American Heart Association

Term Paper # 101453

Business > Finance, Investment and Banking
Business > Management

An analysis of the duties of the chief financial officer (CFO) for the American Heart Association (AHA) and suggestions for improvements of the organization.

2,445 words () | 8 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the major duties of the chief financial officer (CFO) for the American Heart Association (AHA). It looks at the background of the organization and highlights the strategic elements of the CFO's position. The paper also examines the duties and functions within a non-profit organization that are not being addressed by the AHA and thereby presents suggestions for improvement.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
History of the American Heart Association
Mission/Vision of the American Heart Association
Brief Description of Products and Services
The CFO of the American Heart Association: Job Description
Core Functions of the CFO
Financial Reporting: CFO at the American Heart Association
Strategic Planning: Reinventing the CFO at the American Heart Association
Budgeting, Forecasting, and Performance Measurement
Fraud Management
Fundraising
Conclusion: Suggestions for Improvement

From the Paper:

"In conclusion as stated by Hope, CFOs can transform their roles and for organizations like AHA, it adds greater value (Hope, 2006, page 104). The AHA CFO needs to embrace being a freedom fighter, analyst and adviser, architect of adaptive management, warrior against waste, master of measurement, regulator of risk, and more importantly a champion for change (Hope, 2006, page 3). Nevertheless, there has to be balance for these activities, since the CFO has to focus on activities that increase the marginal value in research and upholds the mission of AHA."

Sample of Sources Used:

American Heart Association (2004). ACCF/AHA Consensus Conference on Professionalism and Ethics. Circulation. 2004, 110-2538.
American Heart Association (2007). American Heart Association. Retrieved January 15, 2007 from www.americanheartassociation.com
American Heart Association (2006). American Heart Association 2006 Annual Report. American Heart Association Incorporated. Retrieved January 24, 2007 from http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1165958761497AHA%20AR%202006_FINAL.pdf.
Birchard, Bill (2005, July). Non-Profits by Numbers. CFO Magazine. CFO Publishing Corporation. Retrieved January 14, 2007 from http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/4124836?f=search
Bragg, Steven (2005). Controller's Guide: Roles and Responsibility for the First Years. New Jersey: Jon Wiley and Sons Incorporated.