Fraud Case 24-1
Everybody knew Ed McAlister was a brilliant businessman. He had taken a small garbage collection company in Kentucky and built it up to be one of the largest and most profitable waste management companies in the Midwest. But when he was convicted of a massive financial fraud, what surprised everyone was how crude and simple the scheme was. To keep the earnings up and the stock prices soaring, he and his coworkers came up with an almost foolishly simple scheme: First, they doubled the useful lives of the dumpsters. That allowed them to cut
Requirements
- If an asset has either too long a useful life or too high an estimated salvage value, what happens, from an accounting perspective, when that asset is worn out and has to be disposed of?
- Do the rules of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) mandate specific lives for different types of assets?
- How might either too long a useful life or too high an estimated salvage value affect key performance indicators such as
return on investment and residual income?
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Chapter 24 Solutions
Horngren's Accounting (11th Edition)
- Match each situation with the fraud triangle factor-opportunity, financial pressure, or rationalization-that best describes it. a. An employee's monthly credit card payments are nearly 75% of his or her monthly earnings. Financial Pressure Rationalization An employee earns minimum wage at a firm that has reported record earnings for each of the last five years. b. Opportunity C. An employee has an expensive gambling habit. An employee has check-writing and signing responsibilities for a small company, as well as d. reconciling the bank account.arrow_forward5. What does Tina mean in her statement to the Clare County Review "the effects of an embezzlement are far reaching and detrimental for everyone"? Who were all the stakeholders that were all affected in this case? How was each of them harmed? 6. Jenifer was caught embezzling via the payroll system, how else might she have been stealing from the company that was never proven? 7. Why do you think Jenifer embezzled the money? 8. Do you think her sentencing is too lenient, too harsh, or is appropriate? Why? 9. What would you do if your friend and employee was stealing from a company that you owned?arrow_forward24. BHIEE Co. is a small entity. It has total of 5 staff including the owner: 1 owner, 2 salesman, 1 accountant, and 1 receptionist. The owner invested his resources to the business. The salesmen oversee the main source of revenues of the Company. The accountant was able to approve payment of invoices and write company checks to a relative, with whom the accountant would split the proceeds. The accountant covered up the theft with journal entries in the accounting system. The receptionist does the general office work. As an operations auditor, which of the following recommendations best suits the situation above moving forward? Group of answer choices BHIEE Co.’s owner should assign its general manager to be more effective and efficient in doing his job. BHIEE Co.’s owner should closely monitor the activities of its staff and the company’s operations. BHIEE Co.’s owner should come up with staff’s code of conduct and hire an internal auditor to review compliance. BHIEE Co.’s…arrow_forward
- All companies are vulnerable to fraud, but small businesses are particularly vulnerable. Why do you think this may be the case? What signs of possible fraud may be more pronounced in small businesses when compared to larger ones?arrow_forwardIdentify fraud triangle concepts. BE7.1 (LO 1), C Match each situation with the fraud triangle factor-opportunity, financial pressure, or rationalization-that best describes it a. An employee's monthly credit card payments are nearly 75% of his or her monthly earnings. b. An employee earns minimum wage at a firm that has reported record earnings for each of the last five years. c. An employee has an expensive gambling habit. d. An employee has check-writing and check-signing responsibilities for a small company, as well as reconciling the bank account. Identify internal control objectives.arrow_forwardCategorize the situation as primarily indicating 1 - an incentive to commit fraud 2 - an opportunity to commit fraud 3- a rationalization for committing fraud state the reasoning behind the category you choose Scenario: A group of top-level management was compensated (mostly in form of stock-options) well in excess of what would be considered normal for their positions in this industryarrow_forward
- Each of the following scenarios is based on facts in anactual fraud. Categorize each scenario as primarily indicating (1)an incentive to commit fraud, (2) an opportunity to commitfraud, or (3) a rationalization to commit fraud. State your reasoningfor each categorization.a. There was intense pressure to keep the corporation’s stockfrom declining further. This pressure came from investors,analysts, and the CEO, whose financial well-being was significantlydependent on the corporation’s stock price.b. A group of top-level management was compensated (mostlyin the form of stock options) well in excess of what would beconsidered normal for their positions in this industry.c. Top management of the company closely guards internalfinancial information, to the extent that even some employeeson a need-to-know basis are denied full access.d. Managing specific financial ratios is very important to thecompany, and both management and analysts are keenlyobservant of variability in key ratios. Key…arrow_forwardIn a huge fraud scandal, CEO and CFO stole $150 million and inflated the company income by$500 million. A general ledger clerk was also implicated in the scheme. It was reported that they siphoned money through unapproved loans and fraudulent stock sales. Money was smuggled out of company disguised as executive bonuses or benefits. The reason cited by the perpetrators was that they needed money to pay off some gambling debts.In addition, they also stated that they worked long and hard hours at the company without being properly compensated or recognized. Upon investigating, the auditors found that the fraud had taken place on two levels. The auditors documented in their report that all the three factors of fraud were present. In addition, the auditors found that the company’s control systems deviated from the COSO framework. You are required to: a. IDENTIFY and EXPLAIN the TWO (2) levels of fraud that the auditors found. b. Making reference to the case, IDENTIFY and EXPLAIN…arrow_forwardA long-time employee had become such a trusted employee that their bosses had put them in charge of paying bills, balancing bank accounts, and handling other cash management responsibilities. The employee became ill and took sick leave. During their absence, their employer determined they had been stealing company cash for years by forging checks and tamporing with company documents. The stolen cash was used to stoke a gambling habit. In total, the employee stole nearly $320,000. Answer questions in short answers What were the employee's perceived opportunities? What pressure did the trusted employee have to commit fraud? How did the fact that they were a trusted employee give them more opportinity to commit fraud? How do vices motivate people to commit fraud?arrow_forward
- Each of the following scenarios is based on facts in actual fraud. Categorize each scenario as primarily indicating (1) an incentive to commit fraud (2) an opportunity to commit fraud or (3) a rationalization for committing fraud. Also state your reasoning for each scenario. a. There was intense pressure to keep the corporation's stock from declining further. This pressure came from investors, analysts and the CEO, whose financial well-being was significantly dependent on the corporation's stock price. b. Agroup of top-level management was compensated (mostly in the form of stock options) well in excess of what would be considered normal for their positions in the industry. c. Top management of the company closely guards internal financial information, to the extent that even some employees on a "need to know basis" are denied full access. d. Managing specific financial ratios is very important to the company, and both management and analysts are keenly observant of variability in key…arrow_forward! Required information Chapter 04 Problem 4-31 LO 4-6, 4-9 [The following information applies to the questions displayed below.] Management fraud (e.g., fraudulent financial reporting) is a relatively rare event. However, when it does occur, the frauds (e.g., Enron and WorldCom) can have a significant effect on shareholders, employees, and other parties. The PCAOB's AS 2401, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit, provides the relevant guidance for auditors. Chapter 04 Problem 4-31 Part c LO 4-6, 4-9 c. Select the items that are most likely to be objectives of the "brainstorming" meeting that is held among the engagement team members: Note: You may select more than one answer. Single click the box with the question mark to produce a check mark for a correct answer and double click the box with the question mark to empty the box for a wrong answer. ?Share insights about the entity and its environment and the entity's business risks. ? Provide an opportunity for the team…arrow_forwardCan anyone help? The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is a product of a series of scandals that took place around the turn of the millennium. A) Has Sarbanes-Oxley really done anything to curb fraud? B) How does the Sarbanes-Oxley Act affect U.S. companies as they compete globally?arrow_forward
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