An authoritative guide to performance norms, outside cost information, and new ideas that will make you more effective at work With this comprehensive book, you'll find the practical information you need to exercise financial leadership in today's corporation. Featuring the best articles from the Controller's Report, this valuable management resource details cost information and performance norms as well as innovative ideas that will help you perform better at your job. You'll find hundreds of benchmarks that you'll be able to use for budgeting, balance sheet management and the monitoring of spending. This includes frames of references for your company's spending on property and casualty insurance, computers and MIS, professional fees, travel and entertainment, and much more. You'll learn how to use this information to evaluate your company's cost structure and discover new ways to add value and maximize profits. And you'll also uncover the steps you can take to broaden your influence within the corporation. Offering helpful advice and proven techniques, this book includes: * The latest information on controlling costs from hundreds of current studies by leading consulting firms * Numerous benchmarks that you can use to evaluate your company's cost structure * An in-depth look at specific corporate costs so you can find exactly what you need * The methods to follow so you can quickly respond to the challenges of fast growth * An annual review of controllers' salaries and bonuses