The Corporate Controller course is designed for CPA CPE. General information about this course is listed below.
(1) Complete the reading assignments. We recommend you read and study all of the required materials prior to beginning the review or final exam.
(2) Complete the related review questions. Each review question offers interactive feedback for all questions. We recommend that you view all feedback, correct and incorrect, to each question. These responses focus on key areas related to the questions and will assist in preparing for the exam.
(3) Complete the exam. Review any incorrect answers
Lesson and Objectives |
Reading
Assignment |
| The Corporate Controller |
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1. The Controller's Job |
Chapter 1 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- History of the controller's function
- Main job functions
- Job description
- Job Qualifications
- Organizational structure of the accounting department
- Ethics
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| 2. Internal Control |
Chapter 2 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Basic elements
- Controls to use in your business
- Elements of internal accounting control
- Levels of controls
- Responsibility for proper internal controls
- Fraud
- Auditing for fraud
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| 3. Planning and the Strategic Plan |
Chapter 3 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Strategic plan overview
- System of plans
- Planning cycle
- Planning roles
- Planning timing and planning period
- Business mission
- Developing long-range objectives
- Developing long-range strategies
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| 4. Long-Range Financial Plan |
Chapter 4 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Layout and purpose
- Trends of revenues and profits
- Capital investments
- Cash flows and financing requirements
- Risk analysis
- Breakdown by business unit/product line/geography
- Financial position
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| 5. Annual Plan |
Chapter 5 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- System of plans
- Annual planning cycle
- Role of the controller
- Sales planning
- Steps in developing the near-term sales plan
- Methods for determining the sales forecast
- Useful sources for forecasting information
- Break-even chart
- Changes in the sales mixture, sales price, and the cost
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| 6. Sales |
Chapter 6 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Role of the controller
- Sales analysis
- Sales standards
- Sales reports
- Product pricing
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| 7. Distribution Expenses |
Chapter 7 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Role of the sales manager
- Analyzing distribution costs
- Analyzing by application
- Setting the distribution budget
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| 8. Direct Materials and Labor |
Chapter 8 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Objectives
- Role of the controller
- Types of cost systems
- Measuring and controlling direct material costs
- Controlling direct material quantities
- Measuring and controlling direct labor costs
- Target costing
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| 9. Overhead |
Chapter 9 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Need for overhead controls
- Responsibilities of the controller
- Account classifications
- Fixed and variable costs
- Cost allocation
- Controlling overhead
- Production reports
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| 10. General and Administrative Expenses |
Chapter 10 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Functions involved
- Accounting for and allocating administrative expenses
- "Unique" expenses
- Controlling costs
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| 11. Cash and Investments |
Chapter 11 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Objectives of cash management
- Role of the controller
- Cash collections
- Cash disbursements
- Investment of short-term funds
- Accounting for records of investment
- Cash and investment controls
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| 12. Receivables |
Chapter 12 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Functions of the credit department
- Shortening the receivables cycle
- Reserve for doubtful accounts
- Receivables fraud and control
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| 13. Inventory |
Chapter 13 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Inventory management systems
- Inventory tracking
- Physical inventory procedure
- Inventory valuation
- Inventory fraud and controls
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14. Property, Plant, and Equipment |
Chapter 14 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Role of the controller
- Capital budgeting
- Postproject appraisals
- Other aspects fo fixed assets
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| 15.Liabilities |
Chapter 15 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Objectives
- Controls
- Credit agreement provisions
- Debt capacity
- Bond ratings
- Leverage
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| 16.Equity |
Chapter 16 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Role of the controller
- Cost of Capital
- Dividend policy
- Long-term equity planning
- Repurchasing common shares
- Capital stock records
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| 17.Operational Accounting |
Chapter 17 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Creating departmental job descriptions
- Creating a departmental training program
- Clearing out excess documentation
- Documenting all major processes
- Scheduling the department
- Correcting the underlying cause of errors
- Use of best practices
- Outsourcing selected accounting functions
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| 18.Closing Procedures |
Chapter 18 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Selecting the fiscal year
- Selecting interim reporting periods
- Quick close
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| 19.Performance Measurements and Trends |
Chapter 19 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Performance measurements
- Trends
- Interrelationship of ratios
- Just-in-time ratios
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| 20. Financial Analysis |
Chapter 20 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Analyzing financial statements
- Analyzing working capital
- Analyzing capital investments
- Analyzing capacity utilization
- Analyzing financing options
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| 21. Taxes |
Chapter 21 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Tax strategy
- Tax organization
- Role of the tax manager
- Tax records
- Tax versus book accounting
- Proper classification of accounts
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| 22. Selecting a Financial Information System |
Chapter 22 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Reasons to purchase software
- Defining systems requirements
- Existing system documentation
- Joint sessions
- Preparing the request for proposal
- distribution of the request for proposal
- Review of the vendor's completed proposal
- Reference calls
- Demonstration
- Site visits
- Cost of the system
- Final selection
- Contract negotiations
- Postimplementation review
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| 23. Project Risk Management |
Chapter 23 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Project risk categories
- Project risk management approach
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| 24. Implementing a Successful CRM Solution |
Chapter 24 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Defining a business case to drive shareholder value
- Clearly communicating the change imperative
- Building a winning team
- Preparing for the worst
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| 25. Organizations Large and Small Embrace Shared Services |
Chapter 25 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Executive summary
- About the survey
- Business case
- Implementation
- Operations
- Customer relations
- Next steps
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| 26. Information Technology Offshore and Outsourcing |
Chapter 26 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- What offshoring is
- Providers' approach to outsourcing and offshoring
- Variants: Build, buy, rent
- Popular start-up options
- How offshoring is different from engaging a local service provider
- Ensuring that risks and rewards are balanced
- Deciding if offshoring is good for a company
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| 27. Change Management |
Chapter 27 |
The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:
- Implementation history
- Competing projects
- Degree of disruption
- Cost of failure
- Risks
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