Budgeting, ethics, pharmaceutical company. Chris Jackson was recently promoted to Controller of Research and Development for BrisC or, a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company that manufactures prescription drugs and nutritional supplements. The company’s total R& ; D cost for 2017 was expected (budgeted) to be $5 billion. During the company’s midyear budget review, Chris realized that current R& ; D expenditures were already at $3.5 billion, nearly 40% above the midyear target. At this current rate of expenditure, the R& ; D division was on track to exceed its total year-end budget by $2 billion! In a meeting with CFO Ronald Meece later that day, Jackson delivered the bad news. Meece was both shocked and outraged that the R&D spending had gotten out of control. Meece wasn’t any more understanding when Jackson revealed that the excess cost was entirely related to research and development of a new drug, Vyacon, which was expected to go to market next year. The new drug would result in large profits for BrisCor, if the product could be approved by year-end. Meece had already announced his expectations of third-quarter earnings to Wall Street analysts. If the R&D expenditures weren’t reduced by the end of the third quarter, Meece was certain that the targets he had announced publicly would be missed and the company’s stock price would tumble. Meece instructed Jackson to make up the budget shortfall by the end of the third quarter using “whatever means necessary.” Jackson was new to the controller’s position and wanted to make sure that Meece’s orders were followed. Jackson came up with the following ideas for making the third-quarter budgeted targets: Stop all research and development efforts on the drug Vyacon until after year-end. This change would delay the drug going to market by at least 6 months. It is possible that in the meantime a BrisCor competitor could make it to market with a similar drug. Sell off rights to the drug Martek. The company had not planned on doing this because, under current market conditions, it would get less than fair value. It would, however, result in a one-time gain that could offset the budget shortfall. Of course, all future profits from Martek would be lost. Capitalize some of the company’s R&D expenditures, reducing R&D expense on the income statement. This transaction would not be in accordance with GAAP, but Jackson thought it was justifiable because the Vyacon drug was going to market early next year. Jackson would argue that capitalizing R&D costs this year and expensing them next year would better match revenues and expenses. Referring to the “Standards of Ethical Behavior for Practitioners of Management Accounting and Financial Management,” Which of the preceding items are acceptable to use? Which are unacceptable? What would you recommend Jackson do?
Master Budget
A master budget can be defined as an estimation of the revenue earned or expenses incurred over a specified period of time in the future and it is generally prepared on a periodic basis which can be either monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annually. It helps a business, an organization, or even an individual to manage the money effectively. A budget also helps in monitoring the performance of the people in the organization and helps in better decision-making.
Sales Budget and Selling
A budget is a financial plan designed by an undertaking for a definite period in future which acts as a major contributor towards enhancing the financial success of the business undertaking. The budget generally takes into account both current and future income and expenses.
Budgeting, ethics, pharmaceutical company. Chris Jackson was recently promoted to Controller of Research and Development for BrisC or, a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company that manufactures prescription drugs and nutritional supplements. The company’s total R& ; D cost for 2017 was expected (budgeted) to be $5 billion. During the company’s midyear budget review, Chris realized that current R& ; D expenditures were already at $3.5 billion, nearly 40% above the midyear target. At this current rate of expenditure, the R& ; D division was on track to exceed its total year-end budget by $2 billion!
In a meeting with CFO Ronald Meece later that day, Jackson delivered the bad news. Meece was both shocked and outraged that the R&D spending had gotten out of control. Meece wasn’t any more understanding when Jackson revealed that the excess cost was entirely related to research and development of a new drug, Vyacon, which was expected to go to market next year. The new drug would result in large profits for BrisCor, if the product could be approved by year-end. Meece had already announced his expectations of third-quarter earnings to Wall Street analysts. If the R&D expenditures weren’t reduced by the end of the third quarter, Meece was certain that the targets he had announced publicly would be missed and the company’s stock price would tumble. Meece instructed Jackson to make up the budget shortfall by the end of the third quarter using “whatever means necessary.” Jackson was new to the controller’s position and wanted to make sure that Meece’s orders were followed. Jackson came up with the following ideas for making the third-quarter budgeted targets:
- Stop all research and development efforts on the drug Vyacon until after year-end. This change would delay the drug going to market by at least 6 months. It is possible that in the meantime a BrisCor competitor could make it to market with a similar drug.
- Sell off rights to the drug Martek. The company had not planned on doing this because, under current market conditions, it would get less than fair value. It would, however, result in a one-time gain that could offset the budget shortfall. Of course, all future profits from Martek would be lost. Capitalize some of the company’s R&D expenditures, reducing R&D expense on the income statement. This transaction would not be in accordance with GAAP, but Jackson thought it was justifiable because the Vyacon drug was going to market early next year. Jackson would argue that capitalizing R&D costs this year and expensing them next year would better match revenues and expenses.
- Referring to the “Standards of Ethical Behavior for Practitioners of
Management Accounting andFinancial Management ,” - Which of the preceding items are acceptable to use? Which are unacceptable? What would you recommend Jackson do?
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps with 3 images
