Although financial management is a highly effective means of implementing key policies in health services, it tends to get little attention, being seen as a necessary but unglamorous area of management. This book shows how health care policies and programmes to promote the health of the public can be supported through financial management techniques. No formal understanding of financial systems is necessary since the book begins with the basics of costings and then goes on to examine accounting systems. The book enables the reader to understand financial performance, examine and confidently discuss financial matters, and apply the concepts in their own organization.

Table of Contents:
PART I: INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 Introduction to financial management Chapter 2 Financial and management accounting PART II: MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING Chapter 3 The nature of costs Chapter 4 The costing process Chapter 5 Pricing decisions in health care Chapter 6 The pricing process in different settings Chapter 7 Budgets and budgeting techniques Chapter 8 The budgeting process PART III: FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING Chapter 9 Introduction to financial accounting Chapter 10 The income statement Chapter 11 The balance sheet Chapter 12 The cash flow statement Chapter 13 Working Capital Management Chapter 14 Interpreting Financial Statement PART IV: FINANCIAL CONTROL AND INFORMATION SYSTEM Chapter 15 Financial and management reporting Chapter 16 Financial control Chapter 17 Accountability and regulatory control Chapter 18 Managing performance Chapter 19 Capital investment appraisal Chapter 20 Financial issues in project management Glossary Appendix Index