Financial Accounting
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781305088436
Author: Carl Warren, Jim Reeve, Jonathan Duchac
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Question
Chapter 8, Problem 5E
To determine
State the general weakness in SG’s internal controls contributed to the occurrence and size of losses.
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One of the largest losses in history from unauthorized securities trading involved a securities trader for the French bank Societe Generale. The trader was able to circumvent internal controls and create more than $7 billion in trading losses in six months. The trader apparently escaped detection by using knowledge of the bank’s internal control systemslearned from a previous back-office monitoring job. Much of this monitoring involved the use of software to monitor trades. In addition, traders were usually kept to tight trading limits. Apparently, these controls failed in this case.What general weaknesses in Societe Generale’s internal controls contributed to the occurrence and size of the losses?
Internal Controls
One of the largest losses in history from unauthorized securities trading involved a securities trader for the French bank, Societe Generale. The trader was able to circumvent internal controls and create more than $7 billion in trading losses in six months. The trader apparently escaped detection by using knowledge of the bank's internal control systems learned from a previous back-office monitoring job. Much of this monitoring involved the use of software to monitor trades. In addition, traders were usually kept to tight trading limits. Apparently, these controls failed in this case.
Answer the following True or False questions about Societe Generale's internal controls. These will assist you in determining the weaknesses.
1. The loss could have been avoided with a number of internal controls.
2. Required vacation time may have alerted managers to the hidden losses.
3. If traders have access to the monitoring software, then the separation of duties control is…
Hannaford is a national grocery chain whose electronic payment processing system was breached by hackers as early as December 7, 2007. The hackers stole up to 4.2 million credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates, and security codes, but did not steal customer names. On February 27, 2008, Visa Inc. notified Hannaford that Hannaford’s system had been breached. Hannaford discovered the means of access on March 8, 2008, and contained the breach on March 10, 2008. Hannaford gave notice to certain financial institutions on March 10, 2008. On March 17, 2008, “Hannaford publicly announced for the first time that between December 7, 2007 and March 10, 2008, the security of its information technology systems had been breached, leading to the theft of as many as 4.2 million debit card and credit card numbers belonging to individuals who had made purchases at more than 270 of its stores.” It also announced “that it had already received reports of approximately 1,800 cases of fraud resulting…
Chapter 8 Solutions
Financial Accounting
Ch. 8 - Prob. 1DQCh. 8 - Why should the employee who handles cash receipts...Ch. 8 - Prob. 3DQCh. 8 - Why should the responsibility for maintaining the...Ch. 8 - Assume that Brooke Miles, accounts payable clerk...Ch. 8 - Prob. 6DQCh. 8 - Prob. 7DQCh. 8 - Prob. 8DQCh. 8 - Prob. 9DQCh. 8 - Prob. 10DQ
Ch. 8 - Prob. 1PEACh. 8 - Prob. 1PEBCh. 8 - Prob. 2PEACh. 8 - Prob. 2PEBCh. 8 - Prob. 3PEACh. 8 - Prob. 3PEBCh. 8 - Prob. 4PEACh. 8 - Prob. 4PEBCh. 8 - Financial data for Otto Company follow: a....Ch. 8 - Prob. 5PEBCh. 8 - Prob. 1ECh. 8 - Prob. 2ECh. 8 - Prob. 3ECh. 8 - Pacific Bank provides loans to businesses in the...Ch. 8 - Prob. 5ECh. 8 - An employee of JHT Holdings, Inc., a trucking...Ch. 8 - Prob. 7ECh. 8 - Prob. 8ECh. 8 - Prob. 9ECh. 8 - Prob. 10ECh. 8 - Prob. 11ECh. 8 - Prob. 12ECh. 8 - Prob. 13ECh. 8 - Abbe Co. is a small merchandising company with a...Ch. 8 - Prob. 15ECh. 8 - Prob. 16ECh. 8 - Prob. 17ECh. 8 - Prob. 18ECh. 8 - Prob. 19ECh. 8 - Prob. 20ECh. 8 - Prob. 21ECh. 8 - Prob. 22ECh. 8 - Prob. 23ECh. 8 - Prob. 24ECh. 8 - Mattel, Inc., designs, manufactures, and markets...Ch. 8 - El Dorado Inc. has monthly cash expenses of...Ch. 8 - Prob. 27ECh. 8 - Amicus Therapeutics, Inc., is a biopharmaceutical...Ch. 8 - Prob. 1PACh. 8 - Cactus Restoration Company completed the following...Ch. 8 - Prob. 3PACh. 8 - Prob. 4PACh. 8 - Prob. 5PACh. 8 - Prob. 1PBCh. 8 - Cedar Springs Company completed the following...Ch. 8 - Prob. 3PBCh. 8 - Prob. 4PBCh. 8 - Prob. 5PBCh. 8 - During the preparation of the bank reconciliation...Ch. 8 - Prob. 2CPCh. 8 - Prob. 3CPCh. 8 - Prob. 4CPCh. 8 - Prob. 5CPCh. 8 - TearLab Corp. is a health care company that...
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