Key Terms

automation

method of using systems such as computers or robots to operate different processes, and machinery to improve efficiencies and lower direct labor costs

balanced scorecard

tool used to evaluate performance using qualitative and nonqualitative measures

board of directors

group of individuals elected by the shareholders of a company with the role of placing management, supervising management, and making key decisions on major issues of the company

bribery

when an organization or representative of an organization gives money or other financial benefits to another individual, business, or official in order to gain favor or to manipulate a business decision

budget analyst

someone who arranges and manages the master budget and compares master budget projections to actual results

cash-management accountant

someone with responsibilities that include transferring monies between accounts, monitoring deposits and payments, reconciling cash balances, creating and tracking cash forecasts, and performing all other cash-related financial processes

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

signifies proven proficiency in fraud prevention, detection, and deterrence; requirements include bachelor’s degree, two years of work-related experience, moral character references, and passing of four separate exams

Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)

designation exclusively for auditors employed throughout the public sector (federal, state, local); requirements are the same as for the CIA, but with a different exam

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

credential offered by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and one of the only certifications accepted worldwide; requirements include a bachelor’s degree, two years of work experience in a related field, and passing the three sections of the examination

Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

certification for a specialist in corporate accounting management, including financial analytics, budgeting, and strategic assessment; requires a bachelor’s degree, two years of work experience, and successfully passing both parts of the exam

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

top tier in accounting certifications; in the United States, each state has different educational and experience requirements, and certification requires passing the four-part CPA administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

certification for a career in the finance and investment domains; requirements include a bachelor’s degree or four years’ experience and passing all three sections of the exam

chief executive officer (CEO)

executive within a company with the highest ranking title who has the overall responsibility for the management of a company; reports to the board of directors

chief financial officer (CFO)

corporation officer who reports to the CEO and oversees all of the accounting and finance concerns of a company

collaboration

working in cross-functional teams and earning the trust and respect of colleagues in order to complete a task

commercial awareness

knowing how a business is run and how it is influenced by the external environment, and knowing and understanding the overall industry within which the business is operating

continuous improvement

ongoing effort to improve processes, products, services, and practices

controller

financial officer of a corporation reporting to the CFO who is responsible for an organization’s accounting records, financial statements, tax returns, and internal reporting

controlling

monitoring of the planning objectives that were put into place

corporate social responsibility (CSR)

actions that firms take to assume responsibility for their impact on the environment and social well-being

cost accountant

employee who amasses large sums of data, checking for accuracy and then formulating the cost of raw materials, work in process, finished goods, labor, overhead, and other associated manufacturing costs

effective communication

conveying information in both written and oral forms in a way that the intended audience can understand

Enrolled Agent (EA)

credential focusing on a career in taxation; created by the IRS to signify significant knowledge of the US tax code and the ability to apply the concepts of that code

enterprise resource planning (ERP)

system that helps a company streamline its operations and helps management respond quickly to change

evaluating

comparing actual results against the planned results

external user

someone who relies on the financial statements and annual reports to access information about a company in order to make more informed decisions (e.g., creditor, tax authority and regulator, investor, customer, competitor, and others)

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)

independent, nonprofit organization that sets financial accounting and reporting standards for both public and private sector businesses in the United States that use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

financial analyst

someone who assists in preparing budgets and tracking actual costs, and performs other tasks that support other management personnel in organizing forecasts and projections

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)

law that specifically prohibits payments to foreign government officials to aid in attaining or retaining business and requires a company to have good internal controls so a slush fund to pay bribes cannot be created and maintained

generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)

common set of rules, standards, and procedures that publicly traded companies must follow when composing their financial statements

globalization

development of business through international influence, or extending social and cultural aspects around the world

goal

what a company expects to accomplish over time

government agency

found at all levels of government: federal, state, county, city, and so on; includes military, law enforcement, airports, and school systems

Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)

professional organization for management accountants that provides research, education, a means of knowledge sharing, and practice development to its members

intangible good

good with financial value but no physical presence; examples include copyrights, patents, goodwill, and trademarks

internal auditor

employee of an organization whose job is to provide an independent and objective evaluation of the company's accounting and operational activities

internal user

someone inside the company or organization who is responsible for managing the company’s business interests and executing decisions (e.g., all levels of management, owner, and other employees)

just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing

inventory system that companies use to increase efficiency and decrease waste by receiving goods only as they are needed within the production process, thereby reducing warehousing costs

kaizen

another process that is often linked to Six Sigma and is designed for continuous improvement by eliminating waste and increasing efficiencies; a Japanese word meaning change for the better

lean business model

one in which a company strives to eliminate waste in its products, services, and processes, while still fulfilling the company’s mission

Lean Six Sigma (LSS)

quality control program that depends on a combined effort of many team members to enhance performance by analytically removing waste and diminishing variations between products

managerial accounting

process that allows decision makers to set and evaluate business goals by determining what information they need to make a particular decision and how to analyze and communicate this information

mission statement

short statement of a company’s purpose and focus

monetary accounting information

relating to money or currency

nonmonetary accounting information

not relating to money or currency, such as the quantity of materials, number of employees, number of hours worked, and so forth

nonprofit (not-for-profit) organization

tax-exempt organization that serves its community in a variety of areas

objective

target that needs to be met in order to meet company goals

outsourcing

act of using another company to provide goods or services that your company requires

planning

process of setting goals and objectives

radio-frequency identification (RFID)

technology that uses electromagnetic fields to routinely identify and trace inventory tags that have been attached to objects

Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)

federal law that regulates business practices; intended to protect investors by enhancing the accuracy and reliability of corporate financial statements and disclosures through governance guidelines including sanctions for criminal conduct

strategic planning

setting priorities and determining how to allocate corporate resources to help an organization accomplish short-term and long-term goals

sustainability

meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by being aware of current economic, social, and environmental impacts

tangible good

physical good that customers can handle and see

theory of constraints (TOC)

process of recognizing and removing bottlenecks within the value chain that may be limiting an organization’s profitability

total quality management (TQM)

process in which management and employees look to reveal waste and errors, streamline the supply chain, improve customer relations, and confirm that employees are informed and properly trained

treasurer

financial officer of a corporation reporting to the CFO who is in control of the finance side of the business (cash position, corporation funds)

whistleblower

someone who provides evidence of fraud