing many of today's most successful companies is success itself. Like living organisms, companies are complex networks of interdependent systems—and unless managers recognize and swiftly implement the changes to those systems required by a sudden surge in demand, a booming business can easily go bust under the strain. Recent history abounds with examples of companies whose overnight success led to morning-after failure because their managers, like most managers, lacked the training or experience needed to manage explosive growth. Yet, surprisingly, until recently there have been few expert guides devoted exclusively to this crucial change management issue. Managing Explosive Corporate Growth is a practical guide to piloting your company through periods of explosive growth with minimum damage and maximum sustainable profits. Author Steven Bragg explores the reasons why companies succeed or fail to adapt to explosive growth. He identifies the warning signs of impending explosions or declines in sales volume and zeroes in on the key growth issues specific to each functional area of the company—including accounting, auditing, IT, customer service, distribution, engineering, finance, HR, manufacturing, and sales and marketing. He also presents clear-cut guidelines on how to balance the demands of all organizational areas while guaranteeing customer satisfaction. In addition to proven strategies for planning, financing, and managing explosive growth, he provides you with valuable explosive growth management tools, including checklists of key explosive growth indicators; metrics and reporting systems for controlling cash flow; multioption budgeting systems that address all growth levels; and reporting systems that help you monitor and control rapid expansion. Managing Explosive Corporate Growth is an indispensable working resource for corporate managers, internal auditors, and entrepreneurs. It will also be of considerable interest to institutional investors who would like to learn the latest techniques for tracking the performance of current or potential investments.