Professional Documents
Culture Documents
to accompany
Financial
Accounting:
Recording, Analysis and
Decision Making
Fifth Edition
Prepared by
Rosina Mladenovic-McAlpine
Brief
Learning Objectives Exercises Exercises Problems
1. Indicate the main purpose of the
statement of cash flows.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
1. The statement of cash flows answers the following questions about cash:
(a) Where did the cash come from during the period?
(b) What was the cash used for during the period?
(c) What was the change in cash balance during the period?
Operating activities include the cash effects of revenue generating activities (such
as the provisions of goods and services) and activities that are not classified as
financing or investing activities.
4. (a) The phases of the company life cycle are the introductory phase, growth
phase, maturity phase, and decline phase.
(b) During the introductory phase, cash from operations and investing would be
expected to be negative, and cash from financing would be positive.
During the growth phase, a company would be expected to show some small
amounts of cash from operations (moving from negative to positive cash from
operations) while continuing to show negative cash from investing and
positive cash from financing.
During the maturity phase, cash from operations is positive and exceeding
investing needs. Financing cash flows become negative as the entity applies
the cash surpluses to pay dividends and retire debt.
In the decline phase, cash from operations and investment would continue to
be positive while cash from financing would be negative.
5. The advantage of the direct method is that it presents the major categories of cash
receipts and cash payments in a format that is similar to the statement of profit or
loss and familiar to statement users. Its principal disadvantage is that the necessary
data can be expensive and time-consuming to accumulate, although with advances
in computers and information technology, this cost is of declining significance.
The advantage of the indirect method is its reconciliation of profit to net cash
provided by operating activities, while its primary disadvantage is the difficulty in
understanding the adjustments that comprise the reconciliation.
6. Sales $2,000,000
Less: Increase in receivables 200,000
Cash receipts from customers $1,800,000
7. A number of factors could have caused an increase in cash despite the loss for the
period. These are:
(1) high cash revenues relative to low cash expenses
(2) sales of property, plant, and equipment
(3) sales of investments
(4) issue of debt or shares for cash.
10. (a) The current cash debt coverage ratio is a cash-based ratio that measures
liquidity.
(b) Solvency can be measured by the cash debt coverage ratio (cash-based).
(c) Profitability can be measured by the cash return on sales ratio.
Profit $200,000
Adjustments to reconcile profit to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Decrease in accounts receivable $80,000
Increase in prepaid expenses (12,000)
Increase in inventories (30,000) 38,000
Net cash provided by operating activities $238,000
(a) Cash from operations would be lower than profit during the growth phase because
inventory must be purchased for future projected sales. Since during the growth
phase sales are projected to be increasing, inventory purchases must increase and
inventory expensed on an accrual basis would be less than inventory purchased on a
cash basis. Also, collections on accounts receivable would lag behind sales; thus,
accrual sales would exceed cash collections during the period.
(b) Cash from investing is often positive during the late maturity phase and the decline
phase because the firm may sell off excess assets that are no longer needed for
productive purposes.
(c) Cash flow from financing activities is often positive during the introductory and growth
phases as finance would often need to be raised either by issuing shares or from
borrowings for investment in assets.
SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISES
EXERCISE 11.1
(a).
Wilderness Equipment Ltd
Reconciliation of profit after tax to cash provided by operating activities
b).
Operating activities are the entity’s principal revenue-generating activities such as the
provision of goods and services and activities which are not classified as investing or
financing activities.
Investing activities are the acquisition and disposal of long-term assets, including activities
such as purchasing and selling of non-current assets, and lending money and collecting the
loans.
Financing activities are those that affect the size and composition of contributed equity and
borrowing, and include obtaining cash from issuing debt, repaying the amounts borrowed,
obtaining cash from shareholders, and paying them dividends or buying back shares
EXERCISE 11.2
Madonna Ltd
EXERCISE 11.3
During the introductory phase (point C), cash from operations and investing are expected to
be negative while cash from financing would be positive. In the growth phase (point D), a
company would continue to show negative cash from operations and investing and positive
cash from financing. Cash from operations is approximately equal to profit in the maturity
phase (A) and declines in the decline phase (B), when the company also has positive
investing cash flows from selling of assets and negative financing cash flows as it retires
debt.
EXERCISE 11.4
(a)
Big Bang Balloons Pty Ltd
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 June 2015
Calculations:
(1) Cash receipts from customers:
Sales $1,173,600
Deduct: Increase in accounts receivable (10,800)
Cash receipts from customers $1,162,800
$296400 $220800
$139,200 ÷ .54 times
2
(* $56,400 + $240,000)
(**$40,800 + $180,000)
EXERCISE 11.5
Simpson Ltd
EXERCISE 11.6
Christchurch Motors Pty Ltd
Revenues $170,000
Deduct: Increase in accounts receivable (43,000)
Cash receipts from customers* $127,000
Operating expenses 80,000
Deduct: Increase in accounts payable (33,000)
Bad debts expense (1,000)
Cash payments for operating expenses** 46,000
Net cash provided by operating activities $81,000
*Accounts Receivable
Balance, Beginning of year -
Revenues for the year 170,000 Cash receipts for year 127,000
Closing Balance 43,000
170,000 170,000
Opening Balance 43,000
**Accounts Payable
Balance, Beginning of year -
Payments for year 46,000 Operating expenses for year 79,000
Closing Balance 33,000
79,000 79,000
Opening Balance 33,000
Operating expenses are $79,000 in the reconstruction of Accounts Payable because $1000
of the total operating expenses of $80,000 was for the bad debts expense, a non-cash item.
EXERCISE 11.7
Colin Ltd
EXERCISE 11.8
Outdoor Adventures Ltd
Partial Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 December 2015
*$60,000 + $190,000
EXERCISE 11.9
Chau Ltd
EXERCISE 11.10
Kang Ltd’s liquidity, solvency and profitability ratios are all higher (better) than Jang
Ltd’s comparable ratios. Kang current cash debt coverage ratio and cash return on
sales ratio are almost twice as high as those of Jang. These ratios indicate that Kang is
substantially more liquid and profitable than Jang and is slightly more solvent.
EXERCISE 11.11
Home and Away Travels Ltd
Partial Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 June 2016
*$84,000 + $266,000
EXERCISE 11.12
Opotiki Ltd
EXERCISE 11.13
Castle Ltd
Partial Statement of Cash Flows
(Indirect method)
for the year ended 30 June 2016
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEM
SET A
Equipment
Opening balance 177,500 Cost of equipment sold 27,500
(2) Depreciation expense – equipment = total depreciation expense – building depreciation expense
= 47,750 – 25,000 = 27,750
(a) Operating activities is the most important category because it shows the cash provided
or used by operations. This source of cash is generally considered to be the best measure of
whether an entity can generate sufficient cash to continue as a going concern and to
expand.
(b)
Phillips Screwdrivers Ltd
Partial Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 March 2017
Calculations:
(c)
Phillips Screwdrivers Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 March 2017
Calculations:
(b)
Peebody Enterprises Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 June 2015
Reconciliation of profit to cash provided by operating activities.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Profit $126,000
Adjustments to reconcile profit to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense $84,000
Loss on sale of equipment 36,400
Decrease in accounts receivable 14,000
Increase in accounts payable 11,200
Decrease in income taxes payable (8,400) 137,200
Net cash provided by operating activities $263,200
Calculations:
*Accumulated Depreciation
Equipment sold 9,500 Balance, Beginning of year 24,000
Depreciation Expense 5,500
Closing Balance 20,000
29,500 29,500
Opening Balance 20,000
(b)
Metro Meats Ltd
Note to Statement of cash flows
for the year ended 31 December 2015
$66,000 * $61,000 * *
(3) $9,500 .15 times
2
(d) The ratios calculated in part (c) suggest that Metro Meats Ltd’s cash generated from
operating activities in 1 year is 28.4% of it’s short term obligations. It generates
enough cash in 1 year from operating activities to meet 28.4% of the obligations that
are due within 1 year and its cash generated from operating activities is15% of its
total liabilities. It would appear that Metro Meats Ltd may have to liquidate some of its
productive assets in order to meet its short term obligations.
Calculations:
(b)
Freshest Farmers Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
(Indirect method)
for the year ended 31 March 2016
Calculations:
(b)
Sticky Stationery Supplies Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 March 2015
(b)
(a)
Mountain King Tours Ltd
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 December 2016
Calculations:
(b)
$44,000 * $53,000 * *
$16,000 .33 times
2
$59,000 * $63,000 * *
$16,000 .26 times
2
(d) 33% of Mountain King Tours Ltd’s short term obligations in one year could be
covered by the cash generated from its operating activities and the cash flow from
operating activities is sufficient to cover 26% of its total obligations. The cash return
on sales figure of 6.4% compares favourably to the profit ratio of 6.8%
(17,000/250,000) and there is free cash flow of $9,000 which suggests that after
investing in new property, plant and equipment to maintain operations at their current
level, there is still cash available for expansion or payment of dividends.
Calculations:
(4)
Plant and Equipment
Balance, Beginning of year 102,500 Equipment sold 23,500
Cash (purchase of equipment) 46,000 Closing Balance 125,000
148,500 148,500
Opening Balance 125,000
(b)
Takahashi Enterprises Pty Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
(Indirect Method)
for the year ended 30 June 2017
(a)
Calculations:
(b)
DVD’s and More Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 June 2016
Profit $100,000
Adjustments to reconcile profit to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense $90,000
Loss on sale of office equipment $20,000
Profit on sale of land ($20,000)
Decrease in accounts receivable 20,000
Increase in allowance for doubtful debts 8,000
Decrease in prepaid rent 40,000
Increase in inventory (30,000)
Decrease in accounts payable (20,000)
Increase in accrued expenses 5,000
Increase in income taxes payable 47,000 160,000
Net cash provided by operating activities $260,000
(5)
Equipment
Balance, Beginning of year 280,000 Equipment sold 90,000
Cash (purchase of equipment) 40,000 Closing Balance 250,000
Purchase via long term note 20,000
340,000 340,000
Opening Balance 250,000
(5)
Land
Balance, Beginning of year 360,000 Land sold 80,000
Land purchased 80,000
Upward revaluation 60,000 Closing Balance 420,000
500,000 500,000
Opening Balance 420,000
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEM
SET B
Buildings
Balance, Beginning of year 750,000
Closing Balance 750,000
750,000 750,000
Opening Balance 750,000
Equipment
Balance, Beginning of year 240,000 Equipment sold 20,000
Cash (purchase of equipment) 80,000 Closing Balance 300,000
320,000 320,000
Opening Balance 300,000
Calculations:
(1) Cash receipts from customers:
Sales $1,350,000
Add: Decrease in accounts receivable 127,500
Cash receipts from customers $1,477,500
(b)
Okamoto Motors Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
(Indirect Method)
for the year ended 31 December 2015
Reconciliation of profit to cash provided by operating activities.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Profit $260,000
Adjustments to reconcile profit to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense $31,250
Amortisation expense 5,000
Decrease in accounts receivable 127,500
Increase in inventory (35,000)
Increase in accounts payable 12,500
Increase in prepaid expenses ((42,500)
Increase in accrued expenses payable 41,250 140,000
Net cash provided by operating activities $400,000
(b)
Nguyen and Tran Ltd
Note to Partial Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 March 2017
(c) Direct method is a method of presenting cash payments as deductions from cash
receipts to determine net cash provided by operating activities.
(a)
Kiwi Ltd
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 December 2015
Calculations:
(5)
Property, Plant and Equipment
Balance, Beginning of year 101,400 Equipment sold 19,500
Cash (purchase of equipment) 9,100 Closing Balance 91,000
110,500 110,500
Opening Balance 91,000
(6)
Retained Earnings
Dividends paid 46,800 Balance, Beginning of year 36,400
Profit 53,300
Closing Balance 42,900
89,700 89,700
Opening Balance 42,900
(b)
Kiwi Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 December 2015
(c) (1) Current cash debt coverage = $20,800 ($74,100 + $81,900)/2 = 0.27:1
(2) Cash debt coverage = $20,800 ($100,100 + $94,900)/2 = 0.21:1
(3) Free cash flow = $20,800 - $9,100 = $11,700
(d) Kiwi Ltd has the ability to cover 27% of its short-term liabilities from the cash
generated from its operating activities. The cash debt coverage of 0.21 shows that
Kiwi Ltd’s cash flows from operating activities is sufficient to cover 21% of its total
liabilities. After investing in new property, plant and equipment to maintain operations
at their current level, Kiwi Ltd still has $11,700 cash available for expansion or
payments of dividends, as shown by its free cash flow of $11,700.
(a)
Aleksia Ltd
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 December 2016
Calculations:
(4)
Plant and Equipment
Balance, Beginning of year 205,000 Equipment sold 36,000
Cash (purchase of equipment) 141,000 Closing Balance 310,000
346,000 346,000
Opening Balance 310,000
(5)
Retained Earnings
Dividends paid 75,000 Balance, Beginning of year 107,940
Profit 142,660
Closing Balance 175,600
250,600 250,600
Opening Balance 175,600
(b)
Aleksia Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
(Indirect Method)
for the year ended 31 December 2016
Calculations:
(b)
Bear’s Chairs Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 November 2015
(a)
XYZ Children’s Centre Ltd
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 December 2016
Calculations:
(b)
(c) (1) Current cash debt coverage = $38,400/ [($105,600* + 127,200**)/2] = 0.33
*$69,600 + $36,000
**$79,200 + $48,000
(d) 33% of XYZ Children’s Centre Ltd’s short term obligations in one year could be
covered by the cash generated from its operating activities and the cash flow from
operating activities is sufficient to cover 26% of its total obligations. The cash return
on sales figure of 6.4% compares favourably to the profit ratio of 6.8%
(40,800/600,000) and there is free cash flow of $21,600 which suggests that after
investing in furniture and equipment to maintain operations at their current level,
there is still cash available for expansion or payment of dividends.
(a)
ABC Manufacturing Pty Ltd
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 June 2015
Calculations:
(b)
ABC Manufacturing Pty Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 June 2015
(a)
SIMIC AND NIKOLIC Ltd
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 June 2016
Calculations:
(6)
Land
Balance, Beginning of year 1,900,000 Land sold 430,000
Upward revaluation 160,000 Closing Balance 1,630,000
2,060,000 2,060,000
Opening Balance 1,630,000
Proceeds from land sold = cost 430,000 + gain of 210,000 = $640,000
(7)
Building
Balance, Beginning of year 1,670,000
Purchase 430,000 Closing Balance 2,100,000
2,100,000 2,100,000
Opening Balance 2,100,000
540,000 540,000
Opening Balance 540,000
(8)
Plant and Equipment
Balance, Beginning of year 1,258,000 Equipment sold 500,000
Cash (purchase of equipment) 696,000 Closing Balance 1,454,000
1,954,000 1,954,000
Opening Balance 1,454,000
740,000 740,000
Opening Balance 440,000
(9)
Office Equipment
Balance, Beginning of year 380,000 Equipment sold 0
Cash (purchase of equipment) 50,000 Closing Balance 430,000
430,000 430,000
Opening Balance 430,000
270,000 270,000
Opening Balance 270,000
(10)
Retained Earnings
Cash dividends declared/paid 850,000 Balance, Beginning of year 1,618,000
Transfer to reserve 100,000 Profit 2,096,000
Closing Balance 2,764,000
3,714,000 3,714,000
Opening Balance 2,764,000
Dividend Payable
Cash paid 750,000 Balance, Beginning of year 500,000
Closing Balance 600,000 Dividends declared 850,000
1,350,000 1,350,000
Opening Balance 600,000
(11)
Share Capital
Balance, Beginning of year 1,000,000
Asset revaluation reserve 200,000
Closing Balance 1,400,000 Cash 200,000
1,400,000 1,400,000
Opening Balance 1,400,000
(b)
SIMIC AND NIKOLIC Ltd
Note to Statement of Cash Flows
(Indirect method)
for the year ended 30 June 2016
Reconciliation of profit to cash provided by operating activities
Profit $2,096,000
Adjustments to reconcile profit to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense $250,000
Amortisation expense 20,000
Gain on sale of land ($210,000)
Gain on sale of equipment ($230,000)
Increase in accounts receivable (140,000)
Increase in allowance for doubtful debts 10,000
Increase in inventory (220,000)
Increase in prepaid insurance (20,000)
Increase in accounts payable 250,000
Decrease in accrued expenses (20,000)
Increase in interest payable 20,000
Decrease in income taxes payable (20,000) (310,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities $1,786,000
2013 $33,180,000
2012 $37,678,000
Domino’s 2013 cash flows are consistent with the growth phase. Operating cash
flows are positive and cash receipts from customers and revenue have increased in
2013 over 2012. Cash generated by operations is positive and Domino’s is still and
borrowing and investing to grow the business.
(b) The decrease in cash for the year ended 30 June 2013 was $21,649,000 and for
the year ended 30 June 2012 was $12,255,000 increase in cash.
(d) Total cash used for investing activities in 2013 was ($30,395,000).
(e) The interest (borrowing cost) paid in 2013 was $405,000 and income tax paid was
$11,796,000 in 2013.
(a)
Company A Company B
(b) The current cash debt coverage uses cash generated from operations during the
period and provides a better representation of liquidity on an average day than
measures such as the current ratio. Company A’s ratio of $0..93 of cash from
operations for every dollar of current liabilities was more than Company B’s $0.75 of
cash from operations per dollar of current liabilities and indicates that Company A
was more liquid than Company B in 2017.
The cash return on sales ratio indicates a company’s ability to turn sales into dollars
(cash). Since Company A’s cash return on sales ratio was slightly higher than
Company B’s (0.22 vs. 0.18), Company A was more efficient in turning sales into
cash in 2017.
The cash debt coverage ratio shows a company’s ability to repay its liabilities from
cash generated from operating activities without having to liquidate the assets
employed in its operations. Since Company A’s cash debt coverage was more than
2 times greater than Company B’s (.83 vs. .36), Company A’s ability to repay
liabilities with cash from operations was significantly greater than Company B’s in
2017.
,
Peter’s of Buckingham was able to finance its capital expenditure from the cash provided by
operations each year from 2016 to 2018. Free cash flow increased from 2016 to 2017 and
remained stable in 2018. The capital expenditure ratio increased in 2017 and declined in
2018, as both CFO and capital expenditure increased.
$7,433
2018 1.11times
($5,834 $7,576 ) / 2
$7,057
2017 1.00 times
($8,230 $5,834 ) / 2
$7,098
2016 0.81times
($9,279 $8,230 ) / 2
The current cash debt coverage has increased consistently from 2016, when it was below
one. The improvement reflected reduced current liabilities in 2017 and increased cash
provided by operations in 2018. The increased current cash debt coverage indicates Peter’s
of Buckingham’ improved liquidity since 2016.
$7,433
2018 0.37 times
($20,177 $19,632) / 2
$7,057
2017 0.32 times
($24,113 $20,177 ) / 2
$7,098
2016 0.30 times
($23,751 $24,113) / 2
The cash debt coverage mirrored the current cash debt coverage. Peter’s of Buckingham
solvency has improved. It has provided more cash from operations for every dollar of
liabilities each year from 2016 to 2018. The improvement reflected reduced liabilities in 2017
and increased cash provided by operations in 2018.
© John Wiley and Sons Australia Ltd, 2016 11.60
Chapter 11: Statement of cash flows
Peter’s of Buckingham ability to generate cash from sales has remained stable at around
35% during the three-year period from 2016 to 2018.
(b) Students’ answers will vary with the choice of company and year of the annual report
used.
(c) Students’ answers will vary with the choice of company and year of the annual report
used.
(d) Students’ answers will vary with the choice of company and year of the annual report
used.
Answers will vary depending on the company chosen by the students and the year of the
financial statements.
(a) company chosen by student
(b) Company provided financial statements on its website Y or N?
(c) Amounts of cash generated or used by operating activities?
CRITICAL THINKING
MEMO
From: Student
Date: XX/MM/YYYY
The statement of cash flows provides information about the cash receipts and cash
payments of a firm, classified as operating, investing and financing activities. The operating
section of your company’s statement of cash flows shows the amount of cash received
through operating activities such as the sale of goods and collection of cash from customers.
Cash payments relating to operating activities such as the payment of salaries and wages
are deducted from cash receipts to determine net cash provided by operating activities.
The investing section of the statement reports the cash flows resulting from changes in
investments and other non-current assets.
The financing section of the statement reports the cash flows resulting from changes in
financial liabilities and equity, such as the issue of shares, borrowings and the payment of
cash dividends.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Signature
Students are asked to present a 5 minute presentation on one of the projects on the B team
website. The B team is a Richard Branson initiative he initiated to explore how people in
business can develop a better version of capitalism that considers how people are treated
and how businesses impact the
cultures they are based in, economically, socially and environmentally.
Answers will vary depending on the company chosen by the students and the year of the
financial statements.
1. Project chosen by student explains some background to the problem this project is
aiming to address.
2.Outlines What businesses are being asked to do differently based on the objectives of this
project?
3. Explains the social and environmental impacts and the intended benefits of this project?
Also, whether any benefits have any been achieved?
(a) It is unethical of the board to placed undue pressure on the managing director to
have a cash dividend each year to keep her job “safe”.
The managing director’s statement: ‘We must get that amount above $1million’, puts
undue pressure on the accountant and expresses a willingness to report cash flows
more favourably than would result from the application of standards and the true and
fair principle. This statement along with her statement, ‘I know you won’t let me
down’, encourages the accountant to do something unethical.
Hence the managing director’s actions are unethical and she is requesting that the
accountant intentionally provide misleading information to users of financial
statements
And by intentionally preparing incorrect financial statements the accountant actions
are unethical as well.
(b) Are the board members or anyone else likely to discover the misclassification?
It is unlikely that any board members (other than board members who are also
officers of the company) would discover the misclassification. Board members
generally do not have detailed enough knowledge of their company’s transactions to
detect this misstatement. It is possible that an officer of the bank that made the loan
would detect the misclassification upon close reading of Big Rubber Ltd’s statement
of cash flows. It is also possible that close scrutiny of the balance sheet and notes to
the financial statements showing an increase in notes payable (long-term debt) would
reveal that there is no comparable financing activity item (proceeds from note
payable) in the statement of cash flows.
The auditors (internal or external), who have access to the detail of transactions and
journal entries, may detect the misrepresentation in their audit of the financial
statements.
Alternatively, if the company cannot pay its bills and goes into receivership – the
administrators may find the misclassification.
The managing director of Big Rubber Ltd benefits if the misrepresentation is not
discovered as she gets to keep her job. She could lose her job and reputation if the
intentional misrepresentation is revealed.
The Board of Directors are responsible for the presentation of the financial
statements and effective leadership. Harmful to their reputation if the
misrepresentation is discovered and particularly because it was done as a result of
undue pressure on the managing director’s job security by the board.
The accountant could lose his job and reputation if the intentional misrepresentation
is revealed. Benefit: The accountant could keep the managing director happy and
reduce conflict at work.
The shareholders of Big Rubber Ltd could benefit in the short term by receiving a
dividend. In the long term this payment might put the firm at financial risk.
Users of Big Rubber’sfinancial statements could make poor investing and lending
decisions
(d) What ethical actions could the accountant take? Explain the implications of these
actions.
First the accountant could talk to the managing director and refuse to make the
change. The negative consequence is that it might result in harming the relationship
with the managing director and might even get fired. The positive outcome is the
accountant has acted professionally and ethically. If the managing director will not
listen, the accountant can approach to board to expose the undue pressure. If the
board will not back down, then the accountant has no choice but to go outside the
organisation. The accountant could approach the auditor, the accounting professional
bodies or a government authority to report the undue pressure. The implications are
the accountant has acted professionally and ethically, however, will now be seen as
a ‘whistle blower’.
Part A
(1) the nature of the environmental laws that have come into effect in some countries Apple
Inc operates in is the requirement to provide customers the ability to return the electrical
product they purchased form the company at the end of its useful life at no charge to the
customer which places the responsibility and the cost for environmentally safe disposal or
recycling of components with the Apple Inc.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) is a Eurpean
community (EU) directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) which
became law in Europe 2003. The directive imposes the responsibility for the disposal of
waste electrical and electronic equipment on the manufacturers of the equipment. Those
companies should establish an infrastructure for collecting WEEE, in such a way that "Users
of electrical and electronic equipment from private households should have the possibility of
returning WEEE at least free of charge". Also, the companies are compelled to use the
collected waste in an ecologically-friendly manner, either by ecological disposal or by
reuse/refurbishment of the collected WEEE.
(2) Compliance with these environmental laws could materially adversely affect the
Company as it would require them to develop the infrastructure to collect products at the end
of their life (for example you may have seen the mobile phone recycling bins located in
various phone re-seller shops), as well as the infrastructure or the outsourcing to enable the
recycling and or disposal of the electrical products in an environmentally friendly manner. All
of this takes time and resources which can have negative impact on the finances and
operations of Apple Inc’s business.
Part B