Book excerpt: The accountant needs to be competent in many areas in order to be an effective controller - the person responsible for all accounting operations. The New Controller Guidebook covers every aspect of being a controller, including the management of accounts payable, cash, credit, collections, inventory, payroll, and more. The book also shows you how to close the books, which reports to issue to the management team, how to create a budget, and how to select and install an accounting computer system. In short, this book provides the accountant with the most essential information needed to be a successful controller.