Peg Nolan

Picture
Peg Nolan
Organization
National Cooperative Grocers Association
Peg Nolan is development director for the Eastern Corridor of the National Cooperative Grocers Association.

Author's Articles

Title Issue Date

Accounting Best Practices for Food Co-ops: A Primer is now available, an excellent and concise (14-page) summary in four sections:  balance sheet, income statement, internal control, and c

Endcap Articles November 15, 2012

Our vision for this accounting best practices series is to examine fundamental financial tools and best practices for co-ops that promote overall financial health and the ability to improve.

161 July - August - 2012 August 7, 2012

Summary: Our previous articles were on the balance sheet and the income statement. This article covers internal control. There will be a final article on cash management. Our vision for this series is to examine fundamental financial tools and best practices for co-ops that promote overall financial health and regular review and adjustment.

The accounting best practices in this article will differ from the previous two articles since the guidelines are more dependent on your specific co-op's operations. While the specific systems for good internal controls may vary, the areas of your co-op operation that require a good internal control system are the same and are discussed here. A qualified accountant or a risk management specialist can be an important resource for you in analyzing your internal control practices and needs.  

For background to the finance concepts discussed below, see the definitions sidebar at the bottom of this article.
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159 March - April - 2012 April 9, 2012

Summary: our previous article was on the balance sheet, and after our review below of the income statement, a subsequent installment will cover internal controls and cash management.

158 January - February - 2012 January 18, 2012

Can you tell me in 10 minutes what the best practices for finance are that I can use at my co-op?" This question has been repeatedly asked of us in our respective work with co-op finance managers a

157 November - December - 2011 November 17, 2011

In his booklet Three Strategic Concepts for the Guidance of Cooperatives, Brett Fairbairn urges co-ops to place our relationship with co-op members at the center of our thinking and activiti

116 January - February - 2005 January 21, 2009
124 May - June - 2006 January 21, 2009

In late September, nearly 100 co-op managers and organizational staff held sessions for the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA).

121 November - December - 2005 January 21, 2009

Note: This article contains charts that are not pictured here. You can download a pdf of the article at the end of this page.

126 September - October - 2006 January 20, 2009
140 January - February - 2009 January 18, 2009

Cooperative Grocer 2000 Retail Operations Survey

Statistical Summary of Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Ratios

SMALL
095 July - August - 2001 May 31, 2006

What is member linkage? How do we know if we’re doing enough? Shouldn’t members be more “involved” with our co-op?

114 September - October - 2004 October 27, 2004
 

 

095 July - August - 2001 January 8, 2004

Membership is at the heart of cooperation. Cooperative membership is the driving force for an alternative economic system predicated upon user ownership and benefit.

103 November - December - 2002 January 7, 2004

This is the second annual Cooperative Grocer Human Resources (HR) Survey report.

100 May - June - 2002 January 7, 2004
Average Co-op and Natural Food Merchandiser 2001 Sales Trends

 

101 July - August - 2002 January 7, 2004