Symington and Cribbs (S&C) is a sporting goods distributor. S&C uses the FIFO
inventory method to determine the cost of its ending inventory. Ending inventory
quantities are determined by a physical count. For the fiscal year-end December 31,
2013, ending inventory was originally determined to be $67 million. However, in early
January of 2014, the company’s controller, Amy Grant, discovered that an error was
made in the inventory count. The correct amount of ending inventory should be $87
million. The auditors did not discover the error and the financial statements are
scheduled to be issued on February 26, 2014. S&C is a public company.
Amy’s first reaction was to communicate her finding to the auditors and to revise the
financial statements before they are issued. However, she knows that this was a very
good year for the company with profits far exceeding analysts’ expectations. If the error
is not corrected this year, it will self-correct next year as long as 2014 ending inventory
is correctly stated. This will help future 2014 profits. On the other hand, her fellow
workers’ profit sharing plans are based on annual pretax earnings and if she revises the
statements, everyone’s profit sharing bonus will be higher this year.
Required:
1) Is Amy correct by stating that the error will self-correct next year as long as 2014
ending inventory is correctly stated? If the error is not corrected in the current year,
what will be the effect on 2013 and 2014 income before tax?
2) Discuss the ethical dilemma Amy faces.
Answer: