Financial Accounting, 8th Edition
Financial Accounting, 8th Edition
8th Edition
ISBN: 9780078025556
Author: Robert Libby, Patricia Libby, Daniel Short
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
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Chapter 3, Problem 7CP

Evaluating an Ethical Dilemma

Mike Lynch is the manager of an upstate New York regional office for an insurance company. As the regional manager, his compensation package comprises a base salary, commissions, and a bonus when the region sells new policies in excess of its quota. Mike has been under enormous pressure lately, stemming largely from two factors. First, he is experiencing a mounting personal debt due to a family member’s illness. Second, compounding his worries, the region’s sales of new policies have dipped below the normal quota for the first time in years.

  You have been working for Mike for two years, and like everyone else in the office, you consider yourself lucky to work for such a supportive boss. You also feel great sympathy for his personal problems over the last few months. In your position as accountant for the regional office, you are only too aware of the drop in new policy sales and the impact this will have on the manager’s bonus. While you are working late at year-end, Mike stops by your office.

  Mike asks you to change the manner in which you have accounted for a new property insurance policy for a large local business. A substantial check for the premium came in the mail on December 31, the last day of the re porting year. The premium covets a period beginning on January 5. You deposited the check and correctly debited Cash and credited an unearned revenue account. Mike says, “Hey. we have the money this year, so why not count the revenue this year? I never did understand why you accountants are so picky about these things anyway. I’d like you to change the way you have recorded the transaction. I want you to credit a revenue account. And anyway. I’ve done favors for you in the past, and I am asking for such a small thing in return.’’ With that, he leaves for the day.

Required:

  1. 1. How should you handle this situation?
  2. 2. What are the ethical implications of Mike’s request?
  3. 3. Who are the parties who would be helped or harmed if you complied with the request?
  4. 4. If you fail to comply with his request, how will you explain your position to him in the morning?
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Jason Kemp was torn between conflicting emotions. On the one hand, things were going so well. He had just completed 6 months as the assistant financial manager in the Electronics Division of Med-Products Inc. The pay was good, he enjoyed his coworkers, and he felt that he was part of a team that was making a difference in American health care. On the other hand, his latest assignment was causing some sleepless nights. Mel Cravens, his boss, had asked him to “refine” the figures on the division’s latest project—a portable imaging device code—named ZM. The original estimates called for investment of $15.6 million and projected annual income of $1.87 million. Med-Products required an ROI of at least 15% for new project approval. So far, ZM’s rate of return was nowhere near that hurdle rate. Mel encouraged him to show increased sales and decreased expenses in order to get the projected income above $2.34 million. Jason asked for a meeting with Mel to voice his concerns.   Jason: Mel, I’ve…

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Financial Accounting, 8th Edition

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