1 comments about Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting 2001.

1. The GFOA did an excellent job of explaining governmental accounting. The book has incorporated the new model as established in Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 34. The book is worth owning just see how a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is prepared and looks under the GASB Statement 34 model.

   While GFOA is not the standards setting body, it is important for professionals trying to achieve the Certificate of Excellence in Government Accounting for their CAFR to understand the GFOA's interpretation since they are the body running the awards program.

   I would recommend this book for any person charged with managing the financial affairs of a governmental agency.

1 comments about Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting: 1994 Edition.

1. At one time, this was the bible for governmental accounting. That is no longer true. Using this edition will only cause confusion. In the rapidly changing world of governmental accounting, this book is outdated. Using it as a guide, may cause governmental agencies to get a qualified opinion.

5 comments about Profitable Sarbanes-oxley Compliance: Attain Improved Shareholder Value and Bottom-line Results.

1. Lynn Northrup has accomplished what few have communicated. There is some good benefit besides performing all of the tedious work of "checking the boxes" to comply with the law of SOX.
   
   This book describes, in a way a manager can understand it, how the tasks of complying with Sarbannes-Oxley can be applied to "performance management" of an organization. Well done.



2. In my business, I see fraud occurring daily, by all walks of life across all manner of businesses. No one seems immune, yet no one also knows when it will occur and by whom. But history proves it can be controlled and minimalized, not just with good goverance and control structures, but effective governance and control structures. The well-organized and easy to read Profitable Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance provides the most practical, comprehensive guidance and advice to-date for company management and boards on achieving true effective governance that touches on and challenges all key elements--board, management, IT, auditors, etc--to rise to the occasion in an integrated chorus to bring to life the SOX compliance process. Having examined fraud and business operations for the past 20 years proves to me that while SOX can be expensive and a headache to implement, getting it right and making it work--regardless of organizational size--will not only lower the cost of potential fraud significantly, a worthy goal, but will provide the added benefit of greatly improving the way the organization functions and governs itself, the ultimate goal to improved shareholder value.



3. Lynn hits the bullseye in this very relevant book. The companies that have used Sarbanes as an opportunity to review operational efficiencies and best practices have turned Sarbanes from a pain to an opportunity. Lynn provides great practical advice on how to capitalize.



4. "Profitable Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance" is well written and easy to read. Northrup quickly demonstrates an extrordinary grasp of his topic. He carefully uses his knowledge of process-improvement methodologies to guide his readers to achieve SOX compliance economically and painlessly. He also shows how organizations can leverage the COSO framework for improved enterprise risk management and create a culture of continuous process improvement. I have already put some of his ideas to work and have realized measurable gains for several of my clients.
   
   Risk Management Consultant and Fraud Examiner



5. Read a great review of this in the Financial Executives International magazine. However, I found the book too general. Lots of platitudes and obvious, ivory tower statements. Not a whole lot you could actually apply to your compliance efforts.

No comments about Assessing Financial Access In Brazil (World Bank Working Papers).

No comments about China-U.S. Economic and Geopolitical Relations.

No comments about Key Performance Indicators for Federal Facilities Portfolios: Federal Facilities Council Technical Report Number 147 (Federal Facilities Council Technical Report).

No comments about Historical Tables: Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2009.

No comments about Strategy, Value and Risk - The Real Options Approach 2nd Edition.

1 comments about Successfully Developing Your Accounting Practice: A Practical Guide With Forms, Letters and Checklists.

1. I couldn't beleive how much information was available. Why is this book out of print? It helped in so many ways and saved me countless unnecessary hours of work. Thank you Mr. Ronald for a great book.

No comments about Accountancy Comes of Age: The Development of an American Profession, 1886-1940.