Financial Accounting
9th Edition
ISBN: 9781259738692
Author: Libby
Publisher: MCG
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Textbook Question
Chapter 7, Problem 7.7CP
Evaluating an Ethical Dilemma: Earnings, Inventory Purchases, and Management Bonuses
Micro Warehouse was a computer software and hardware online and catalog sales company.* A 19% Wall Street Journal article disclosed the following:
MICRO WAREHOUSE IS REORGANIZING TOP MANAGEMENT
Micro Warehouse Inc. announced a “significant reorganization” of its management, including the resignation of three senior executives. The mow comes just a few weeks after the Norwalk. Conn., computer catalogue sales company said it overstated earnings by $28 million since 1992 as a result of accounting irregularities. That previous disclosure prompted a flurry of shareholder lawsuits against the company. In addition, Micro Warehouse said it is cooperating with an “informal inquiry" by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Source: Stephan E. Frank. The Wall Street Journal, November 21. 1996. p. B2. Copyright © 1996 by Dow Jones & Co. Used with permission.
Its Form 10-Q quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission two days before indicated that inaccuracies involving understatement of purchases and accounts payable in current and prior
*Micro Warehouse declared bankruptcy in 2003.
periods amounted to $47.3 million. It also indicated that, as a result. $2.2 million of executive bonuses for 1995 would be rescinded. Micro Warehouse's total tax rate is approximately 40.4 percent. Both cost of goods sold and executive bonuses are fully deductible for tax purposes.
Required:
As a new staff member at Micro Warehouse’s auditing firm, you are assigned to write a memo outlining the effects of the understatement of purchases and the rescinding of the bonuses. In your report, be sure to include the following:
- 1. The total effect on pretax and after-tax earnings of the understatement of purchases.
- 2. The total effect on pretax and after-tax earnings of the rescinding of the bonuses.
- 3. An estimate of the percentage of after-tax earnings management is receiving in bonuses.
- 4. A discussion of why Micro Warehouse's board of directors may have decided to tie managers’ compensation to reported earnings and the possible relation between this type of bonus scheme and the accounting errors.
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Chapter 7 Solutions
Financial Accounting
Ch. 7 - Why is inventory an important item to both...Ch. 7 - Prob. 2QCh. 7 - Prob. 3QCh. 7 - Prob. 4QCh. 7 - Prob. 5QCh. 7 - The chapter discussed tour inventory costing...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7QCh. 7 - Contrast the effects of LIFO versus FIFO on...Ch. 7 - Contrast the income statement effect of LIFO...Ch. 7 - Prob. 10Q
Ch. 7 - Explain briefly the application of the LCM concept...Ch. 7 - Prob. 12QCh. 7 - Consider the following information: ending...Ch. 7 - The inventory costing method selected by a company...Ch. 7 - Which of the following is not a component of the...Ch. 7 - Consider the following information: beginning...Ch. 7 - Consider the following information: beginning...Ch. 7 - An increasing inventory turnover ratio a....Ch. 7 - If the ending balance in accounts payable...Ch. 7 - Which of the following regarding the lower of cost...Ch. 7 - Which inventory method provides a better matching...Ch. 7 - Which of the following is false regarding a...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.1MECh. 7 - Recording the Cost of Purchases for a Merchandiser...Ch. 7 - Identifying the Cost of Inventories for a...Ch. 7 - Inferring Purchases Using the Cost of Goods Sold...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.5MECh. 7 - Matching Inventory Costing Method Choices to...Ch. 7 - Reporting Inventory under Lower of Cost or Market...Ch. 7 - Determining the Effects of Inventory Management...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.9MECh. 7 - Prob. 7.1ECh. 7 - Inferring Missing Amounts Based on Income...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.3ECh. 7 - Inferring Merchandise Purchases Abercrombie and...Ch. 7 - Calculating Ending Inventory and Cost of Goods...Ch. 7 - Calculating Ending Inventory and Cost of Goods...Ch. 7 - Analyzing and Interpreting the Financial Statement...Ch. 7 - Analyzing and Interpreting the Financial Statement...Ch. 7 - Evaluating the Choice among Three Alternative...Ch. 7 - Evaluating the Choice among Three Alternative...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.11ECh. 7 - Reporting Inventory at Lower of Cost or Market...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.13ECh. 7 - Prob. 7.14ECh. 7 - Prob. 7.15ECh. 7 - Prob. 7.16ECh. 7 - Prob. 7.17ECh. 7 - Prob. 7.18ECh. 7 - Prob. 7.19ECh. 7 - Prob. 7.20ECh. 7 - (Chapter Supplement A) Analyzing the Effects of a...Ch. 7 - (Chapter Supplement B) FIFO and LIFO Cost of Goods...Ch. 7 - (Chapter Supplement C) Recording Sales and...Ch. 7 - Analyzing Items to Be Included in Inventory Travis...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.2PCh. 7 - Evaluating Four Alternative Inventory Methods...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.4PCh. 7 - Evaluating the LIFO and FIFO Choice When Costs Are...Ch. 7 - Evaluating the Income Statement and Cash Flow...Ch. 7 - Evaluating the Effects of Manufacturing Changes on...Ch. 7 - Evaluating the Choice between LIFO and FIFO Based...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.9PCh. 7 - (Chapter Supplement A) Analyzing LIFO and FIFO...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.1APCh. 7 - Evaluating Four Alternative Inventory Methods...Ch. 7 - Evaluating the UFO and FIFO Choice When Costs Are...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.4APCh. 7 - Prob. 7.1CONCh. 7 - Finding Financial Information Refer to the...Ch. 7 - Finding Financial Information Refer to the...Ch. 7 - Comparing Companies within an Industry Refer to...Ch. 7 - Prob. 7.4CPCh. 7 - Using Financial Reports: Interpreting Effects of...Ch. 7 - Making a Decision as a Financial Analyst: Analysis...Ch. 7 - Evaluating an Ethical Dilemma: Earnings, Inventory...
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