CFO PROJECT PAPERREPORT
CASE COMPANY: APPLE Inc
1. Develop a comprehensive report to your CEO based on any of the relevant Session topics (see the topics below):
2. Remember to include in your report a report summary and table of content
Session topics include: Introduction to Strategic Financial Management; Changing Role of the CFO; Leveraging ERP Investment in Support of Finance; Risk, Cost of Capital in a Strategic Context; Streamlining the Financial Supply Chain; Shared Services and Outsourcing; Strategic Valuation and Shareholder Value Analysis; Connecting Strategy and Operations; Performance Metrics; Strategic Working Capital Management; Real Options; Intellectual Capital; Managing Intangibles; Strategic Planning and Control; Collaboration via the CFO Portal; Mergers and Acquisitions; Financial Regulation Update; The CFO and Ethics.
3. For your analysis and improvement recommendations- You may address two topic areas from the eCFO lecture notes (see the eCFO topics below) and two topic areas from the session topics(See the topics above)
eCFO topics include:The CFO's role in the age of e-business; Using technology in e-business; Managing resources; Evaluating prospects, measuring performance; Moving from budgeting to forecasting; Intangibles driving value in the new economy; The virtual organization and network enterprise; Maximizing value through M&A - finding the right target.
4. Your task is to analyze the company(APPLE Inc.) in this context and provide recommendations.
5. You decide how each topic should be addressed, and include research to make/support your strategy/policy recommendations.
6. Your report should include an assessment of your company's corporate governance "readiness" and provide suitable recommendations to ensure compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and new regulations published by the regulatory bodies.
7. In the spirit of a Forensic Financial Analysis, you should conduct an analysis of the firm's financial statements and policies as a risk management exercise for the benefit of the company CEO.
8. Look for any "bodies" buried in the statements and associated notes, as well as the types of information disclosed to the public (e.g., pro forma earnings).
9. Your goal here is to identify any areas where the firm is vulnerable to SEC action (fraud or otherwise) and report these to the CEO as a preemptive risk mitigation action.
10. The required textbook -Financial Shenanigansshould be used as a reference to guide your approach in this area.
11. For your Corporate Governance Assessment, you should assess the integrity and rigor of the firm's corporate governance structure (Board, Audit Committee, stock options policies, pension fund policy, etc.) to identify any weaknesses you can find and provide recommendations to strengthen governance policy. The corporate governance readings and recommended text, Building Public Trust:
12. NOTE: The Future of Corporate Reporting provides a good framework for your analysis and research
13. Your report should be between 15-20 double-spaced pages, not including attachments and references.