Q: What are the three elements of the fraud triangle?
A: Pressure, Opportunity, Rationalization
Q: What does the Sarbanes-Oxley Act require regarding internal controls?
A: It requires companies to establish, maintain, and evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting.
Q: What are some internal control activities?
A: Segregation of duties, authorization of transactions, documentation procedures, physical controls, independent verification, and monitoring.
Q: What is the purpose of bonding an employee?
A: It protects the company against losses caused by employee fraud or dishonesty.
Q: How does collusion affect internal controls?
A: Collusion between employees can bypass internal controls, making fraud or errors more difficult to detect.
Q: What are some examples of supporting documents used in recording transactions?
A: Invoices, purchase orders, receipts, contracts, and checks.
Q: What is a receivable, and why is it important to companies?
A: A receivable is an amount owed to a company by customers. It's important because it represents a future inflow of cash, critical for liquidity.
Q: What are the features of notes receivable?
A: Written promises to pay a specified amount, with interest, by a certain date.
Q: How do you calculate the cash received when a customer takes a sales discount?
A: Cash Received = Sales Amount - Sales Discount
Q: What are the three accounting issues related to accounts receivable?
A: Recognition, valuation, and write-offs of uncollectible accounts.
Q: How is accounts receivable valued on the balance sheet?
A: It is valued at its net realizable value (NRV), the amount expected to be collected.
Q: Why do companies estimate uncollectible accounts?
A: To match bad debt expense with revenues in the same period, using the allowance method.
Q: When does a company recognize an expense using the allowance method?
A: The expense is recognized in the period when the revenue is earned, not when accounts become uncollectible.
Q: What is the journal entry when adjusting the allowance for doubtful accounts?
A:
Debit: Bad Debt Expense
Credit: Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Q: What types of costs must be capitalized when acquiring plant assets?
A: Purchase price, installation, legal fees, transportation, and any costs directly related to bringing the asset into operation.
Q: Which plant asset is not subject to depreciation?
A: Land, because it does not wear out or become obsolete.
Q: How do you determine the gain or loss on the disposal of a plant asset?
A:
Gain/Loss = Sale Price - Book Value
Q: When should expenditures be expensed immediately vs. capitalized?
A:
Expensed immediately: Routine repairs and maintenance.
Capitalized: Major improvements or additions that extend the asset’s useful life.
Q: What are the three methods of calculating depreciation?
A:
Straight-line: Depreciation=Cost−Salvage ValueUseful Life\text{Depreciation} = \frac{\text{Cost} - \text{Salvage Value}}{\text{Useful Life}}Depreciation=Useful LifeCost−Salvage Value
Declining Balance: Depreciation=Book Value×Depreciation Rate\text{Depreciation} = \text{Book Value} \times \text{Depreciation Rate}Depreciation=Book Value×Depreciation Rate
Units of Production: Depreciation=(Cost−Salvage ValueTotal Estimated Units)×Units Produced\text{Depreciation} = \left(\frac{\text{Cost} - \text{Salvage Value}}{\text{Total Estimated Units}}\right) \times \text{Units Produced}Depreciation=(Total Estimated UnitsCost−Salvage Value)×Units Produced