Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Management Controls
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Table of Contents
I.
Background
II.
Executive Summary
V.
15
22
VII Appendices
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I.
Background
As you hear the term Management Controls, the first thing that will come up in your mind is the internal
controls being applied by an organization in addressing daily business operations. Management control is
broader than that. Management controls pertains to the system which gathers and uses information to
evaluate the performance of different organizational resources like human, physical, financial and also the
organization as a whole in light of the organizational strategies pursued.
We, students enrolled in this course, expect to learn not only about the internal controls of the organization
but about how an organization will make sure that its operations are running smoothly by implementing
strategies and procedures. We students also expect that we are able to understand the organization in the
point of view of a management accountant. For a period of five months equivalent to a semester, these
expectations were achieved. We learned about the factors to be considered in understanding an organization
especially the importance of it. We are also able to scrutinize the processes of an organization because of the
discussions being learned inside the classroom. The different activities provided by our professor also helped
us to further analyze the procedures, strategies, plans, processes, and controls of an organization. Moreover,
this course helped us not only to understand the system of a company but also to be an ethical person
especially in the field of business and finance.
Management controls plays a critical function in each organization, whether the organization is big or small.
The success of an organization does not just rely on its profitability and financial operations but also to the
effectiveness and efficiency of its management. It is the key driver that makes most of companies become
successful. The typical problems in management controls that an organization is facing can be fraud, theft,
abuse of authority, malpractices, unintentional errors, and lack of cultural responsibility. The three main
causes of these problems are lack of motivation of employees, lack of direction, and personal limitations.
Thus, a well-structured management control system is a must to prevent the susceptibility of these problems
to happen. It is also important that its management control system be known to its constituents in order that
the operations are aligned to their controls. An organized management control system will contribute a lot to
the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization within in the industry it belongs to.
To apply what we have learned in this course, the group conducted a business/company analysis on Backje
Philippines Inc. Backje Philippines Inc is a trading company which is engaged in the sales of mechanical parts.
This paper discusses our analysis and evaluation of the chosen companys internal controls, management
strategies and corporate governance. Basically, this paper is a written application of what we have learned
throughout this course.
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II.
Executive Summary
Backje Philippines Inc. is a specialized company in the field of EDM Supplies, Lapping Tools, Metal Working
Machinery, and other specialized industrial items and equipment. It was established in 2002 and was fully
registered in Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2003. Pursuing to keep pace with the rapidly
changing world situations, Backje strives to supply best quality items and excellent services, as well as develop
new products with reasonable price and continuous innovations. Backjes customers are composed of 40%
industrial companies and 60% local companies. The company exclusively distributes materials to its clients
giving it a competitive advantage to strengthen and grow its market share over competitors.
Backje company name actually derived from Back to Jesus doesnt only focus on striving excellent business
performances but also ensures that everything that they do is always lift up to Gods name. Being Christcentered, nationality differences within the organization do not become a barrier for them to have
harmonious working relationships and deliver strategic goals. Mr. Hee Chun Yoo, a Korean native Chief
Executive Officer of Backje Philippines, fulfills the duty of overseeing and driving the companys
performance by providing leadership and direction to senior manager. The senior manager, Ms. Ki Sun
Chung, in turn is the one who assigns responsibility for establishment of more specific internal control
policies and procedures to personnel.
In the Accounting Department, Backje is using a computer-based accounting system and processes
transactions in a real-time system. After the teams analysis of the companys current practices and controls,
specific areas or activities that need to be improved were identified. One is the integrity and reliability of their
computer programs with which the team recommends that Backje should pay more attention to, since the
quality of their financial reports lies on the accuracy of accounting system they are using. In line with this, it is
of high recommendation for the company to invest in IT functions within the organization to address the
high risks associated with the heavy reliance on computer programs used in all its transactions. Currently, they
just purchase a particular system that is appropriate for a specific transaction, and if malfunctions happened,
the repair of the system will be outsourced. Having an IT function improves quality of general controls over
duties related to design, maintenance, and operation of computer programs thus delivering accuracy and
reliability of their recorded and reported transactions. Another weakness pertains to the delivery of unpaid
goods to customers with unpaid balances which can be addressed through implementing a strict regulation
regarding payment of customers. Lastly, lack of physical backups of important files due to computer-based
processing system can also be a red flag to the firm to have inadequate accounting records if unexpected
destruction of computer files happens, thus physical backups of important documents must be kept.
The team believes that applying these recommendations would address the aforementioned weaknesses and
would contribute to the companys commitment to strengthen business presence in the industry it belongs to.
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Sang-A
A brand of Pneumatics such as air gun, polyurethane tubes, coiled tubes, one-touch fittings, couplers and
speed controllers.
Widin
A brand of cutting tools specialized in end mills, drills and reamers.
Vertex
A brand of machine accessories such as band saw machine, punch former, ER collets, Lathe centers, touch
point sensors and magnetic V-Blocks.
Daiwa Rabin
A brand of rubber abrasives such as mounted points, wheel types and square bars.
In-size
A brand of measuring instruments such as Vernier/electronic caliper, Vernier/electronic micrometer, profile
projector, dial test indicator, and digital indicator.
Jw-Chemicals
A brand of industrial chemicals such as Mold Releasers, rust preventive, multi-purpose ease oil, electrical
contact cleaner, rust remover, mold carbon cleaner, and degreaser cleaner.
SK Lubricants
A brand of bearing oil, EDM oil, engine oil, coolant, forming oil, grease oil, gear oil, hydraulic oil, industrial
gear oil, neat cutting oil, quenching oil, rust preventive oil, soluble oil, spindle oil and way oil.
Oh-Sung Midas
A brand of tool cabinets, tool pick-up, and clamping tools such as flange nut, plain clamp, flat washers, T-slot
bolt and stud bolt.
Shinhan Diamond
A brand of diamond & CBN wheels, carbide plates and carbide rodes.
Eight
A brand of hexagon wrench
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YG-1
A brand of cutting tools such as carbide end mills, HSS machine taps, drills, countersinks, center drills, HSS
end mills, HSS fluteless taps, carbide rotary burrs.
Yooyoung abrasives
A brand of abrasives such as cut off wheels, flap discs without pad, net grinding wheels, unmounted flap
wheels and shaft flap wheels
Besdia
A brand of lapping tools such as diamond mounted points, grinding stones, diamond tapered machine files
set, ceramic fiber stones, felt bobs and diamond tapered hand files set.
Industry Analysis
As Backje fits in a trading industry, they are working with different kinds of products which are sold
for consumer or business purposes. They work in a specific geographical area, while their customers, the
shops, work in smaller areas and often in just a small neighborhood. Today, Backje refer mainly to global B2B
and B2C traders, highly specialized in one goods category and with a strong logistic organization. This
emphasizes their fixed planning horizon in line with the industrys exponential growth.
Core competencies
Exclusive Distributor
Backje Philippines has industrial materials such as spare parts and machines exclusively distributed by them
which give it an edge from its competitors. Industrial companies that need these materials directly contact
Backje to get supplies instead of getting supplies from abroad which cost them more because of shipping
fees. The clients of Backje Philippines are able to save more because of this.
Product Price
Backje Philippines offers lower price industrial materials because it obtain its supplies directly from the
manufacturers of equipment, machine parts, tools, lubricants and other industrial materials unlike other
trading companies that sells higher because they obtained it with high costs from other distributors. Backje
Philippines is able to get its targeted profits on these products even if it offers lowers price than the other
companies.
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Organizational Chart
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4. Financial Statements
In the accounting department, the cash flow management will be prioritized since it involves
the daily cash flows of the company therefore, it is monitored every day. The trial balance,
balance sheet, and income statements are done every quarter since it couldnt be done in just
a small span of time.
The reconciliation is always done in a monthly basis, the sales account is reconciled to know
if the amounts are properly recorded and adjusted, also some other reconciliation accounts
like those that are just typographical errors. As part of the BIRs requirement, the companys
objective is that the sales account should tally with the amount that was recorded by the BIR
in order to know the correct taxes to be imposed.
Sales and Marketing Department
Backjes Sales and Marketing Department consists of 14 salesmen, 5 after-salesmen, and 5 marketing
personnel. Since the main business of the company is trading, sales is very critical in its operations. Through
their salesmen, Backje establishes a close relationship with their customers in order to build confidence and
loyalty in each other. The after-salesmen are tasked to aid in and address any item defects that the customer
might experience during the course of the useful life of the item. The department is in charge of maintaining
prior customers and seeking new ones for the growth of the company.
Sales and Marketing Department are in charge of the following tasks.
1. The sales and marketing personnel are the initial and succeeding contact of the customers.
Consistency is the key in order to show customers that they are valued and being well attended to.
2. The department is in charge of drafting strategic plans and reviews, implementing customer-service
standards, and preparing action plans.
3. The department shall meet marketing and sales financial objectives established by forecasting
requirements and prepared budgets. Variances, if any, are to be analyzed and sought with corrective
actions.
Manufacturing and Logistics Department
Backjes logistics department is entrusted with the responsibilities of ensuring that the entire process of
logistics is maintained and developed in accordance with the goals of the company in economic cost. The
tasks of the logistics department involve storage, distribution, warehousing, movement of goods from one
place to another (internally or externally), tracking and delivery of goods as efficiently as possible. Generally,
Backje Company includes a complete process of planning, managing, controlling and coordination to make
sure that the goods reach the right place, at the right time, for the right cost and in a right condition.
Logistics Department performs major tasks.
1. The department ensures that the goods are reached on time, in a safe condition and at the right place.
It also serves as a middleman between organization, vendors and carriers for tracking down the
geographical location of the goods and thereby provides customer support.
A. 2 terminologies used in delivery:
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a.
Inbound
The supplier will be the one who will ship the goods and touchdown the dock next
to or alongside the vessel located in Manila. When the goods has been landed,
theres an agency, in partnership with Backje, who will take the materials and send it
off to the company.
b. Outbound
Backjes assigned salesman is responsible of sending materials or goods directly to
the customer. When in the sense of urgency and theres no salesman in the area, the
customers themselves will pick up the goods from the warehouse of the company.
2. The department is also responsible for coordination with suppliers with regard to scheduling,
hedging and timely delivery.
Internal Controls
I.
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II.
Order-to-Cash Process
Transaction authorization
Backje Philippines ensure changes to customer data are valid and properly authorized. It also ensures
the credits are authorized and adhere to company policies. Backje conducts credit checking before
accepting the orders of the client. It should be within credit limits and terms before the order is
processed. Also before the products are being dispatched, the warehouse department authorizes the
delivery by first approving the sales invoice prepared by marketing department. In this way, all
transactions are known and are properly authorized to prevent anomalies in processing the sales
order of the clients.
Segregation of duties
Backje Ph practices segregation of duties in processing orders from clients. Once the order reached
the accounting, accounting will check if the material is available through the automated record being
updated by the warehouse department. If the order is complete, it is forwarded to marketing to
prepare the sales invoice. Simultaneously, the warehouse department will prepare the delivery receipt
indicating that the material is ready for delivery. Right then, the accounting will update the accounts
receivable ledger. This emphasizes the segregation of duties in receivables and invoices.
Accounting records
Backjes accountants make sure that all involved departments have copies of the sales order and the
accounting has a copy of sales invoice coming from marketing and delivery receipt coming from
warehouse. These documents will serve as the source in tracing the transaction once problem arises.
Also, it is good that Backje have automated records for safekeeping so that retrieval of these source
documents will be easy in times of emergency.
Safeguarding of assets
Backjes way of safeguarding the assets especially the cash payments of clients is by maintaining a
bank account wherein all payments of clients are being deposited. In this way theft of cash will be
prevented because authorized personnel only have the access to this bank account. Also, by assigning
personnel in warehouse apart from other departments is a way of safeguarding their products
because the functions are not being handle by same person or department. Moreover, Backje is very
strict in showing the actual product; they provide product catalogs instead of actual products to
prevent the possible theft of these materials since it may serve as an excuse for clients and warehouse
personnel in getting products from the storage.
Independent verification
Backje verifies its transactions by updating accounting records and reconciling source documents.
Real time recording of transactions also helps the company to verify transactions because if an error
or discrepancy occurred, it can be determined instantly. Lastly, there is comparison made in the
source documents provided by marketing, warehouse, and accounting to see if the orders have been
matched.
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III.
Purchase-to-Pay Process
Transaction authorization
Backje Company maintains accountability in terms of authorizing, reviewing, and approving
procurements based on signed agreements, terms and conditions, and purchase orders in compliance
with the ethical buying practices and policy.
The owners are the ones who review and update signature authorizations periodically. Any
of them (3) could sign the check for payment of purchases for the supplier.
The Purchasing obtains final approval of purchase order to be sent to the
The authorized personnel in the warehouse, accounting, and purchasing, respectively, verify
purchase order and invoice information.
Accounting is authorized to reconcile ledgers for accuracy of recording buying transactions
Segregation of duties
Backje Company ensures proper segregation of duties, and assigns related buying functions to
different authorized personnel. With proper segregation, no single person has complete control over
all buying activities.
Current Practices
Purchasing
Checks inventory level
Approves purchases
Has the direct contact to supplier
Warehouse
Receive orders
Performs inventory counts
Ensure the security of materials
Accounting
Monitors the buying transactions to ensure that invoices are paid in a timely manner.
Reviews and reconciles financial records
Approves invoices for payment
Accounting records
Backje Company practices timely review of suppliers invoice, packing slips, and
purchase orders. Since their mode of payment is in the accrual basis, they ensure the accuracy of the
information for prior payment, correct quantity ordered, and price charged. Moreover, accounting
department executes monthly ledger reconciliation to find improper charges and validate appropriate
financial transactions.
Reviews supplier invoices for accuracy by comparing charges to purchase orders.
Verify that the materials acquired from the supplier have been received and record buying
transactions in a timely manner.
Perform monthly reconciliations of operating ledgers to ensure accuracy and timeliness of
expenses.
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V.
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Weakness: No physical backups of important files and documents due to computer-file based processing system.
Backje Philippines Inc. uses a computer-file based processing system in all of its transactions that led
to some of documented files being not prioritized at all. Using this kind of system has also its
limitations such as data redundancy, data inconsistency and data dependency.
Recommendation: The company should have at least physical backups of their important
documents, and it is better if these documents are segregated properly according to its transactions
especially the companys expenses as these will serve as their basis in verification and recording of
amounts.
Weakness: Having no IT functions in the company.
Backje Philippines Inc. does not avail an IT function inside the company; instead they just purchase a
particular system that is appropriate for a specific transaction, so if some malfunctions happened, the
repair of the system will be outsourced.
Recommendation: As a company which have transactions from suppliers abroad and with clients
locally, IT function is essential and must be implemented in the company since large transactions are
being addressed. Having an IT function implements systems and services, drives projects and tasks to
completion and actively seeks solutions to any and all obstacles and analyzes major system
applications to identify and document complex business and technical requirements to solve
customer business needs in a cost-effective manner.
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VII. Appendices
Products offered by the Company
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After the interview with accounting head Mr. John Michael Cosme and owner Mr. Timothy Yoo last
October 16, 2015.