Question

Ethics
AP6-5 Horizon Corporation manufactures personal computers. The company began operations in 2012 and reported
profits for the years 2012 through 2019. Due primarily to increased competition and price slashing in the industry,
2020's income statement reported a loss of $20 million. Just before the end of the 2021 fiscal year, a memo from the
company's chief financial officer (CFO) to Jim Fielding, the company controller, included the following comments:
If we don't do something about the large amount of unsold computers already manufactured, our auditors will require us to
record a write down. The resulting loss for 2021 will cause a violation of our debt covenants and force the company into
bankruptcy. I suggest that you ship half of our inventory to J.B. Sales, Inc., in Oklahoma City. I know the company's
president, and he will accept the inventory and acknowledge the shipment as a purchase. We can record the sale in 2021
which will boost our loss to a profit. Then J.B. Sales will simply return the inventory in 2022 after the financial statements
have been issued
Required:
1. Understand the reporting effect: What is the effect on income before taxes of the sales transaction requested by the
CFO?
2. Specify the options: If Jim does not record the sales transaction requested by the CFO, what is the effect on total
assets and income before taxes of the inventory write-down?
3. Identify the impact: Are investors and creditors potentially harmed by the CFO's suggestion?
4. Make a decision: Should Jim follow the CFO's suggestion?

Answer 1

Based on the effects of what the CFO suggests, the effect on the income before taxes will be an increase.

If Jim does not do what the CFO requests of him, the total assets will increase and the income before taxes will decrease.

The investors and the creditors will be harmed by the CFO's suggestion.

As regards what he should do, Jim should not follow the CFO's suggestion.

What are the effects of the CFO's suggestion?

If Jim does what the CFO suggests then income will increase on account of the fake sales increasing the revenue the company gets.

If Jim refuses to do what the CFO suggests, then the computers will remain in inventory which will increase assets as inventory is an asset. Income will however decrease because sales will be less.

Jim should not do what the CFO suggests because it would harm investors who would remain invested in a loss making company that could implode anytime. Same goes for the creditors.

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