Assignment:
Purpose:
Reconciling bank accounts is a good way to help maintain internal controls over cash. With time lags and posting errors it is easy for cash transactions to be omitted, recorded in a different accounting period, or reflect incorrect amounts. Assignment with give you practical experience in reconciling the cash balance as noted on the company books to the bank's records.
Steps
Resources: Financial Accounting: Tools for Business Decision Making
Scenario: Daisey Company is a very profitable small business. It has not, however given much consideration to internal control. For example, in an attempt to keep clerical and office expenses to a minimum, the company has combined the jobs of cashier and book-keeper. As a result, Bret Turrin handles all cash receipts, keeps the accounting records, and prepares the monthly bank reconciliations.
The balance per the bank statement on October 31, 2017, was $18,380. Outstanding checks were No. 62 for $140.75, No. 183 for $180, No. 284 for $253.25, No. 862 for $190.71, No. 863 for $226.80, and No. 864 for $165.28. Included with the statement was a credit memorandum of $185 indicating the collection of a note receivable for Daisey Company by the bank on October 25.
This memorandum has not been recorded by Daisey.
The company's ledger showed one Cash account with a balance of $21,877.72. The balance included undepositied cash on hand. Because of the lack of internal controls, Bret took for personal use all of the undeposited receipts in excess of $3,795.51. He then prepared the following bank reconciliation in an effort to conceal his theft of cash:
Cash balance per books, October 31 $21,877.72Add: Outstanding checks No. 862$190.71 No. 863226.80 No. 864165.28482.79 22,360.51Less: Undeposited receipts 3,795.51Unadjusted balance per bank, October 31 18,565.00Less: Bank credit memorandum 185.00Cash balance per bank statement, October 31 $18,380.00
Craete a 1,050-word bank reconciliation report including the following:
Indicate the three ways that Bret attempted to conceal the theft and the dollar amount involved in each method.
What principles of internal control were violated in this case?