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The Revenue Cycle: Review Questions
The Revenue Cycle: Review Questions
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Chapter 4 page 131
1. A customer order usually in the form of a purchase order initiates the sales
process.
2. The packing slip travels with the goods to the customer, and it describes
the contents on the order. Upon filling the order, the shipping department
sends the shipping notice to the billing department to notify them that the
order has been filled and shipped. The shipping notice contains additional
information that the packing slip may not contain, such as shipment date
and carrier and freight charges. The bill of lading is a formal contract
between the seller and the transportation carrier; it shows legal ownership
3. The receiving department counts and inspects items that are returned by
general ledger clerk receives a total of all sales from the billing
that reflects the total reductions of inventory in financial terms and the
5. a. credit checks
Chapter 4 page 132
processing.
goods are sent from the warehouse by reconciling the stock release
ordered again until the original order has been received from the supplier.
order field of the inventory record. This field has a value of zero when the item in
10. An edit run is the first run; it detects most data entry errors. Only “clean”
data progresses to the sort run. The sort run sequences the transaction
records according to its primary key field and possibly a secondary key
field. Once the data is sorted, the update program posts the transactions
sequential update, each record is copied from the original master file to
11. A point of sale system immediately records both cash and credit
12. In the advanced technology system, the system logic, not a human being,
makes the decision to grant or deny credit based on the customer’s credit
history contained in the credit history file. If credit is denied, the sales clerk
the proper application of the firm’s credit policies. The complexity of credit
the customer, and the materiality of the transaction. Credit approval for
customers that involve ensuring only that the current transaction does not
exceed the customer’s credit limit may be dealt with very quickly.
access privileges but prevents them from obtaining information for which
14. The billing department’s receipt of the sales order occurs in most
instances before the goods are actually shipped; thus, the economic event
is not complete. Some of the goods may not be available to ship; thus, the
customer should not be billed until the goods are shipped and the
18. A billing of lading is a formal contract between the seller and the shipping
19. The billing process is initiated by the shipping notice, which signals the
20. Supervision plays an important role in the mail room where both the check
(asset) and remittance advice (accounting record) are in the hands of one
person. Mail room fraud can result, which involves stealing the check and
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. The separation of the warehouse and the shipping department allows for
assets during two distinct phases of the revenue cycle. The warehouse
attendants have custody over the finished goods until they receive a stock
release form from the sales department. The warehouse clerks pick the
inventory items from the warehouse and send them to shipping along with
a copy of the stock release form. The shipping department is only able to
ship goods that it receives from the warehouse personnel. Further, it must
match the goods with a packing slip and shipping notice that originates
from the sales department. Thus, warehouse personnel are not allowed to
ship out any unauthorized inventory items because the shipping personnel
over inventory.
The warehouse personnel do not keep the formal accounting records. The
asset custodial tasks must be kept separate from the formal record-
keeping tasks. The inventory control keeps the formal accounting records
2. The sales order department (included in the sales department in the text)
is responsible for taking the customer order and placing it into a standard
shipping date. The billing department receives a copy of the sales order
from the sales department. Upon receipt of the shipping notice and the
invoice, which is the customer’s bill reflecting charges for items shipped,
which may be different from items ordered, taxes and freight, and any
discounts offered. The sales order department should not prepare the bills
because the salespeople may bill their favorite clients less than they
should be billed. The salespeople place the order, and thus start the
should not be allowed to determine how much the customers pay for their
receive kickbacks.
The accounts receivable department receives the sales orders and posts
are received, they are posted to the customer’s account in the accounts
not be allowed to prepare the bills since this department has custody over
Chapter 4 page 138
allowed to prepare the bills, they might not bill certain customers and
asset for the firm. These checks must be protected from individuals who
might try to deposit these checks into their own accounts. The process of
having a member of the mail room personnel open the mail and record all
checks received before they are routed to the cashier or the accounts
accounts.
users with different access privileges but prevents them from obtaining
check, as well as the authorization to issue credit memos may pocket the
cash or check of a payment for goods received. This employee could then
number and date. This form allows the customer to verify the accuracy of
the records. If any payments are not recorded, they will notify the
7. Access control to the billing and accounts receivable records that are part
over cash and inventory because these records affect the collectability of
converted into cash. If these records are not adequately controlled, inventory
may not be ultimately converted into the cash amount deserved by the firm.
may be used to allow buyers to submit orders through the Internet. Until
intelligent agents are commonly used, this type of transaction will occur
with a lag.
may be understated.
10. Lock on the cash drawer. Internal cash register tape that can be
supervision.
11. The advantage of real-time updating is that the general ledger would be
by the system.
12. If credit is denied, the sales clerk should not be able to force the
management reports.
Chapter 4 page 142
13. All of the record keeping functions, which in the basic technology system
accounting activities, the potential for errors and opportunity for fraud are
14. In point-of-sale systems, the customer literally has possession of the items
firms, the order is placed and the good is shipped to the customer at some
later time period. Thus, updating inventory at the time of sale is necessary
not necessary in manufacturing firms until the goods are actually shipped
to the customer.
15. No, the bar-codes are not read with 100% accuracy. Another potential
error can occur if the wrong bar-coded stickers are attached to the
merchandise, which can occur in some discount retail stores that do not
update the database; they just print out bar-coded stickers and attach
tags.
Chapter 4 page 143
16. EDI represents a unique business arrangement between the buyer and
such items as selling price, quantities, delivery times, payment terms and
17. Two common methods for achieving multilevel security are the access
control list (ACL) and role based access control (RBAC). The ACL method
tasks (e.g., cash receipts processing) called roles. Each role is assigned access
privileges to specific data and procedures, such as the right to add a record to
the cash receipts journal. Once a role is created, individuals are assigned to it.
Using this technique, individuals may be easily added or deleted from roles as
their job responsibilities change. Individuals assigned to a particular role may not
access program procedures and data that are not specified by that role.
Chapter 4 page 144
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. C
2. A
3. A
4. C
5. B
6. D
Chapter 4 page 145
7. C
8. E
9. A
10. D
Chapter 4 page 146
PROBLEMS
configuration.
in the AR department
c. Describe the controls, if any, that are needed to reduce or eliminate the
clerks. This span of control can be reduced by having customers submit their
payment to a separate POX address. The US mail service will then pre-sort and
separate cash receipts from the general mail. The smaller number of cash
receipts can then be processed in a smaller mailroom area where fewer clerks
who work exclusively with cash receipts can be more effectively supervised.
Billing clerk should not record sales in the Sales Journal before the economic
accounts.
Chapter 4 page 149
3. FLOWCHART ANALYSIS
d. Bank
g. Update AR
4. SEGREGATION OF FUNCTIONS
All are proper segregation of functions except b. The sales department should
not be allowed to approve credit memos since it could potentially overstate sales
in one period to meet quotas and boost bonuses and reverse them in a
subsequent period. The receiving report indicating that goods have been
received by the receiving department should be the source document for credit
department.
Chapter 4 page 152
Inaccurately recording the sales Sale is recorded when the sales clerk
shipped.
fraud.
Chapter 4 page 153
and shipped.
Misappropriation of inventory
Warehouse clerk has custody of
Ledger
before the economic event (shipping the goods) has occurred. Billing
B)
The IT controls in a basic technology system such as this include the following:
7. STEWARDSHIP
8. CONTROL WEAKNESSES
a. Elaine performs many incompatible tasks. She opens the mail, deposits
all cash and check receipts, and keeps the accounts receivable
records. She could easily keep checks and alter the accounts
receivable to cover her theft. Furthermore, she records the bills, so she
could potentially bill a customer, not record it in the books and keep the
money when the check is received. Even more troublesome is the fact
that she handles the point of sale receipts and prepares the daily
takes enough vacation time where anyone else can perform her duties
long enough to check the books. The employee who handles the
it to him or herself.
this employee from shipping any goods to him or herself or friends. The
Employee 1 Employee 2
record point of sale receipts prepare the daily cash deposits and
receivable
inventory general ledger
purchasing
payroll
9. INTERNAL CONTROL
system or three. Assuming that she only wishes to purchase one microcomputer
for the central shop, she should definitely consider an accounting software
package that has an accounts payable and general ledger module. The purchase
of a payroll module will depend upon the number of employees paid each period.
Iris will need to determine if the time saved is worth the cost. The payroll module
may also help with year end forms such as W-2s and 1099s. Iris may also wish
good way to determine whether the managers are purchasing the right mix of
inventory items, nor whether they are being used efficiently. Floral shops,
If Iris wishes to purchase a computer for each store then, in addition to the
modules discussed above, she should consider purchasing software that can
process point of sale transactions and balance the cash receipts at the end of the
day. Inventory control software, which helps to track the profitability and spoilage
might be considered. The system could then provide summary reports for Iris so
Chapter 4 page 159
that she may examine the inventory purchasing and usage decisions of the
managers. The cash receipts should provide better management over cash
receipts due to errors than a manual system, and if the correct controls are
included, then control may increase. For example, a notice might be placed over
the cash register that states “If you do not get a receipt from the computer, your
order is free.” The information system then will cut down on the possibility that a
customer may pay cash and the employee or manager keeps the money and
Iris may be able to find software specifically designed for florists. She should
examine them to see if they will suit her partially decentralized management.
With the correct system, Iris should see increased control over cash receipts and
maybe even over inventory purchases and usage. A disadvantage is that the
managers may feel that they are being watched more closely and this may cause
some resentment.
b) Describe the risks inherent in the system and the physical and computer
Control: Input control edits to detect clerical errors and invalid entries
Risk: Theft of Cash through Coupon fraud. An employee should not be able to
ring up a sale at the coupon price for a customer without a coupon, then charge
Control: The manager should reconcile physical coupons with the number of
Control:
If possible each cash register should be assigned to only one cashier during a
shift.
The internal tape should be reconciled with the cash drawer at the end of the
shift. The flowchart provided shows the procedures for reducing employee theft
of cash received.
Risk: Direct theft of food by employees and employees theft by giving away free
Control: The system should track all food items recorded as sold and the related
Refer to the system flowchart in the figure labeled Problem 11 in the text.
configured.
the AR department.
Refer to the system flowchart in the figure labeled Problem 12 in the text.
Required;
2. AR Clerk has Access to both the AR –Sub Ledger and the AR-
3. Billing Clerk is billing the customer and recording the sale based on
the sales order without evidence that the goods were shipped.
4. The warehouse clerk has access to the inventory and the inventory
sub-ledger.
5. Shipping clerk does not prepare a shipping notice to notify the billing
(a) above.
Control is lost when the AR clerk also updates the GL. This increases
3. The billing clerk runs the risk that sales transactions will be
recorded in the wrong period because he or she does not know when
towards the end of the period are at risk since the order may occur in
one period and the actual shipment takes place in the subsequent
period.
not know the actual quantity shipped and may bill the customer for
items on back order. This situation increases the risk that customers
3) The shift supervisor does not sign for the specific amount of cash
received or returned at the end of the day. He simply logs the drawers
in and out.
5) The treasury clerk has asset custody and responsibility for recording
sales and cash in the journal and General Ledger.
d)
Chapter 4 page 166
Chapter 4 page 167
Chapter 4 page 168
c) Internal Control Weaknesses. The following tie to the numbered circles on the
flowchart.
1) The sales clerk performs the credit check this is a segregation of duties
and transaction authorization problem.
2) Warehouse should not update the inventory subsidiary and General ledger
control accounts. Multilevel security controls are needed to provide a separation
of duties.
Risk: Clerk could steal inventory, adjust the subsidiary ledger, and adjust the GL
control account to cover the theft.
Risk: The ability to reconciliation the AR Sub Ledger and the AR Control account
is diminished when both are updated by the same person.
Risk: This structure will mask discrepancies between what was billed and what
was recorded as a sale.
Risk: Employees who open the mail have access to both cash and the remittance
advice. This increases the risk of mailroom fraud through skimming.
6) The cash receipts clerk has access to the assets (cash) and is responsible
for updating the general ledger.
Risk: The clerk could steal cash and adjust the cash account to cover the theft.
Chapter 4 page 169
Chapter 4 page 170
Customer 20
Update A/R Subsidiary
A/R Ledger
Subsidiary
Remittance Advice 19 Remittance Ledger
& Remittance List Reconcile Advice
Check &
14 Docu-
Remittance
Prepare ments 21
Advice
Remitt- Update
ance General General Ledger
Lists Ledger
Checks &
Remittance
List
Cash Receipts
Information
17
18
Update
Update
Cash
General
Receipts
Ledger
Journal
Computer
Sales Operations Warehouse Shipping
Customer Stock
Credit & Release
Order
Inventory Printer
Check
Reconcile
Terminal Goods & Packing
Docs. Slip
Approved Pick Raw
Sales Orders
Mats. &
A Make Stock
Goods Release
Packing
Slip
Update
Records Stock
Release Bill of
File Lading 2
Bill of
A/R Subsidiary Lading 1
Inv. Subsidiary Ledger
Ledger
Sales
Journal
General Ledger
Carrier
Customer Manage.
Invoice Reports
Customer Management
Bait
Tight’n Reel Superstore
Lines RevisedRevised Sales Order
Sales System
System Flowchart
Flowchart
Chapter 4 page 174
Deposit
Check
Slip
Remit. Cash Receipts A/R Subsidiary
File Ledger Check
Advice
Management
Tight Lines
Bait ’n Reel Revised Cash
Superstore Receipts
Revised System
Cash Receipts
System
Flowchart Flowchart
Chapter 4 page 175
2) The Sales Journal is updated before the goods are shipped. This can
result in sales being incorrectly matched to the period.
3) The warehouse clerk has access to inventory and also updates the
inventory ledger. The clerk may be capable of stealing inventory and
covering up the theft by adjusting the inventory records.
4) Mailroom clerk has access to both the remittance advice and the checks,
no remittance list is prepared. This weakness can result in mailroom fraud
through skimming cash and destroying the remittance advice.
5) AR clerk has access to both the checks and the remittance advices. This
can result in theft of cash through skimming or lapping.
Chapter 4 page 176
Stock rel
Summary
Update AR
Update GL GL
AR Ledger
Journal Bank
Check, Voucher
Remit Advice
Check
Update CR Check Deposit
Journal Check
Check, Deposit
Check, Remit
Advice Slip
Open Mail
Customer CR Journal
TVR Revenue
AV Safety Cycle
Revenue Cycle DFD
DFD
Sales Department Billing Department Warehouse Shipping
Stock A
Sales Rep Sales Release Chapter 4 page 177
Order
2
Packing
Customer Slip
Order Pick Stock
Prepare Sales Goods Release
Invoice Journal
Prepare
Sales Stock Review /
Order Sales Journal Release Prepare
1 Invoice
Order Voucher BOL
3
Sales
Order Update
Stock
Packing Ledger
B Customer C Release
Slip
Stock
Inv Sub
Release
Ledger
A Customer
Order Stock
Release Packing
Slip
Inventory BOL
Summary
B C
E
Sales Journal
Order Voucher
D
Inventory Journal
Summary Voucher
AR Sub
Update AR Ledger AR
Summary
Sales AR
Order Summary General
Update GL Ledger
Journal
Voucher
Inventory
Summary
Journal
Voucher
AR
Summary
TVR
AV Sales
Safety Order
Sales Order System Continued
System Flow Chart Page 2
Chapter 4 page 179
Customer Check
Check
Remit
Advice
Check
Remit
Advice AR Sub
5
Ledger
Update CR
Update AR Journal CR Journal
Open
Mail
4
Journal
Remit AR Voucher
Check Advice Summary
Remit
Advice
D E
Checks
Checks
Prepare
Deposit Checks
Slip Deposit
Slip
AV Cash Receipts System Flow Chart
TVR Cash Receipts Flowchart
Bank
Chapter 4 page 180
d) Student responses will vary for this part of the assignment, but should address
the internal control issues identified above.
Chapter 4 page 181
d) IT Controls
Chapter 4 page 182
Invoice
File
Sales Order
Sales
Journal
Pick Goods
Approval
Receive Sales Order Sales
/Rejection
Customer Order
Check Credit Prepare Sales
Order
Order
Ship Notice
Sales Order
Customer Order
File
Batch Totals
Sales Order
Approval/ Reconcile and
Rejection Bill Customer
Customer
Sales Order
Receive Bank
Customer Check
Payment
Invoice Copy
Remit Advice
Update Accts
Receivable
On Line Sales
Customer Orders On Line A
Sales Order
Order Credit Check Order
2
Customer
Prepare
Ship Notice
Sales
Order
Sales
Order B
Sales
Order
C
Check
B Post to CR
B Update AR Journal
Open
and
Separate
Check
Invoice
Deposit
Remit
3 Remit
Advice
Slip
Advice
Bank
Check
Discount
PremierTools
Sports Cash
RevenueReceipts Process
Cycle System Flowchart Flowchart
Page 2
Chapter 4 page 185
e) Student solutions to this part of the case will vary. The solution should
1) No credit check
Check
Dep Slip
Student responses will vary for this part of the assignment. The following issues,
1. The customer should not be billed until the goods are shipped. The billing
process, however, is triggered in this system by the sales order, rather
than the shipping notice.
Risk: Billing before shipment occurs leads inaccurate record keeping and
the possibility of recording sales in the wrong period.
This activity can also damage customer relationships.
Risk: The Warehouse clerk could steal inventory and cover the theft by
adjusting the inventory records.
4. The shipping department fails to reconcile the stock release with a sales
order copy or the packing slip.
5. The General ledger function updates the cash account and AR control
account from a remittance list. It should receive a journal voucher from
the cash receipts function and a summary of the AR subsidiary. The
journal voucher plays an important audit trail role.
Update Accounts
Summary of Sales Journal and AR Subsidiary
Receivable
Open Sales
Order File Voucher
Production Order 2
Materials Requisition
CUSTOM FABRICATIONS
Inventory
Subsidiary
Stock Release
Cash Amount
Remittance List 2
Record and Deposit Remit Advice
Checks
Reconcile and
Payment Amount General Ledger
Update AR
Bank
Check
Deposit Slip
Check Check
Remit List 2
Remit Advice
B A
Will Richens
Chapter 4 page 201
Check
Check
Remit List 2
Sales Order System
Remit Advice
Remit Advice
Update AR
Subsidiary, Prepare
Deposit Slips
General Ledger
Remit List 1
Deposit Slip
Check
Deposit Slip B AR Subsidiary
Remit List 2 Check
Remit Advice
Remit List 3
Bank
Temporary
Production
File
Will Richens
Chapter 4 page 202
Chapter 4 page 203
1) The sales clerk who processes the orders also performed the credit check. This creates
internal control problems as sales staff pay is sometimes linked to sales levels.
2) The shipping function does not notify the billing function that goods are shipped.
Without this necessary transaction authorization, customers could be billed before
items are shipped which leads to inaccurate record keeping.
3) The billing department records the accounts receivable and also prepares and sends the
AR summary to the general ledger function. The problem here is that the billing
department also prepares and sends to the general ledger function the sales journal
voucher. This approach eliminates the GL reconciliation function.
4) The inventory warehouse clerk updates the inventory records. This can lead to
inventory theft and concealment by adjusting the inventory records.
d)
Chapter 4 page 204
4
1
Remittance A B
Check List
Remittance
Check
Advice Remittance Accounting
List D
System
Remittance
Advice
Review Verifies
and and Signs
Prepare Cash receipts
Remi List Journal
Update AR
AR Sub Ledger
Remittance Check
List
Deposit B AR Journal Voucher
Check Slip Summary File
Remittance
List General Ledger
Update Cash
Remittance Rec C
Advice
Bank General Ledger Department
Journal
voucher
A
C
C
AR Summary
Journal Review and D
Update GL
PWP Cash
Steeles Receipts
Cash Flowchart
Receipts Process Voucher
Chapter 4 page 208
Student solutions will vary, but should address the internal control issues
identified above