Book excerpt: Managing Financial Resources addresses the complicated issues of financial planning and control. These include performance measures and cost analysis, methods of improving profitability and techniques of financial monitoring and control. Real examples and case studies are used throughout to illustrate points in a practical context. All chapters have been updated and new material has been added to extend the original text in areas such as public sector management issues, audit commission, capital investment decisions, stakeholder analysis for published reports and accounts, performance measurement, outsourcing, new developments in the public sector and transfer pricing. This book is based on the Management Charter Initiative's Occupational Standards for Management NVQs and SVQs at level 4. It is particularly suitable for managers on the Diploma in Management or part 1 of the Postgraduate Diploma, especially those accredited by the Chartered Management Institute and Edexcel but this also a useful text for practicing managers and those individuals studying for a MBA.