...Accounting Review for the CLEP Chapter 1 * Accounting “links” decision makers with economic activities and with the results of their decisions * Information Users * Investors * Creditors * Managers * Owners * Customers * Employees * Regulatory agencies * SEC * IRS * EPA * Cost & Revenue Determination * Job costing * Process costing * ABC * Sales * Assets & Liabilities * Plant and equipment * Loans & equity * Receivables, payables & cash * Cash Flows * From operations * From financing * From investing * Decision Support * CVP analysis * Performance evaluation * Incremental analysis * Budgeting * Capital allocation * Earnings per share * Ratio analysis * Basic Functions of an Accounting System * Interpret and record business transactions * Classify similar transactions into useful reports. * Summarize and communicate information to decision makers. * Objectives of Financial Reporting (general to specific) * Information useful in making investment and credit decisions * Information useful in assessing amount, timing and uncertainty of future cash flows. * Information about economic resources, claims to resources, and changes in resources and claims. * The primary financial statements...
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... Abstract The purpose of this paper is to look at FASB Interpretation No. 36, Accounting for Exploratory Wells in Progress at the End of a Period-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 19. This paper will cover what is discussed, how the authority was found, what industry is affected, and what are the major organizational parts of that authority. FASB Interpretations are published by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The interpretations extend or explain standards that have been published. They are part of the U.S. GAAP and there are currently 48 interpretations that have been published as of September 2006. In this paper we will look at FASB Interpretation No. 36 Accounting for Exploratory Wells in Progress at the End of a Period an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 19. Statement 19 specifies that companies should follow the successful efforts method of accounting for costs of acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral resources. It also specifies how capitalized costs should be amortized and addresses accounting for mineral property conveyances. Also addressed are the disclosure to be included in financial statements and accounting for income taxes. (fasb.org/summary/stsum19.shtml) Interpretation No. 36 addresses the questions that have been raised as to when to expense the costs of an exploratory well in progress that has been determined to be dry before the financial statements for that period have been issued. FASB requires that all costs of expletory...
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...Cookie Jar Reserves and Conservative Accounting ACCT 495 Professor Jastrzebski Fall 2013 Cookie Jar Reserves and Conservative Accounting SUMMARY O'Brian Software, a multimillion dollar software company, provides custom software systems, maintenance, support and training. Nick, a recent college graduate, just began working for the family run software company. After being hired to the firm's accounting department, Nick began to suspect unintentional and misleading revenue recognition . Nick believes his Aunt Amelia, founder and CEO, is an honest business woman and that her chosen CFO, Lee Marchetti, is also an honest man. Nick also knows that the financial statements have been reviewed and approved by the internal and external auditors and the firm's internal controls are effective. Despite these facts, Nick believes the firm has been smoothing earnings and creating inflated reserves. Most firms are usually charged with inflating earnings instead of under reporting, but both are equally illegal and unethical. After approaching Lee Marchetti with his concerns, Nick has informed his aunt, who has little accounting knowledge, of his suspected issues. Nick and Aunt Amelia are now faced with the decision as to whether or not the audit committee should be made aware of these concerns. ISSUES There are three issues at play regarding proper accounting and ethical business practices. The first issue is whether or not O'Brian...
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...Accounting or accountancy is the measurement, processing and communication of financial information about economic entities.[1][2] The modern field was established by the Italian mathematician Luca Pacioli in 1494.[3] Accounting, which has been called the "language of business",[4] measures the results of an organization's economic activities and conveys this information to a variety of users, including investors, creditors, management, and regulators.[5] Practitioners of accounting are known as accountants. The terms 'accounting' and 'financial reporting' are often used as synonyms. Accounting can be divided into several fields including financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, and tax accounting.[6]Accounting information systems are designed to support accounting functions and related activities. Financial accounting focuses on the reporting of an organization's financial information, including the preparation of financial statements, to external users of the information, such as investors, regulators and suppliers;[7] and management accounting focuses on the measurement, analysis and reporting of information for internal use by management.[1][7] The recording of financial transactions, so that summaries of the financials may be presented in financial reports, is known as bookkeeping, of which double-entry bookkeeping is the most common system.[8] Accounting is facilitated by accounting organizations such as standard-setters, accounting firms and professional...
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...Client Request II To: Client From: Consulting Group Subject: Financial Implications of Pending Litigation Financial Repercussions The Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) created financial reporting that will have some consequences from the client’s impending litigation. The first impact is with the obligation for contingencies in the financial statements to explain the probable account for the conclusion of the lawsuit that will cause a restatement. Pendantto the outcome of the litigation, the company is ordered to reorganize the debts of the organization via chapter 11 bankruptcy. The legitimacy of a patent is challenged in the lawsuit, which is a revenue creating asset for the client’s. The impending outcome of the asset will create testing the patent for impairment. Reporting Requirements for Lawsuit Contingencies The consequencesoflitigationfor the company financials hinge upon the expectedconclusion of the lawsuit. FASB Codification section 450-20-25-2 stipulates that in the event that theanticipated outcome of litigation results in a loss to the business, and can be rationallyprojected, then the cost should be accrued to the financials and footnoted as such.If the conclusion of the process is most likely to create a loss for the business, but thecost cannot judiciouslybe estimated, then FASB Codification 450-20-50-5 necessitates that a contingency disclosure be included to the financials describing the circumstances which would lead to the loss. FASB...
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...“Codification” means the FASB Accounting Standards Codification electronic research system developed and released by the FASB which houses, reorganizes and indexes United States financial accounting standards and related literature (FASB Accounting Standards Codification®). The codification can basically be referred to as a one stop complete authorized source of reference for GAAP framework in order to adhere to the requirements of fair financial reporting by non-governmental entities. The codification comprises of authoritative standards from FASB, AIPCA and others and it does not involve any changes to the actual standards and is applicable to both public and private companies. The FASB had three primary goals in developing the Codification: first to simplify user access by codifying all authoritative US GAAP in one spot; second to ensure that the codified content accurately represented authoritative US GAAP as of July 1, 2009, and third to create a codification research system that is up to date for the released results of standard-setting activity. Basically the reasons behind the codification was to gather all US GAAP standards and make it easier for any individual to search for guidance in one place by using keywords or by narrowing the search by categories. Additionally, it eliminated the redundancy of statements among different standards and with just one source it allows the user to cite the relevant code with up to date standards. For instance, to find out the disclosure...
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...Government and Non-Profit Accounting )Complete Class Click This Link to Get The Tutorial: http://www.myhomeworkspot.com/ACC455-Corporate-Taxation-Complete-Class-002.htm Week 1 Individual Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Analysis Paper Prepare a 350- to 700-word paper comparing and contrasting GASB and FASB accounting. Explain the objectives of the two standards boards and how they are similar and different. Describe how the modified accrual basis of accounting differs from full accrual accounting. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Discussion Questions DQ 1 Log into http://www.charitynavigator.org/. Choose a good charity and a bad charity and explain why you feel they should labeled good or bad. DQ 2 What is fund accounting? How does it compare to proprietary accounting? Why is fund accounting necessary? What are the major fund types? DQ 3 What are some examples of government and not-for-profit organizations? How do businesses measure success? How do government organizations measure success? DQ 4 What is the purpose of CAFR? What are the components of CAFR? Why is the Federal Government not subject to GASB 34? How do government-wide financial statements add information not available in fund financial statements? Week 2 Individual Ch. 1, 2, & 3 Textbook Exercises Resources: Ch. 1, 2, & 3 of Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting Prepare written answers...
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...Proposal to Board of Directors [Team’s chosen name for the corporation – TBD in Unit 10] By Terra Allen, Accounting/Finance Manager, Michael Argentino, Marketing/Sales Manager, George Dickson, Operations/Production Manager, Doris Toliver, HR Assistant Manager, Felicia Parris, IT Assistant Manager March 14, 2014 Introduction to the Proposal’s Purpose and Content [Team’s chosen name] Corporation is a medium-sized manufacturing company with 250 employees. It directly markets one product: a unique coffee cup with a patented ball bearing sliding mechanism. Nathan Jr. and a group of 10 other executives run the company. [Team’s chosen name] Corporation has received a large sum of money from a venture capitalist. The venture capitalist and Nathan Jr. are predicting 100 percent growth in five years. To achieve that growth, productivity will need to increase at a similar rate. Therefore, this proposal provides a suggested business model update. Further, the functional areas updates are indicated to assist the business model to predict, plan, and implement future growth and profits. In this proposal, the problem of the outdated business model and functional areas is addressed with new ideas and new employees to implement them. The 100 percent growth projection in five years can become a reality with the managers’ ideas about these questions: 1. What will my updated business model look like? 1. How can my functional area managers modify their activities...
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...Reporting Practices and Ethics This paper will include a summary of the four elements of financial management, a summary of the generally accepted accounting principles, and a summary of the general financial ethical standards. The four elements of financial management are controlling, planning, directing and organizing, and decision making. The generally accepted accounting principles are generally known as GAAP, and are the basic accounting principles and guidelines. A few articles will be examined and examples that mirror ethical standards of conduct and financial reporting practices will be cited. The articles are Medicare Fraud: California Is Well-Represented on Federal List of Health Fraud Fugitives and Medicare Fraud Arrests. The Four Elements of Financial Management The four elements of financial management are controlling, planning, directing, organizing, and decision making. These four elements are the duties a financial manager must perform. Planning is where the objectives are recognized and the steps that must be taken for accomplishing these objectives are established. In the controlling element the financial manager must make sure each department in the organization is following the plans for accomplishing the set objectives. To ensure all plans are being followed, the financial manager will study the current reports and compare them with older reports. During the organizing component, the financial manager decides how the organizations resources will...
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...EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Accounting for intangible assets is a major issue within the accounting environment. The issue is identifiable when it concerns accounting for research and development costs, in particular, internally generated assets. With two imperative standards in practice today, one being the IASB’s selective capitalisation of expenses into an intangible asset once a specific criteria has been reached and the other being the FASB’s system of straight expensing of all expenditure. This subject plays a vital role in the accounting world due to the large amount of money invested into research and development activities, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2010 reporting that Business expenditure on R&D (BERD) in Australia alone increased 15% to $14, 380 million up from 07-08. In discussing the different styles taken by the Boards it is easier to identify the impact these standards have on a corporation and its performance, with particular reference being made to Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited, an Australian listed company that is currently undertaking research and development to develop a UV medical protection of the skin from UV and light for sun-related ailments. 1. Clinuvel Activities of R&D Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (CUV) is a listed Australian biopharmaceutical company based in Melbourne. The focus of CUV is to further research and develop, and eventually commercialise, its leading drug candidate afamelanotide as “a preventative treatment for...
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...Project In July, 2006, the Board voted to add to its agenda a project on lease accounting. The project will be conducted jointly with the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and is expected to result in the publication of a joint discussion paper in 2008. The project will reconsider all aspects of lease accounting and is expected to fundamentally revise the way lease contracts are recognized in the financial statements of lessees and lessors. The Board directed the staff to establish a working group of individuals with significant experience and expertise in lease accounting to assist the staff and the Board with this project. (http://www.ifrs.org/Current+Projects/IASB+Projects/Leases/Meeting+Summaries+and+Observer+Notes/IASB+July+2006.htm) To explain the reason for adding the project to the agenda, I find two paragraphs in Exposure Draft that “Leasing is an important source of finance. Therefore, it is important that lease accounting should provide users of financial statements with a complete and understandable picture of an entity’s leasing activities. The existing accounting models for leases require lessees to classify their leases as either finance leases or operating leases. However, those models have been criticized for failing to meet the needs of users of financial statements because they do not provide a faithful representation of leasing transactions. In particular they omit relevant information about rights and obligations that meet the definitions...
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...CHAPTER 1 Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting: ENVIRONMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS QUESTION 1-1 a. The similarities of accounting for profit-seeking and G&NP organizations include: 1. Double-entry system of accounts. 2. Most accounting mechanics, e.g., basic transaction documents, journals, ledgers, charts of accounts. 3. Where a G&NP organization has a business-type activity, e.g., a municipal electric utility, the accounting largely parallels that for a similar private business (e.g., electric utility). b. Among the unique aspects of G&NP organization accounting are: 1. Fund accounting—designed to separate resources according to the purposes for which they may be used and to account for their uses and balances. 2. Budgetary control techniques—to help assure appropriations are not overexpended and all resources due the G&NP organization are received by it. Question 1-2 a. A fund of a government organization is an independent fiscal and accounting entity. Each fund has a separate self-balancing set of accounts in which are recorded the resources segregated for specific purposes, the related liabilities and residual equity (fund balance or net assets), and the changes therein. Financial statements typically must be presented to report the financial position and operating activities of a fund of a government. b. As the term is generally used in commercial accounting, a "fund" merely indicates that a portion...
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... Lecture: Financial 1 CPA PassMaster Questions-Financial 1 Export Date: 10/30/08 1 © 2009 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. Becker CPA Review, PassMaster Questions Lecture: Financial 1 Sources of GAAP CPA-00001 Type1 M/C A-D Corr Ans: D PM#1 F 1-01 1. CPA-00001 FARE Nov 95 #1, Released 2006 Page 6 According to the FASB conceptual framework, the objectives of financial reporting for business enterprises are based on: a. Generally accepted accounting principles. b. Reporting on management's stewardship. c. The need for conservatism. d. The needs of the users of the information. CPA-00001 Explanation Choice "d" is correct. The FASB conceptual framework states that the objectives of financial reporting stem from the informational needs of the external users of the information. SFAC 1 para. 28 Choice "a" is incorrect. Generally accepted accounting principles...
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...Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper HCS/405 November 30, 2014 Financial management in health care today like any other business should be conducted ethically, professional and accurately. The four elements of financial management need to be used and put into place to help ensure the financial stability and success of the organizations will be accomplished year after year. Generally, the same accounting principles and general financial ethical standards are practiced in every health care organization and these principles need to be implemented correctly if the organization wishes to be successful. Organizations need to keep up a certain level of transparency and this can only be accomplished by accurately reporting their financial statements. Several articles are going to be discussed reflecting the reporting practices and ethical standards in health care after a brief summary of the general accounting principles, ethical standards of finance and the four elements of financial management are given. Summary: Four elements of financial management The four elements of financial management are planning, controlling, organizing and directing and decision making. (Baker & Baker, 2011, p. 5) Each element is a task that is performed by the finance manager and they go in the order mentioned above. Like in any other aspect of business, planning has to be done to help identify the objectives that need to be accomplished and establish the steps necessary to ensure that each...
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...Management Representations 1941 AU Section 333 Management Representations (Supersedes SAS No. 19.) Source: SAS No. 85; SAS No. 89; SAS No. 99; SAS No. 113. See section 9333 for interpretations of this section. Effective for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after June 30, 1998, unless otherwise indicated. Introduction .01 This section establishes a requirement that the independent auditor obtain written representations from management as a part of an audit of financial statements performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and provides guidance concerning the representations to be obtained. Reliance on Management Representations .02 During an audit, management makes many representations to the auditor, both oral and written, in response to specific inquiries or through the financial statements. Such representations from management are part of the audit evidence the independent auditor obtains, but they are not a substitute for the application of those auditing procedures necessary to afford a reasonable basis for an opinion regarding the financial statements under audit. Written representations from management ordinarily confirm representations explicitly or implicitly given to the auditor, indicate and document the continuing appropriateness of such representations, and reduce the possibility of misunderstanding concerning the matters that are the subject of the representations. [Revised, March 2006, to reflect conforming...
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