PRW Week 8-Financial Writing

8/6/2019 PRW Week 8-Financial Writing

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Financial

WritingPRW-2011



many writers fool

themselves into

believing they are

writing for thepublic when they

are actually writing

to impress the boss,(Gunning, n.d.)



Annual report

�A

comprehensive report on a companys activities andfinancial performance throughout the preceding year,

provided to shareholders and other interested public.

� The 10-K

The principal document used by public companies tocommunicate financial information to shareholders,

which includes financial data organized into one or

more balance sheets, income statements, and

cash flow statements.



Planning the report(1)

1. Purpose

� Maintain investor relations? � Provide financial data?

� Tell the company stories?

� Attract new employees, customers, investors?




2. Identify possible public

3. Prioritise the public

BankersCommunity leaders

Consumer advocates

Customers

Suppliers

Competitors

Government

Financial analyst

Educators

Possible investors

Employees

Reporter/business editors




4. Selecting issues

5. Determine the source

of inf ormation

*Personal interview* Simple structured questionnaire

(see example)



The content (1)

� Financial summary� Letter from the chief executive officer

� Corporate description: the company stories

(located, purposes, products, services, and related activities)



The content (2)

� Narrative section(events, management decisions, sales, mergers, expansions,

program developments, company customers/markets,

problems)

*legal actions? energy resource?

� Balance sheet and income statements

� Statement of sources and use of funds



The content (3)

� Notes to financial statements

� Ten-year statistical summary

� Prospectus / business plan



Develop argument

PURPOSE

Analyze

Compare

DifferentiateIllustrate

Contrast

Criticize

Interpret

Evaluate

Summarize

Justify

STRATEGY

Examine each of elements

Show similarity / relationship

Discriminate between 2 or moreMake clear by written, drawings, «

Show differences

Make judgments / arguments

Explain

Give a reasoned appraisal

Provide brief account

Demonstrate satisfactory reason



The f ormat

� The front

� The body

� The end



SECTION ESSENTIAL OPTIONAL

The front Title page

Table of contents

Financial summary

List of tables

List of figures

Abstract /synopsisAuthorisation doc

The bodyIntroduction

Discussion & analysis

Development ideas

Conclusions

Recommendations

Letter from the CEO

Corporate description

Narrative section

Balance sheet & income statements

Statementof sources & use of funds

Notes to financial statements

Ten-year statistical summary

Future plan

Tables

graphics

The end bibliography Appendix

Index

glossary



The style:

Part of what you saycontent and purpose

Formal

� Stuffy style

� Most business annual report

Direct

� Introduction

� Conclusion

� Recommendation

� Body

Inf ormal

� Ex: paper doll books (Sara Lee)

Indirect

� Introduction

� Body

� Conclusion

� recommendations



Writing the report

� Use the active voice

� Write in the positive

� Replace jargon with common words� Use short sentences

� Keep the subject, verb, and

object close together



Important:

� Double-checking the narrative

� Timing

� Be aware with Foggy writing

Telling the truth or

looking good?



Financial/business release

Usually in a company official website,

available with other following information:

� Corporate profile� Fact sheet

� Biographies of senior management

� Calendar of events

� Contact information� Product/service knowledge

� Stock prices (charts)

� Stock transfer agent information

� Dividend histories



Task on board

� Have a look on the

examples given

� Create a planning f or your

take home paper



Create with your writing buddy

� Select a company

� Define the possible public and issues

� Based on your mini research,

create a simple annual report

� Consult to your lecturer note

for the format

� Consult to your lecturerfor any inquiries

� Submit on 18 May 2011

PRW Week 8-Financial Writing

Documents

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