Finance: the function in a business that acquires funds for the firm and manages them within the firm. Financial management: the job of managing a firm"s resources to meets its goals and objectives. Financial managers: managers who examine the financial data prepared by accountants and recommend strategies for improving the financial performance of the firm. Short-term forecast: forecast that predicts revenues, costs, and expenses for a period of one year or less. Cash flow forecast: forecast that predicts the cash inflows and outflows in future periods, usually months or quarters. Long-term forecast: forecast that predicts revenues, costs, and expenses for a period longer than one year, and sometimes as far as five or ten years into the future. Budget: financial plan that sets forth management"s expectations, and, on the basis of those expectations, allocates the use of specific resources throughout the firm.