Test Bank for Financial Accounting: Tools for Business Decision Making, Eighth Edition
FOR INSTRUCTOR USE ONLY
Note: TF = True-False C = Completion
MC = Multiple Choice Ex = Exercise
Ma = Matching SA = Short Answer Essay
CHAPTER LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Define fraud and the principles of internal control. A fraud is a dishonest act by an
employee that results in personal benefit to the employee at a cost to the employer. The fraud
triangle refers to the three factors that contribute to fraudulent activity by employees:
opportunity, financial pressure, and rationalization. Internal control consists of all the related
methods and measures adopted within an organization to safeguard its assets, enhance the
reliability of its accounting records, increase efficiency of operations, and ensure compliance
with laws and regulations.
The principles of internal control are establishment of responsibility; segregation of duties;
documentation procedures, physical controls, independent internal verification, and human
resource controls.
2. Apply internal control principles to cash. Internal controls over cash receipts include: (a)
designating only personnel such as cashiers to handle cash; (b) assigning the duties of
receiving cash, recording cash, and having custody of cash to different individuals; (c)
obtaining remittance advices for mail receipts, cash register tapes or computer records for
over-the-counter receipts, and deposit slips for bank deposits; (d) using company safes and
bank vaults to store cash with access limited to authorized personnel, and using cash
registers in executing over-the-counter receipts; (e) making independent daily counts of
register receipts and daily comparisons of total receipts with total deposits; and (f) bonding
personnel who handle cash, as well as requiring them to take vacations.
Internal controls over cash disbursements include: (a) having only specified individuals such
as the treasurer authorized to sign checks and approved vendors; (b) assigning the duties of
approving items for payment, paying the items, and recording the payment to different
individuals; (c) using prenumbered checks and accounting for all checks, with each check
supported by an approved invoice; after payment, stamping each approved invoice “paid”;
(d) storing blank checks in a safe or vault with access restricted to authorized personnel, and
using a machine with indelible ink to imprint amounts on checks; (e) comparing each check
with the approved invoice before issuing the check, and making monthly reconciliations of
bank and book balances; and (f) bonding personnel who handle cash, requiring employees to
take vacations, and conducting background checks.