number cruncher vs strategic thinking
Number Cruncher Versus Strategic Thinker
It is one thing to be able to look at a financial report and analyze it using ratios and comparisons. However, keep in mind that, when you do that, you are studying historical information. Your true value as an accountant will come if you can use that historical information to make future projections and decisions involving change.
For this assignment, you will take a set of financial reports from a company and try to determine what would happen if something changed within the company. You will identify something you want to change and then try to determine the impact of that change. This link will take you directly to the Nexis Uni database. This database will enable you to search for a company and review its financial information.
For example, suppose you want to grow the company’s sales by extending credit to more customers. How will this impact sales, accounts receivable, cash flow, expenses (especially bad debt), and so on? Once you determine that, how will it ultimately impact the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows? How will it impact your key ratios? What non-accounting information (such as training staff in new processes) might be impacted?
Some other examples could be: what happens if you reduce payroll (a very common thing these days) or reduce inventory (to move to more of a real-time inventory system), or make a significant capital purchase? What would be impacted?
For this assignment, write a 2–3 page paper in which you:
Identify something you want to change in the company and identify and explain the impact of the change.
Identify a financial report related to your proposed change and explain how your use of this report will influence your decision-making.
Identify how information or processes not directly related to accounting will be impacted by the proposed change.
Cite at least one reference other than your textbook that supports your rationale. Note: Wikipedia and other similar websites do not qualify as academic resources.
Include page numbers.
Use 1-inch margins.
Use numerals (1, 2, 3, and so on) or spell out numbers (one, two, three, and so on).
Double space body text in the assignment.
Use consistent 12-point font.
Use section headings to divide separate content areas. Center the section headings on the page, be consistent, and include at least two section headings in the assignment.
Include the assignment title, your name, course title, your professor’s name, and the date of submission on a separate page (first page of submission).
Use appropriate language and be concise.
Write in active voice when possible. Find tips here.
Use spelling/grammar check and proofread to keep work error free.
Choose a point of view (first, second, or third person) as required by assignment guidelines.
Provide credible sources to support your ideas/work when required. Find tips here.
Cite sources throughout your work when you borrow someone else’s words or ideas.
Don’t forget: Cite and add your textbook to the Source List if used as a source.
Include a Sources List when the assignment requires research or if you cite the textbook.
Type “Sources” centered horizontally on the first line of the Source List page.
Record the sources that you used in your assignment in a numbered list (see Giving Credit to Authors and Sources section). Essay/Paper Guidelines D
