LO4-3 Define cash and cash equivalents.
LO4-4 Understand controls over cash receipts and cash disbursements.
LO4-5 Reconcile a bank statement.
LO4-6 Account for petty cash.
LO4-7 Identify the major inflows and outflows of cash.
Analysis
LO4-8 Assess earnings quality by comparing net income and cash flows.
Teaching Suggestions
Part A of the chapter begins with a discussion of occupational fraud and accounting scandals. In some
instances, managers have acted unethically in reporting their companies’ performance. Most students are
surprised by the fact that published financial statements contain fraudulent amounts. This discussion
flows into the need for regulation, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and internal controls as outlined by
the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission. The components of
an internal control system are discussed within the context of a movie theatre, a business familiar to all
students.
The discussion of general internal controls in Part A then moves to a discussion of cash controls in
Part B. One reason for the focus on cash is that cash is the most liquid of a company’s assets and therefore
may be the easiest to lose internal control over. Discussion of cash receipts and cash disbursements are
provided, including checks, debit cards, and credit cards. An illustrated example of a bank reconciliation
is also provided. Since most students are familiar with cash, the different forms of cash payments, and
bank statements, relating internal controls to cash topics makes the purpose and operation of internal
controls more apparent.
Given the focus on internal controls related to cash, Part B ends with a discussion of how cash is
reported to those outside the company. It is briefly mentioned that cash is reported as an asset in the
balance sheet, but the discussion primarily focuses on reporting cash in the statement of cash flows. The
statement of cash flows presented is that of Eagle Golf Academy discussed in Chapters 1-3. [Note: The
detailed discussion of the statement of cash flows is saved for Chapter 11. Here, the statement is
introduced briefly.] A good way to explain amounts reported in the statement of cash flows is to refer
students back to the original ten external transactions of Eagle Golf Academy introduced in Chapter 2.
Which of the ten transactions involved cash? These are the ones reported in the statement of cash flows.
Since adjusting entries never involve cash, the adjusting entries discussed in Chapter 3 do not affect
amounts reported in the statement of cash flows.
The final section of the chapter involves an analysis of earnings quality, comparing Krispy Kreme and
Starbucks. Students should be familiar with these two companies. The analysis emphasizes the
importance of earnings by looking at its trend relative to that of free cash flows (operating cash flows plus
investing cash flows). When these two amounts trend in the same direction, then the current earnings
trend is more likely to continue.
Assignment Charts
Assignment Charts
Questions
Learning
Objective(s) Topic
Time
(Min.)
1 LO4-1 Define occupational fraud 5
2 LO4-1 Explain internal control 5
3 LO4-1 Discuss what managerial stewardship means 5
4 LO4-1 Understand managers motivation to manipulate 5
5 LO4-1 Explain the fraud triangle 5
6 LO4-1 Outline the major provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 5
7 LO4-2 Describe the components of internal control 5
8 LO4-2 Describe the difference between preventive controls and
detective controls
5
9 LO4-2 Explain separate of duties 5
10 LO4-2 Identify responsibility for internal control 5
11 LO4-2 Recognize limitations of internal control 5
12 LO4-2 Define collusion 5
13 LO4-2 Describe likelihood of fraud by top-level employees 5
14 LO4-3 Define cash and cash equivalents 5
15 LO4-3 Describe how to record a purchase with a check 5
16 LO4-4 Discuss controls for cash receipts 5
17 LO4-4 Describe how credit card sales are reported 5
18 LO4-4 Describe how debit card sales are reported 5
19 LO4-4 Discuss controls for cash disbursements 5
20 LO4-4 Understand a credit card 5
21 LO4-5 Identify the purpose of a bank reconciliation 5
22 LO4-5 Explain differences between the company’s and bank’s
cash balance
5
23 LO4-5 Describe timing differences in the cash balance 5
24 LO4-5 Make adjustments related to the bank reconciliation 5
25 LO4-6 Explain a petty cash fund
26 LO4-6 Describe managerial control over the petty cash fund
27 LO4-7 Explain the relation between the balance sheet and
statement of cash flows
28 LO4-7 Describe operating, investing, and financing cash flows
29 LO4-8 Recognize how to determine quality of earnings
30 LO4-8 Compute quality of earnings
Brief Exercises
Learning
Objective(s) Topic
Time
(Min.)
BE4-1 LO4-1 Identify terms associated with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 5
BE4-2 LO4-2 Identify terms associated with components of internal
control
5
BE4-3 LO4-2 Define control activities associated with internal control 5
BE4-4 LO4-3 Identify cash and cash equivalents 5
BE4-5 LO4-4 Determine cash sales 5
BE4-6 LO4-4 Record cash expenditures 5
BE4-7 LO4-5 Identify terms associated with a bank reconciliation 5
BE4-8 LO4-5 Prepare a bank reconciliation 10
BE4-9 LO4-5 Reconcile timing differences in the bank’s balance 5
BE4-10 LO4-5 Reconcile timing differences in the company’s balance 5
BE4-11 LO4-5 Record adjustments to the company’s cash balance 5
BE4-12 LO4-5 Prepare a bank reconciliation 5
BE4-13 LO4-6 Record petty cash expenditures 5
BE4-14 LO4-7 Match types of cash flows with their definition 5
BE4-15 LO4-7 Determine operating cash flows 5
BE4-16 LO4-7 Determine investing cash flows 5
BE4-17 LO4-7 Determine financing cash flows 5
BE4-18 LO4-8 Calculate free cash flow 5
Exercises
Learning
Objective(s) Topic
Time
(Min.)
E4-1 LO4-1 Answer true-or-false questions about occupational fraud 15
E4-2 LO4-1 Answer true-or-false questions about the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act
15
E4-3 LO4-2 Answer true-or-false questions about internal controls 15
E4-4 LO4-2 Determine control activity violations 15
E4-5 LO4-3 Calculate the amount of cash to report 15
E4-6 LO4-4 Discuss internal control procedures related to cash
receipts
10
E4-7 LO4-4 Discuss internal control procedures related to cash
disbursements
10
E4-8 LO4-4 Discuss internal control procedures related to cash 10
E4-9 LO4-5 Calculate the balance of cash using a bank reconciliation 10
E4-10 LO4-5 Calculate the balance of cash using a bank reconciliation 10
E4-11 LO4-5 Calculate the balance of cash using a bank reconciliation 10
E4-12 LO4-6 Record transactions for the petty cash fund 10
E4-13 LO4-6 Record transactions for the petty cash fund 10
E4-14 LO4-7 Classify cash flows 10
E4-15 LO4-7 Calculate net cash flows 10
E4-16 LO4-7 Calculate operating cash flows 10
E4-17 LO4-7 Calculate investing cash flows 10
E4-18 LO4-7 Calculate financing cash flows 10
E4-19 LO4-7 Compare operating cash flows to net income 15
E4-20 LO4-8 Determine earnings quality 15
Problems
Learning
Objective(s) Topic
Time
(Min.)
P4-1A LO4-4 Discuss control procedures for cash receipts 15
P4-2A LO4-5 Prepare the bank reconciliation and record cash
adjustments
25
P4-3A LO4-5 Prepare the bank reconciliation and record cash
adjustments
30
P4-4A LO4-7 Prepare the statement of cash flows 15
P4-5A LO4-7 Record transactions, post to the cash T-account, and
Prepare the statement of cash flows
40
P4-1B LO4-4,4-5 Prepare a bank reconciliation and discuss cash
procedures
20
P4-2B LO4-5 Prepare the bank reconciliation and record cash
adjustments
25
P4-3B LO4-5 Prepare the bank reconciliation and record cash
adjustments
30
P4-4B LO4-7 Prepare the statement of cash flows 15
P4-5B LO4-7 Record transactions, post to the cash T-account, and
prepare the statement of cash flows
40
Additional
Perspectives Topic
Time
(Min.)
AP4-1 Continuing Problem: Great Adventures 45
AP4-2 Financial Analysis: American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. 40
AP4-3 Financial Analysis: The Buckle, Inc. 40
AP4-4 Comparative Analysis: American Eagle Outfitters Inc., vs. The Buckle,
Inc.
20
AP4-5 Ethics 20
AP4-6 Internet Research 30
AP4-7 Written Communication 25
Chapter Quiz Questions
The following multiple-choice questions are 10 unique quiz questions that correspond to the 10 questions
at the end of each chapter. Each question covers the same learning objective but with a little different
twist. The correct answer is highlighted in bold for each item.
LO4-1
1. Managers should act:
a. As creditors of the company.
b. As owners of the company.
c. As stewards of the company’s assets.
d. In their own best interest.
LO4-1
2. Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was passed in response to:
a. Increasing inflation.
b. Corporate scandals involving unethical behavior of top executives.
c. Increasing pressure of foreign competition for American products and services.
d. The establishment of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
LO4-2
3. What is a direct purpose of internal controls?
a. Improve the accuracy and reliability of accounting information.
b. Help managers determine which projects are likely to be more profitable.
c. Assist top executives in planning employment capacity.
d. Minimize tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
LO4-3
4. Which of the following is considered cash for financial reporting purposes?
a. Inventory that is likely to be sold within three months.
b. Amounts to be collected from customers.
c. Amounts owed to suppliers.
d. Balances in savings accounts.
LO4-4
5. Which of the following generally would be considered a good internal control over cash payments?
a. Employees responsible for making cash disbursements should also be in charge of cash receipts.
b. Ensure checks are serially numbered and signed only by authorized employees.
c. The employee who authorizes payment should also be the employee who prepares the check.
d. Require only one signature for larger checks.
LO4-5
6. When preparing a bank reconciliation, nonsufficient funds (NSF) checks would be:
a. Added to the company’s cash balance.
b. Added to the bank’s cash balance.
c. Subtracted from the company’s cash balance.
d. Subtracted from the bank’s cash balance.
LO4-5
7. When preparing a bank reconciliation, outstanding checks would be:
a. Added to the company’s cash balance.
b. Added to the bank’s cash balance.
c. Subtracted from the company’s cash balance.
d. Subtracted from the bank’s cash balance.
LO4-6
8. At any given time, the amount of cash in the petty cash fund should equal:
a. All vouchers written during the accounting period.
b. The established balance of the fund less all vouchers written during the accounting period.
c. The amount of cash withdrawn from the fund during the accounting period.
d. The amount of cash used to establish the fund.
LO4-7
9. Operating cash flows would include which of the following?
a. Payment for prepaid insurance.
b. Receipt of cash from selling a building.
c. Payment of dividends to stockholders.
d. Receipt of cash from bank borrowing.
LO4-7
10. Financing cash flows would include which of the following?
a. Payment of salaries to employees.
b. Sale of services to customers for cash.
c. Repayment of long-term borrowing to the bank.
d. Purchase of equipment for cash for company operations.
Alternate Let’s Review
Problem #1
At the end of April, Classic Cinema’s accounting records show a cash balance of $5,240. The April bank
statement reports a cash balance of $6,700. The following information is gathered from the bank
statement and company records:
Checks outstanding $3,200 Customer’s NSF check $1,100
Deposits outstanding 800 Service fees 100
Interest earned 80
In addition, Classic discovered it correctly paid for utilities with a check for $350 but incorrectly recorded
the check in the company’s records for $530. The bank correctly processed the check for $350.
Required:
1. Prepare a bank reconciliation for the month of April.
2. Adjust the balance of cash in the company’s records.
Solution:
1.
Classic Cinema
Bank Reconciliation
April 30
Bank’s Cash Balance Company’s Cash Balance
Per bank statement $ 6,700 Per general ledger $ 5,240
Deposits outstanding + 800 Interest earned + 80
Company error + 180
Checks outstanding − 3,200 Service charge − 100
NSF check − 1,100
Bank balance per
reconciliation $ 4,300
Company balance per
reconciliation $ 4,300
2.
April 30 Debit Credit
Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Interest Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Utilities Expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
(Record interest earned and check correction)
Service Fees Expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Accounts Receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100
Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200
(Record NSF check and bank service fee)
Alternate Let’s Review
Problem #2
A company reports in its current year each of the transactions listed below.
Required:
Indicate whether each transaction should be reported as an operating, investing, or financing cash flow in
the company’s statement of cash flows, and whether each is a cash inflow or outflow.
Transaction Type of Cash Flow Inflow or Outflow
1. Issue common stock for cash.
2. Receive cash from customers.
3. Sell equipment for cash.
4. Pay cash for advertising.
Solution:
1. Financing—inflow. 2. Operating—inflow. 3. Investing—inflow.
4. Operating—outflow.
Key Points by Learning Objective
LO4-1 Discuss the impact of accounting scandals and the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
The accounting scandals in the early 2000s prompted passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Among
other stipulations, SOX sets forth a variety of guidelines related to auditor-client relations and additional
internal controls. Section 404, in particular, requires company management and auditors to document and
assess the effectiveness of a company’s internal controls.
LO4-2 Identify the components, responsibilities, and limitations of internal control.
Internal control refers to a company’s plan to improve the accuracy and reliability of accounting
information and safeguard the company’s assets. Five key components to an internal control system are
(1) control environment, (2) risk assessment, (3) control activities, (4) monitoring, and (5) information
and communication. Control activities include those designed to prevent or detect fraudulent or erroneous
behavior.
LO4-3 Define cash and cash equivalents.
Cash includes not only currency, coins, balances in checking accounts, and checks and money orders
received from customers, but also cash equivalents, defined as investments that mature within three
months from the date of purchase (such as money market funds, Treasury bills, and certificates of
deposit).
LO4-4 Understand controls over cash receipts and cash disbursements.
Because cash is the asset of a company most susceptible to employee fraud, controls over cash receipts
and cash disbursements are an important part of a company’s overall internal control system. Important
controls over cash receipts include segregation of duties for those who handle cash and independent
verification of cash receipts. Important controls over cash disbursements include payment by check, credit
card, or debit card, segregation of duties, and various authorization and documentation procedures.
LO4-5 Reconcile a bank statement.
In a bank reconciliation we calculate the bank’s balance for (1) cash transactions already recorded by the
company but not yet recorded by the bank and (2) bank errors. Similarly, we calculate the company’s
balance for (1) cash transactions already recorded by the bank but not yet recorded by the company and
(2) company errors. After we complete the calculations, the amounts for the bank balance and the
company balance should be equal. Any adjustments to the company’s balance need to be recorded.
LO4-6 Account for petty cash.
To pay for minor purchases, companies keep some cash on hand in a petty cash fund. At the end of the
period, expenditures from the petty cash fund are recorded, and the fund is replenished.
LO4-7 Identify the major inflows and outflows of cash.
The statement of cash flows reports all cash activities for the period. Operating activities include those
transactions and events involving revenues and expenses. Investing activities include cash investments in
long-term assets and investment securities. Financing activities include transactions designed to finance
the business through borrowing and owner investment.
Analysis
LO4-8 Assess earnings quality by comparing net income and cash flows.
Companies whose free cash flow is decreasing relative to net income are likely to have lower earnings
quality than are other companies, all else being equal.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistake
The term debit card can cause some confusion for someone in the first accounting
course. Throughout this course, we refer to an increase in cash as a debit to cash.
However, using your debit card will result in a decrease in your cash account. It’s the
merchant’s cash account, not yours, that increases and is debited. Don’t let this
confuse you.
Common Mistake
Notice that bank statements refer to an increase (or deposit) in the cash balance as a
credit and a decrease (or withdrawal) as a debit. This terminology is the opposite of
that used in financial accounting, where debit refers to an increase in cash and credit
refers to a decrease in cash. The reason for the difference in terminology is a
difference in perspective: When a company makes a deposit, it views this as an
increase to cash, so it records a debit to the Cash account. However, the bank views
this same deposit as an increase in the amount owed to the company, or a liability,
which is recorded as a credit. Similarly, a withdrawal of cash from the bank is
viewed by the company as a decrease to its Cash account, so it is recorded with a
credit, but the bank views this withdrawal as a decrease to the amount owed to the
company, so it debits its liability.
Common Mistake
Students sometimes mistake an NSF check as a bad check written by the company
instead of one written to the company. When an NSF check occurs, the company has
deposited a customer’s check but the customer did not have enough funds to cover
the check. The company must adjust its balance of cash downward to reverse the
increase in cash it recorded at the time of deposit. The effect of this bounced
customer check creates an account receivable for the company until the customer
honors the funds it owes.
Common Mistake
Some students try to update the Cash account for deposits outstanding, checks
outstanding, or a bank error. The company does not need to adjust for these items
related to reconciling the bank’s balance because they are already properly recorded
in the company’s accounting records.
Decision Points
Question Accounting Information Analysis & Decision
Does the company
maintain adequate
internal controls?
Management’s discussion,
auditor’s opinion
If management or the auditor
notes any deficiencies in internal
controls, financial accounting
information may be unreliable.
Question Accounting Information Analysis & Decision
Should the
company allow its
customers to pay
by using credit
cards?
Credit sales, service fee
expense, internal controls
When the benefits of credit card
use (increased sales, reduced
handling of cash by employees)
exceed the costs (service fee
expense and credit card fraud),
the company benefits.
Question Accounting Information Analysis & Decision
Is the company
able to generate
enough cash from
internal sources to
sustain daily
operations?
Statement of cash flows Cash flows generated from
internal sources include operating
and investing activities. For
established companies, the sum of
these amounts should be positive.
Otherwise, the company will need
to rely on external funding
(lenders and stockholders), which
is not sustainable in the long term.
Question Accounting Information Analysis & Decision
How does free cash
flow predict a
company’s net
income?
Net income from the
income statement and free
cash flow (operating
and investing) from the
statement of cash flows
When free cash flow and net
income have similar trends, net
income is more likely to continue
that trend in the future.
Career Corner
Career Corner
Financial analysts offer investment advice to their clients—banks, insurance
companies, mutual funds, securities firms, and individual investors. This advice
usually comes in the form of a formal recommendation (buy, hold, or sell). Before
giving an opinion, analysts develop a detailed understanding of a company’s
operations through discussions with management, analysis of competitors, and
projections of industry trends. They also develop a detailed understanding of a
company’s financial statements, including its earnings quality. Analysts typically do
not recommend companies with lower-quality earnings.
Understanding a company’s earnings quality comes from having a good
grasp of accrual-basis accounting. This is why many finance majors and MBA
students, pursuing careers as financial analysts, take additional accounting-related
courses when earning their degrees and even after graduation.
Ethical Dilemma
Ethical Dilemma
Suppose that shortly after finishing this course, you were sent to prison for a crime
you did not commit. While in prison, the warden learns that you have taken financial
accounting and are really good at “keeping the books.” In fact, you are so good at
accounting that you offer to teach other inmates basic financial skills that they’ll use
someday after being released. You find that teaching others these skills is quite
rewarding.
However, the warden has a sinister plan and asks for your help. He plans to
use his position of authority at the prison to steal money. He first uses prisoners as
low-cost labor to do projects around town. Because other legitimate companies
cannot compete with these low costs, they bribe the warden not to bid on jobs. The
warden asks you to use your accounting skills to participate in a financial scam by
falsifying documents and creating a false set of accounting records that will allow the
warden’s bribes to go undetected by state prison authorities. In other words, he wants
you to “cook the books.”
When you object to helping with this scam, the warden threatens to end your
tutoring sessions with other inmates and sentence you to solitary confinement. To
further sway your decision, he promises that if you’ll help, he’ll make your prison
life easy by giving you special meals and other favors.
What would you do in this situation? If you help the warden steal money,
you benefit personally and the other prisoners benefit by your continued tutoring
sessions. However, the warden often physically abuses the other prisoners, and
helping him steal money means that he’ll remain in his position for a long time,
continuing his abusive behavior.
Key issues
Benefitting personally vs. seeing others abused
Option 1: Continue to falsify the accounting records
You need to take care of yourself in prison. Prison life has a different set of rules.
You are not the one actually taking the bribes. You are merely following orders.
You are not the one abusing other inmates.
If you continue falsifying documents, you can continue to teach other inmates valuable financial
skills that will one day be essential when they are released from prison. This serves a greater
purpose.
Option 2: Discontinue falsifying the accounting records
By falsifying documents, you are just as guilty as the person (warden) stealing the money.
If the state authorities discover this scheme, you could receive additional jail time.
You are directly involved in helping the warden to force bribes from local companies. This
directly affects the finances of those companies (and their families).
By assisting the warden, you are directly linked to his abusive behavior of other inmates. While
you are not committing the physical abuse, you are helping to provide a setting where it can
continue.
Which of the ten transactions involved cash? These are the ones reported in the statement of cash flows.
Since adjusting entries never involve cash, the adjusting entries discussed in Chapter 3 do not affect
amounts reported in the statement of cash flows.
The final section of the chapter involves an analysis of earnings quality, comparing Krispy Kreme and
Starbucks. Students should be familiar with these two companies. The analysis emphasizes the
importance of earnings by looking at its trend relative to that of free cash flows (operating cash flows plus
investing cash flows). When these two amounts trend in the same direction, then the current earnings
trend is more likely to continue.
Assignment Charts
Assignment Charts
Questions
Learning
Objective(s) Topic
Time
(Min.)
1 LO4-1 Define occupational fraud 5
2 LO4-1 Explain internal control 5
3 LO4-1 Discuss what managerial stewardship means 5
4 LO4-1 Understand managers motivation to manipulate 5
5 LO4-1 Explain the fraud triangle 5
6 LO4-1 Outline the major provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 5
7 LO4-2 Describe the components of internal control 5
8 LO4-2 Describe the difference between preventive controls and
detective controls
5
9 LO4-2 Explain separate of duties 5
10 LO4-2 Identify responsibility for internal control 5
11 LO4-2 Recognize limitations of internal control 5
12 LO4-2 Define collusion 5
13 LO4-2 Describe likelihood of fraud by top-level employees 5
14 LO4-3 Define cash and cash equivalents 5
15 LO4-3 Describe how to record a purchase with a check 5
16 LO4-4 Discuss controls for cash receipts 5
17 LO4-4 Describe how credit card sales are reported 5
18 LO4-4 Describe how debit card sales are reported 5
19 LO4-4 Discuss controls for cash disbursements 5
20 LO4-4 Understand a credit card 5
21 LO4-5 Identify the purpose of a bank reconciliation 5
22 LO4-5 Explain differences between the company’s and bank’s
cash balance
5
23 LO4-5 Describe timing differences in the cash balance 5
24 LO4-5 Make adjustments related to the bank reconciliation 5
25 LO4-6 Explain a petty cash fund
26 LO4-6 Describe managerial control over the petty cash fund
27 LO4-7 Explain the relation between the balance sheet and
statement of cash flows
28 LO4-7 Describe operating, investing, and financing cash flows
29 LO4-8 Recognize how to determine quality of earnings
30 LO4-8 Compute quality of earnings
Brief Exercises
Learning
Objective(s) Topic
Time
(Min.)
BE4-1 LO4-1 Identify terms associated with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 5
BE4-2 LO4-2 Identify terms associated with components of internal
control
5
BE4-3 LO4-2 Define control activities associated with internal control 5
BE4-4 LO4-3 Identify cash and cash equivalents 5
BE4-5 LO4-4 Determine cash sales 5
BE4-6 LO4-4 Record cash expenditures 5
BE4-7 LO4-5 Identify terms associated with a bank reconciliation 5
BE4-8 LO4-5 Prepare a bank reconciliation 10
BE4-9 LO4-5 Reconcile timing differences in the bank’s balance 5
BE4-10 LO4-5 Reconcile timing differences in the company’s balance 5
BE4-11 LO4-5 Record adjustments to the company’s cash balance 5
BE4-12 LO4-5 Prepare a bank reconciliation 5
BE4-13 LO4-6 Record petty cash expenditures 5
BE4-14 LO4-7 Match types of cash flows with their definition 5
BE4-15 LO4-7 Determine operating cash flows 5
BE4-16 LO4-7 Determine investing cash flows 5
BE4-17 LO4-7 Determine financing cash flows 5
BE4-18 LO4-8 Calculate free cash flow 5
Exercises
Learning
Objective(s) Topic
Time
(Min.)
E4-1 LO4-1 Answer true-or-false questions about occupational fraud 15
E4-2 LO4-1 Answer true-or-false questions about the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act
15
E4-3 LO4-2 Answer true-or-false questions about internal controls 15
E4-4 LO4-2 Determine control activity violations 15
E4-5 LO4-3 Calculate the amount of cash to report 15
E4-6 LO4-4 Discuss internal control procedures related to cash
receipts
10
E4-7 LO4-4 Discuss internal control procedures related to cash
disbursements
10
E4-8 LO4-4 Discuss internal control procedures related to cash 10
E4-9 LO4-5 Calculate the balance of cash using a bank reconciliation 10
E4-10 LO4-5 Calculate the balance of cash using a bank reconciliation 10
E4-11 LO4-5 Calculate the balance of cash using a bank reconciliation 10
E4-12 LO4-6 Record transactions for the petty cash fund 10
E4-13 LO4-6 Record transactions for the petty cash fund 10
E4-14 LO4-7 Classify cash flows 10
E4-15 LO4-7 Calculate net cash flows 10
E4-16 LO4-7 Calculate operating cash flows 10
E4-17 LO4-7 Calculate investing cash flows 10
E4-18 LO4-7 Calculate financing cash flows 10
E4-19 LO4-7 Compare operating cash flows to net income 15
E4-20 LO4-8 Determine earnings quality 15
Problems
Learning
Objective(s) Topic
Time
(Min.)
P4-1A LO4-4 Discuss control procedures for cash receipts 15
P4-2A LO4-5 Prepare the bank reconciliation and record cash
adjustments
25
P4-3A LO4-5 Prepare the bank reconciliation and record cash
adjustments
30
P4-4A LO4-7 Prepare the statement of cash flows 15
P4-5A LO4-7 Record transactions, post to the cash T-account, and
Prepare the statement of cash flows
40
P4-1B LO4-4,4-5 Prepare a bank reconciliation and discuss cash
procedures
20
P4-2B LO4-5 Prepare the bank reconciliation and record cash
adjustments
25
P4-3B LO4-5 Prepare the bank reconciliation and record cash
adjustments
30
P4-4B LO4-7 Prepare the statement of cash flows 15
P4-5B LO4-7 Record transactions, post to the cash T-account, and
prepare the statement of cash flows
40
Additional
Perspectives Topic
Time
(Min.)
AP4-1 Continuing Problem: Great Adventures 45
AP4-2 Financial Analysis: American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. 40
AP4-3 Financial Analysis: The Buckle, Inc. 40
AP4-4 Comparative Analysis: American Eagle Outfitters Inc., vs. The Buckle,
Inc.
20
AP4-5 Ethics 20
AP4-6 Internet Research 30
AP4-7 Written Communication 25
Chapter Quiz Questions
The following multiple-choice questions are 10 unique quiz questions that correspond to the 10 questions
at the end of each chapter. Each question covers the same learning objective but with a little different
twist. The correct answer is highlighted in bold for each item.
LO4-1
1. Managers should act:
a. As creditors of the company.
b. As owners of the company.
c. As stewards of the company’s assets.
d. In their own best interest.
LO4-1
2. Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was passed in response to:
a. Increasing inflation.
b. Corporate scandals involving unethical behavior of top executives.
c. Increasing pressure of foreign competition for American products and services.
d. The establishment of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
LO4-2
3. What is a direct purpose of internal controls?
a. Improve the accuracy and reliability of accounting information.
b. Help managers determine which projects are likely to be more profitable.
c. Assist top executives in planning employment capacity.
d. Minimize tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
LO4-3
4. Which of the following is considered cash for financial reporting purposes?
a. Inventory that is likely to be sold within three months.
b. Amounts to be collected from customers.
c. Amounts owed to suppliers.
d. Balances in savings accounts.
LO4-4
5. Which of the following generally would be considered a good internal control over cash payments?
a. Employees responsible for making cash disbursements should also be in charge of cash receipts.
b. Ensure checks are serially numbered and signed only by authorized employees.
c. The employee who authorizes payment should also be the employee who prepares the check.
d. Require only one signature for larger checks.
LO4-5
6. When preparing a bank reconciliation, nonsufficient funds (NSF) checks would be:
a. Added to the company’s cash balance.
b. Added to the bank’s cash balance.
c. Subtracted from the company’s cash balance.
d. Subtracted from the bank’s cash balance.
LO4-5
7. When preparing a bank reconciliation, outstanding checks would be:
a. Added to the company’s cash balance.
b. Added to the bank’s cash balance.
c. Subtracted from the company’s cash balance.
d. Subtracted from the bank’s cash balance.
LO4-6
8. At any given time, the amount of cash in the petty cash fund should equal:
a. All vouchers written during the accounting period.
b. The established balance of the fund less all vouchers written during the accounting period.
c. The amount of cash withdrawn from the fund during the accounting period.
d. The amount of cash used to establish the fund.
LO4-7
9. Operating cash flows would include which of the following?
a. Payment for prepaid insurance.
b. Receipt of cash from selling a building.
c. Payment of dividends to stockholders.
d. Receipt of cash from bank borrowing.
LO4-7
10. Financing cash flows would include which of the following?
a. Payment of salaries to employees.
b. Sale of services to customers for cash.
c. Repayment of long-term borrowing to the bank.
d. Purchase of equipment for cash for company operations.
Alternate Let’s Review
Problem #1
At the end of April, Classic Cinema’s accounting records show a cash balance of $5,240. The April bank
statement reports a cash balance of $6,700. The following information is gathered from the bank
statement and company records:
Checks outstanding $3,200 Customer’s NSF check $1,100
Deposits outstanding 800 Service fees 100
Interest earned 80
In addition, Classic discovered it correctly paid for utilities with a check for $350 but incorrectly recorded
the check in the company’s records for $530. The bank correctly processed the check for $350.
Required:
1. Prepare a bank reconciliation for the month of April.
2. Adjust the balance of cash in the company’s records.
Solution:
1.
Classic Cinema
Bank Reconciliation
April 30
Bank’s Cash Balance Company’s Cash Balance
Per bank statement $ 6,700 Per general ledger $ 5,240
Deposits outstanding + 800 Interest earned + 80
Company error + 180
Checks outstanding − 3,200 Service charge − 100
NSF check − 1,100
Bank balance per
reconciliation $ 4,300
Company balance per
reconciliation $ 4,300
2.
April 30 Debit Credit
Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Interest Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Utilities Expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
(Record interest earned and check correction)
Service Fees Expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Accounts Receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100
Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200
(Record NSF check and bank service fee)
Alternate Let’s Review
Problem #2
A company reports in its current year each of the transactions listed below.
Required:
Indicate whether each transaction should be reported as an operating, investing, or financing cash flow in
the company’s statement of cash flows, and whether each is a cash inflow or outflow.
Transaction Type of Cash Flow Inflow or Outflow
1. Issue common stock for cash.
2. Receive cash from customers.
3. Sell equipment for cash.
4. Pay cash for advertising.
Solution:
1. Financing—inflow. 2. Operating—inflow. 3. Investing—inflow.
4. Operating—outflow.
Key Points by Learning Objective
LO4-1 Discuss the impact of accounting scandals and the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
The accounting scandals in the early 2000s prompted passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Among
other stipulations, SOX sets forth a variety of guidelines related to auditor-client relations and additional
internal controls. Section 404, in particular, requires company management and auditors to document and
assess the effectiveness of a company’s internal controls.
LO4-2 Identify the components, responsibilities, and limitations of internal control.
Internal control refers to a company’s plan to improve the accuracy and reliability of accounting
information and safeguard the company’s assets. Five key components to an internal control system are
(1) control environment, (2) risk assessment, (3) control activities, (4) monitoring, and (5) information
and communication. Control activities include those designed to prevent or detect fraudulent or erroneous
behavior.
LO4-3 Define cash and cash equivalents.
Cash includes not only currency, coins, balances in checking accounts, and checks and money orders
received from customers, but also cash equivalents, defined as investments that mature within three
months from the date of purchase (such as money market funds, Treasury bills, and certificates of
deposit).
LO4-4 Understand controls over cash receipts and cash disbursements.
Because cash is the asset of a company most susceptible to employee fraud, controls over cash receipts
and cash disbursements are an important part of a company’s overall internal control system. Important
controls over cash receipts include segregation of duties for those who handle cash and independent
verification of cash receipts. Important controls over cash disbursements include payment by check, credit
card, or debit card, segregation of duties, and various authorization and documentation procedures.
LO4-5 Reconcile a bank statement.
In a bank reconciliation we calculate the bank’s balance for (1) cash transactions already recorded by the
company but not yet recorded by the bank and (2) bank errors. Similarly, we calculate the company’s
balance for (1) cash transactions already recorded by the bank but not yet recorded by the company and
(2) company errors. After we complete the calculations, the amounts for the bank balance and the
company balance should be equal. Any adjustments to the company’s balance need to be recorded.
LO4-6 Account for petty cash.
To pay for minor purchases, companies keep some cash on hand in a petty cash fund. At the end of the
period, expenditures from the petty cash fund are recorded, and the fund is replenished.
LO4-7 Identify the major inflows and outflows of cash.
The statement of cash flows reports all cash activities for the period. Operating activities include those
transactions and events involving revenues and expenses. Investing activities include cash investments in
long-term assets and investment securities. Financing activities include transactions designed to finance
the business through borrowing and owner investment.
Analysis
LO4-8 Assess earnings quality by comparing net income and cash flows.
Companies whose free cash flow is decreasing relative to net income are likely to have lower earnings
quality than are other companies, all else being equal.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistake
The term debit card can cause some confusion for someone in the first accounting
course. Throughout this course, we refer to an increase in cash as a debit to cash.
However, using your debit card will result in a decrease in your cash account. It’s the
merchant’s cash account, not yours, that increases and is debited. Don’t let this
confuse you.
Common Mistake
Notice that bank statements refer to an increase (or deposit) in the cash balance as a
credit and a decrease (or withdrawal) as a debit. This terminology is the opposite of
that used in financial accounting, where debit refers to an increase in cash and credit
refers to a decrease in cash. The reason for the difference in terminology is a
difference in perspective: When a company makes a deposit, it views this as an
increase to cash, so it records a debit to the Cash account. However, the bank views
this same deposit as an increase in the amount owed to the company, or a liability,
which is recorded as a credit. Similarly, a withdrawal of cash from the bank is
viewed by the company as a decrease to its Cash account, so it is recorded with a
credit, but the bank views this withdrawal as a decrease to the amount owed to the
company, so it debits its liability.
Common Mistake
Students sometimes mistake an NSF check as a bad check written by the company
instead of one written to the company. When an NSF check occurs, the company has
deposited a customer’s check but the customer did not have enough funds to cover
the check. The company must adjust its balance of cash downward to reverse the
increase in cash it recorded at the time of deposit. The effect of this bounced
customer check creates an account receivable for the company until the customer
honors the funds it owes.
Common Mistake
Some students try to update the Cash account for deposits outstanding, checks
outstanding, or a bank error. The company does not need to adjust for these items
related to reconciling the bank’s balance because they are already properly recorded
in the company’s accounting records.
Decision Points
Question Accounting Information Analysis & Decision
Does the company
maintain adequate
internal controls?
Management’s discussion,
auditor’s opinion
If management or the auditor
notes any deficiencies in internal
controls, financial accounting
information may be unreliable.
Question Accounting Information Analysis & Decision
Should the
company allow its
customers to pay
by using credit
cards?
Credit sales, service fee
expense, internal controls
When the benefits of credit card
use (increased sales, reduced
handling of cash by employees)
exceed the costs (service fee
expense and credit card fraud),
the company benefits.
Question Accounting Information Analysis & Decision
Is the company
able to generate
enough cash from
internal sources to
sustain daily
operations?
Statement of cash flows Cash flows generated from
internal sources include operating
and investing activities. For
established companies, the sum of
these amounts should be positive.
Otherwise, the company will need
to rely on external funding
(lenders and stockholders), which
is not sustainable in the long term.
Question Accounting Information Analysis & Decision
How does free cash
flow predict a
company’s net
income?
Net income from the
income statement and free
cash flow (operating
and investing) from the
statement of cash flows
When free cash flow and net
income have similar trends, net
income is more likely to continue
that trend in the future.
Career Corner
Career Corner
Financial analysts offer investment advice to their clients—banks, insurance
companies, mutual funds, securities firms, and individual investors. This advice
usually comes in the form of a formal recommendation (buy, hold, or sell). Before
giving an opinion, analysts develop a detailed understanding of a company’s
operations through discussions with management, analysis of competitors, and
projections of industry trends. They also develop a detailed understanding of a
company’s financial statements, including its earnings quality. Analysts typically do
not recommend companies with lower-quality earnings.
Understanding a company’s earnings quality comes from having a good
grasp of accrual-basis accounting. This is why many finance majors and MBA
students, pursuing careers as financial analysts, take additional accounting-related
courses when earning their degrees and even after graduation.
Ethical Dilemma
Ethical Dilemma
Suppose that shortly after finishing this course, you were sent to prison for a crime
you did not commit. While in prison, the warden learns that you have taken financial
accounting and are really good at “keeping the books.” In fact, you are so good at
accounting that you offer to teach other inmates basic financial skills that they’ll use
someday after being released. You find that teaching others these skills is quite
rewarding.
However, the warden has a sinister plan and asks for your help. He plans to
use his position of authority at the prison to steal money. He first uses prisoners as
low-cost labor to do projects around town. Because other legitimate companies
cannot compete with these low costs, they bribe the warden not to bid on jobs. The
warden asks you to use your accounting skills to participate in a financial scam by
falsifying documents and creating a false set of accounting records that will allow the
warden’s bribes to go undetected by state prison authorities. In other words, he wants
you to “cook the books.”
When you object to helping with this scam, the warden threatens to end your
tutoring sessions with other inmates and sentence you to solitary confinement. To
further sway your decision, he promises that if you’ll help, he’ll make your prison
life easy by giving you special meals and other favors.
What would you do in this situation? If you help the warden steal money,
you benefit personally and the other prisoners benefit by your continued tutoring
sessions. However, the warden often physically abuses the other prisoners, and
helping him steal money means that he’ll remain in his position for a long time,
continuing his abusive behavior.
Key issues
Benefitting personally vs. seeing others abused
Option 1: Continue to falsify the accounting records
You need to take care of yourself in prison. Prison life has a different set of rules.
You are not the one actually taking the bribes. You are merely following orders.
You are not the one abusing other inmates.
If you continue falsifying documents, you can continue to teach other inmates valuable financial
skills that will one day be essential when they are released from prison. This serves a greater
purpose.
Option 2: Discontinue falsifying the accounting records
By falsifying documents, you are just as guilty as the person (warden) stealing the money.
If the state authorities discover this scheme, you could receive additional jail time.
You are directly involved in helping the warden to force bribes from local companies. This
directly affects the finances of those companies (and their families).
By assisting the warden, you are directly linked to his abusive behavior of other inmates. While
you are not committing the physical abuse, you are helping to provide a setting where it can
continue.