Earnings management : an executive perspective

"Every publicly traded company participates in earnings management. Of course some do it by the book, while others illegally cook the books. Widely respected author and accounting authority Thomas McKee proves once and for all that earnings can be managed both effectively and ethically as he delivers practical, informative, and timely insight into this complex subject." "It is an excellent resource for CEOs, financial officers, marketing execs, board members, financial journalists, and anyone keeping a sharp eye on the bottom line. Earnings Management sets the record straight on what's legal, what's ethical, and what's effective. McKee illustrates the 12 most common earnings management techniques. Each technique is presented with clear description, case studies detailing the process, actual financial statements from the companies discussed, the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) applied, and the financial impact of the earnings management decision."--Jacket

The media is filled with stories of corrupt executives and financial officers manipulating the reported earnings of their companies. All business executives are under increasing pressure to deliver growth in earnings. So the challenge: how can I manage earnings legally? McKee's Earnings Management solves this dilemma by demystifying earnings management and providing readers with 28 reasonable and legal techniques. Executives will gain valuable knowledge about earning management concepts and tools. Other readers, such as investors, will gain greater insight into the management decisions that can shape financial statements and the underlying quality of the earnings.

What is earnings management? Popular earnings management techniques Why practice earnings management? Ethical and legal considerations Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Research about earnings management Quality of earnings Managing earnings and analyst expectations Cookie jar reserve techniques Big bath techniques Big bet on the future Flushing the investment portfolio Throw out a problem child! If you don't like a GAAP, change it! Methods of writing-off long-term assets Sale/leaseback and asset exchange techniques Above the line or below the line? Early retirement of debt and use of derivatives "Shrink the ship". All business executives are under increasing pressure to deliver growth in earnings. This text demystifies earnings management and provides readers with 28 reasonable and legal techniques to manage earnings legally. Earnings, sometimes called the "bottom line" or "net income," are the single most important item in financial statements.