Horizon Corporation manufactures personal computers. The company began operations in 2002 and reported profits for the years 2004 through 2009. Due primarily to increased competition and price slashing in the industry, 2010's income statement reported a loss of $20 million. Just before the end of the 2011 fiscal year, a memo from the company's chief financial officer to Jim Fielding, the company controller, included the following comments:
If we don't do something about the large amount of unsold computers already manufactured, our auditors will require us to write them off. The resulting loss for 2011 will cause a violation of our debt covenants and force the company into bankruptcy. I suggest that you ship half of our inventory to J.B. Sales, Inc., in Oklahoma City. I know the company's president and he will accept the merchandise and acknowledge the shipment as a purchase. We can record the sale in 2011 which will boost profits to an acceptable level. Then J.B. Sales will simply return the merchandise in 2012 after the financial statements have been issued.
Discuss the ethical dilemma faced by Jim Fielding.
What main ethical issues face Jim Fielding? Choose at least two issues, select an approach, and explain your justification using accounting principles learned in this module.