FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
6th Edition
ISBN: 9781259684234
Author: PHILLIPS
Publisher: MCG/CREATE
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Chapter 3, Problem 5SDC
Ethical Decision Making: A Mini-Case
Mike Lynch is the manager of an upstate New York regional office for an insurance company. As the regional manager, his pay package includes a base salary, commissions, and a bonus, when the region sells new policies in excess of its quota. Mike has been under enormous pressure lately, stemming largely from two factors. First, he is experiencing mounting personal debt due to a family member’s illness. Second, compounding his worries, the region’s sales of new insurance policies have dipped below the normal quota for the first time in years.
You have been working for Mike for two years, and like everyone else in the office, you consider yourself lucky to work for such a supportive boss. You also feel great sympathy for his personal problems over the last few months. In your position as accountant for the regional office, you are only too aware of the drop in new policy sales and the impact this will have on the manager’s bonus. While you are working on the year-end financial statements, Mike stops by your office.
Mike asks you to change the manner in which you have accounted for a new property insurance policy for a large local business. A check for the premium, substantial in amount, came in the mail on December 31, the last day of the reporting year. The premium covers a period beginning on January 5. You deposited the check and correctly debited Cash and credited Unearned Revenue. Mike says, “Hey, we have the money this year, so why not count the revenue this year? I never did understand why you accountants are so picky about these things anyway. I’d like you to change the way you’ve recorded the transaction. I want you to credit a revenue account. And anyway, I’ve done favors for you in the past, and I am asking for such a small thing in return.” With that, he leaves your office.
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How should you handle this situation? What are the ethical implications of Mike’s request? Who are the parties who would be helped or harmed if you went along with the request? If you fail to comply with his request, how will you explain your position to him? Justify your answers in writing.
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Chapter 3 Solutions
FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Ch. 3 - Prob. 1QCh. 3 - When accounting was developed in the 14th and 15th...Ch. 3 - Define accrual basis accounting and contrast it...Ch. 3 - Prob. 4QCh. 3 - What two questions are answered by the core...Ch. 3 - Prob. 6QCh. 3 - What is a performance obligation?Ch. 3 - How do you report revenue from a contract that...Ch. 3 - Explain the expense recognition principle...Ch. 3 - Explain why stockholders equity is increased by...
Ch. 3 - Explain why revenues are recorded as credits and...Ch. 3 - Complete the following table by entering either...Ch. 3 - Complete the following table by entering either...Ch. 3 - Prob. 14QCh. 3 - Prob. 15QCh. 3 - What is the difference between Accounts Receivable...Ch. 3 - What is the difference between Accounts Payable...Ch. 3 - For each of the following situations, indicate...Ch. 3 - Prob. 19QCh. 3 - Which of the following items is not a specific...Ch. 3 - Which of the following accounts normally has a...Ch. 3 - Prob. 3MCCh. 3 - Which of the following would the core revenue...Ch. 3 - If a company incorrectly records a payment as an...Ch. 3 - Prob. 6MCCh. 3 - Prob. 7MCCh. 3 - Which account is least likely to be debited when...Ch. 3 - Webby Corporation reported the following amounts...Ch. 3 - Which of the following is the entry to be recorded...Ch. 3 - Identifying Performance Obligations Lakeside...Ch. 3 - Prob. 2MECh. 3 - Identifying Accrual Basis Revenues The following...Ch. 3 - Identifying Accrual Basis Expenses The following...Ch. 3 - Recording Accrual Basis Revenues For each of the...Ch. 3 - Recording Accrual Basis Expenses For each of the...Ch. 3 - Prob. 7MECh. 3 - Prob. 8MECh. 3 - Prob. 9MECh. 3 - Prob. 10MECh. 3 - Identifying Accrual Basis Expenses The following...Ch. 3 - Prob. 12MECh. 3 - Recording Accrual Basis Expenses For each of the...Ch. 3 - Prob. 14MECh. 3 - Preparing Accrual Basis Journal Entries for...Ch. 3 - Preparing Accrual Basis Journal Entries for...Ch. 3 - Preparing Accrual Basis Journal Entries and...Ch. 3 - Determining the Accounting Equation Effects of...Ch. 3 - Prob. 19MECh. 3 - Preparing an Income Statement and Calculating Net...Ch. 3 - Preparing Financial Statements from a Trial...Ch. 3 - Preparing an Income Statement and Calculating Net...Ch. 3 - Calculating and Interpreting Net Profit Margin...Ch. 3 - Calculating and Interpreting Net Profit Margin...Ch. 3 - Matching Definitions with Terms Match each...Ch. 3 - Matching Definitions with Terms Match each...Ch. 3 - Identifying Performance Obligations and Timing...Ch. 3 - Identifying Accrual Basis Revenues According to...Ch. 3 - Identifying Accrual Basis Revenues According to...Ch. 3 - Identifying Accrual Basis Expenses Under accrual...Ch. 3 - Identifying Accrual Basis Expenses Under accrual...Ch. 3 - Determining Accounting Equation Effects and Net...Ch. 3 - Determining Accounting Equation Effects and Net...Ch. 3 - Recording Journal Entries and Determining Net...Ch. 3 - Prob. 11ECh. 3 - Recording Journal Entries and Determining Net...Ch. 3 - Recording and Posting Accrual Basis Journal...Ch. 3 - Analyzing Transactions from the Perspectives of...Ch. 3 - Prob. 15ECh. 3 - Determining Accounting Equation Effects of Several...Ch. 3 - Preparing Journal Entries For each of the...Ch. 3 - Prob. 18ECh. 3 - Creating an Unadjusted Trial Balance Based on the...Ch. 3 - Inferring Transactions, Creating Financial...Ch. 3 - Determining the Effects of Various Transactions EZ...Ch. 3 - COACHED PROBLEMS Recording Nonquantitative Journal...Ch. 3 - Prob. 2CPCh. 3 - Prob. 3CPCh. 3 - Prob. 4CPCh. 3 - Prob. 1PACh. 3 - Recording Journal Entries Diana Mark is the...Ch. 3 - Analyzing the Effects of Transactions Using...Ch. 3 - Prob. 4PACh. 3 - Prob. 1PBCh. 3 - Prob. 2PBCh. 3 - Analyzing the Effects of Transactions Using...Ch. 3 - Analyzing, Journalizing, and Interpreting Business...Ch. 3 - Prob. 1COPCh. 3 - Finding Financial Information Refer to the...Ch. 3 - Comparing Financial Information Refer to the...Ch. 3 - Prob. 4SDCCh. 3 - Ethical Decision Making: A Mini-Case Mike Lynch is...Ch. 3 - Accounting for Business Operations Starting in...
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