Page 69 - Finance for Non-Financial Managers
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                                      Finance for Non-Financial Managers
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                                ❏ A large amount of accounts receivable may look good on
                                   the balance sheet, but their collectibility is the most impor-
                                   tant issue, and that’s not always apparent by simply look-
                                   ing at the total. Look at “Allowance for bad debts” and the
                                   customer-by-customer details to better understand the true
                                   quality of this balance.
                               ❏ Inventory represents a constant management challenge
                                   and a relatively high-risk area for losses unless inventory
                                   management practices are solid. There are lots of ways
                                   inventory can cost a company money, including deteriora-
                                   tion, obsolescence, and breakage.
                               ❏ Accounts payable is the largest source of day-to-day
                                   financing for most companies. Delaying payment can pro-
                                   vide temporary relief for cash-strapped companies, thus
                                   causing accounts receivable collection problems for their
                                   creditors.
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