Assume you are the controller of a large corporation, and the chief executive officer (CEO) has requested that you explain to them why the net income that you are reporting for the year is so low, when the CEO knows for a fact that the cash accounts are much higher at the end of the year than they were at the beginning of the year. Write a memo to the CEO to offer some possible explanations for the disparity between financial statement net income and the change in cash during the year.
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- Consider the dilemma you might someday face if you are the chief financial officer of a company that is struggling to maintain a positive cash flow, despite the fact that the company is reporting a substantial positive net income. Maybe the problem is so severe that there is often insufficient cash to pay ordinary business expenses, like utilities, salaries, and payments to suppliers. Assume that you have been asked to communicate to your board of directors about your companys year, in retrospect, as well as your vision for the companys future. Write a memo that expresses your insights about past experience and present prospects for the company. Note that the challenge of the assignment is to keep your integrity intact, while putting a positive spin on the situation, as much as is reasonably possible. How can you envision the situation turning into a success story?arrow_forwardLucas Hunter, president of Simmons Industries Inc., believes that reporting operating cash flow per share on the income statement would be a useful addition to the companys just completed financial statements. The following discussion took place between Lucas Hunter and Simmons controller, John Jameson, in January, after the close of the fiscal year: Lucas: Ive been reviewing our financial statements for the last year. I am disappointed that our net income per share has dropped by 10% from last year. This wont look good to our shareholders. Is there anything we can do about this? John: What do you mean? The past is the past, and the numbers are in. There isnt much that can be done about it. Our financial statements were prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles, and I dont see much leeway for significant change at this point. Lucas: No, no. Im not suggesting that we cook the books. But look at the cash flow from operating activities on the statement of cash flows. The cash flow from operating activities has increased by 20%. This is very good newsand, I might add, useful information. The higher cash flow from operating activities will give our creditors comfort. John: Well, the cash flow from operating activities is on the statement of cash flows, so I guess users will be able to see the improved cash flow figures there. Lucas: This is true, but somehow I think this information should be given a much higher profile. I dont like this information being buried in the statement of cash flows. You know as well as I do that many users will focus on the income statement. Therefore, I think we ought to include an operating cash flow per share number on the face of the income statementsomeplace under the earnings per share number. In this way, users will get the complete picture of our operating performance. Yes, our earnings per share dropped this year, but our cash flow from operating activities improved! And all the information is in one place where users can see and compare the figures. What do you think? John: Ive never really thought about it like that before. I guess we could put the operating cash flow per share on the income statement, underneath the earnings per share amount. Users would really benefit from this disclosure. Thanks for the ideaIll start working on it. Lucas: Glad to be of service. How would you interpret this situation? Is John behaving in an ethical and professional manner?arrow_forwardRead the following scenario about Strang Corporation and identify the substantive procedures that the CPA (Elaine Stanley) should perform to determine whether lapping exists. Do not discuss deficiencies in the system of internal control. During the year, Strang Corporation began to encounter cash flow difficulties, and a cursory review by management revealed receivable collection problems. Strang’s management engaged Elaine Stan ley, CPA, to perform a special investigation. Stanley studied the billing and collection cycle and noted the following: The accounting department employs one bookkeeper who receives and opens all incoming mail. This bookkeeper is also responsible for depositing receipts, filing daily remittance advices, recording receipts in the cash receipts journal, and posting receipts in the individual customer accounts and the general ledger accounts. There are no cash sales. The bookkeeper prepares and controls the mailing of monthly statements to customers. The concentration of functions and the receivable collection problems caused Stanley to suspect that a systematic theft of customers’ payments through a delayed posting of remittances (lapping of accounts receivable) is present.arrow_forward
- Suppose you are the chief financial officer (CFO) responsible for the financial statements of Philip Morris. What ethical issue would you face as you consider what to report in your company’s annual report about the cash payments? What is the ethical course of action for you to take in this situation? Who are the stakeholder of this company?arrow_forwardYour friend, Diana Wood, recently completed the second year of her business and just received annual financial statements from her accountant. Wood finds the income statement and balance sheet informative but does not understand the statement of cash flows. She says the first section is especially confusing because it contains a lot of additions and subtractions that do not make sense to her. Wood adds, “The income statement tells me the business is more profitable than last year and that’s most important. If I want to know how cash changes, I can look at comparative balance sheets.” Required Write a half-page memorandum to your friend explaining the purpose of the statement of cash flows. Speculate as to why the first section is so confusing and how it might be rectified.arrow_forwardRequired: (a) Prepare a cash flow statement for Chamber Corp for the year ended 31 December 2021. (b) Reply to the following questions put to you by one of the directors of the company: 'Can you please explain to me how we have a healthy profit yet our bank overdraft has reached a record level? Surely there must be something wrong with the profit calculations.'arrow_forward
- You are reviewing a company’s financial statements and find that it has had a negative cash flow from assets this year. What might explain this? Is this a good sign or a bad sign?arrow_forwardThe partner in charge of the Kappeler Corporation audit comes by your desk and leaves a letter he has started to the CEO and a copy of the cash flow statement for the year ended December 31, 2020. Because he must leave on an emergency, he asks you to finish the letter by explaining: (1) the disparity between net income and cash flow, (2) the importance of operating cash flow, (3) the renewable source(s) of cash flow, and (4) possible suggestions to improve the cash position. Kappeler CorporationStatement of Cash FlowsFor the Year Ended December 31, 2020 Cash flows from operating activities Net income $ 100,000 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation expense $ 10,000 Amortization expense 1,000 Loss on sale of fixed assets 5,000 Increase in accounts receivable (net) (40,000) Increase in inventory (35,000) Decrease in accounts payable (41,000) (100,000) Net…arrow_forwardMary Walker, president of Rusco Company, considers $14,000 to be the minimum cash balance for operating purposes. As can be seen from the following statements, only $8,000 in cash was available at the end of this year. Since the company reported a large net income for the year, and also issued both bonds and common stock, the sharp decline in cash is puzzling to Ms. Walker. Mary Walker, president of Rusco Company, considers $14,000 to be the minimum cash balance for operating purposes. As can be seen from the following statements, only $8,000 in cash was available at the end of this year. Since the company reported a large net income for the year, and also issued both bonds and common stock, the sharp decline in cash is puzzling to Ms. Walker. Rusco CompanyComparative Balance Sheetat July 31 This Year Last Year Assets Current assets: Cash $ 8,000 $ 21,000 Accounts receivable 120,000 80,000 Inventory 140,000 90,000 Prepaid expenses 5,000 9,000 Total…arrow_forward
- Mary Walker, president of Rusco Company, considers $14,000 to be the minimum cash balance for operating purposes. As can be seen from the following statements, only $8,000 in cash was available at the end of this year. Since the company reported a large net income for the year, and also issued both bonds and common stock, the sharp decline in cash is puzzling to Ms. Walker. Mary Walker, president of Rusco Company, considers $14,000 to be the minimum cash balance for operating purposes. As can be seen from the following statements, only $8,000 in cash was available at the end of this year. Since the company reported a large net income for the year, and also issued both bonds and common stock, the sharp decline in cash is puzzling to Ms. Walker. Rusco CompanyComparative Balance Sheetat July 31 This Year Last Year Assets Current assets: Cash $ 8,000 $ 21,000 Accounts receivable 120,000 80,000 Inventory 140,000 90,000 Prepaid expenses 5,000 9,000 Total…arrow_forwardA senior financial executive for a large public company remarked to a stock market analyst: I don ’ t know why you people worry so much about what is in our statement of cash flows. Managing cash flow is our responsibility as managers; it involves paying close attention to cash on a daily basis. Why don ’ t you pay attention to our profit and just forget about cash flow? We ’ ll look after that! Respond to the executive ’ s comments. You do not have to agree or disagree entirely.arrow_forwardConduct a horizontal and vertical analysis of the company’s financial statements to identify trends and patterns over the past two years. Provide an analysis of the company’s financial performance, for shareholders and potential investors, using the trends identified in (a) above and in the context of market and other trends and expectations mentioned in the MDA section of the Annual Report. Briefly explain how the analysis at (b) would be modified if it was prepared for stakeholders other than shareholders and investors. Do not use cash on hand and net income after taxationarrow_forward
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