Financial Analysis: A Controller's Guide

I purchased the book as part of my CPA Continuing Education credit program. I was pleasantly surprised. Relevant information with sufficient explanations in clear and concise language. A definite must read and must keep as reference material for any controller or financial analyst.

After over 10 years in the field serving as a Controller, Business Manager, and Consultant, finally a practitioner's book that hits the target. Given the vast topic, Bragg nails the critical issues...gets you in & out of each topic quickly and provides an array of useful tools for analysis, presentation, and discussion. The KISS principle at work! Other books may cover more detail, present more elaborate formulas and in general overwhelm the reader. Bragg doesn't. You'll find his summaries quite helpful: Commonly Used Ratios; Symptoms & Solutions; and Exhibit 6.11 Recommended Analyses by Type of Acquisition, for example. Full of practical, hands-on topic reviews, examples, and analytical thinking. Numerous Exhibits showing practical layouts for presenting information...have saved me time & eliminated the need to reinvent the wheel. A must have for my reference tools...and could have eliminated several books in my MBA. Do what's in this book & do it well and you'll build a solid reputation for you and your team. I liked this book so much that I added Bragg's books "Sales & Operations For Your Small Business" and "Accounting & Finance For Your Small Business" to my tools, too...and have been equally pleased.

This is the only guide I am aware of that is specifically tailored to the needs of the practicing controller. The chapters on breakeven analysis, capacity utilization, and (especially) the use of an electronic spreadsheet are perfect. I find myself taking this book off the shelf for reference purposes at least once a week. Highly recommended.

This book really provides a managerial perspective on financial analysis and includes information on such topics as risk analysis and process cycles and aren't always covered in other books of this nature. Subject matter is well presented.