16 Jan Propose the manner in which

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 1 Discussion

Financial Statements

For this week’s collaborative activity, review Apple Inc.’s most recent financial statements. Click to review Apple’s Financial Information.

Based on your analysis of Apple’s most recent financial statements, predict whether Apple’s financial health will likely improve or deteriorate over the next five (5) years. Provide a rationale for your response.

Examine Apple’s statement of cash flows. Recommend at least two (2) actions that Apple could take in order to maximize the use of its cash flows. Provide a rationale for your response.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 2 Discussion

Accounting Systems and Accruals

For this week’s Discussion, research the most common threats to a computerized accounting system using the Internet and/or Strayer databases. Be prepared to discuss.

§ Upon examination of the greatest threats to a computerized accounting system, suggest two (2) preventive measures or remedies that protect the system and/or mitigate any negative impacts to the system. Provide a rationale for your response.

§ Your boss is concerned that the company’s computerized accounting system is vulnerable to attack. After reviewing the system, you’re in agreement. Write a brief report (approximately one [1] paragraph in length) of how someone might hack into your systems and commit fraud with the accruals. What major damages to the company’s financial statements could result from such a fraud?”

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 3 Discussion

Accounting for Inventories

As a financial accountant, determine the best type of income statement a retailer should use. Defend your suggestion.

o Analyze the different inventory valuation methods discussed in the textbook. Based on your analysis, recommend the most accurate valuation method that reflects current economic conditions. Provide a rationale for your recommendation.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 4 Discussion

Internal Controls

Imagine that a coworker wants to circumvent an internal control to steal money from your company. Speculate on two (2) internal controls that your coworker might attempt to circumvent in order to steal the money. Recommend two (2) actions that the company could take in order to prevent the theft.

Outline an anti-fraud program that you would implement at your company (current or previous). Suggest the approach you would take to sell this program to your senior executives. Provide a rationale for your response.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 5 Discussion

Accounts Receivable Management

Examine the five (5) steps to managing accounts receivable. Speculate on the step that is most vulnerable to fraud. Suggest at least two (2) actions that a company can take in order to protect this step from fraud.

Imagine that your company has tasked you with developing a plan for factoring accounts receivables. Create one (1) scenario that demonstrates the key benefits and / or detriments to your company from factoring accounts receivable.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 6 Discussion

Plant Assets

Imagine that you are the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a startup airline company. The executive management team has tasked you with making a recommendation about whether the company should buy or lease airplanes. Analyze the major pros and cons for leasing and buying assets. Based on your analysis, provide a recommendation to the executive team.

Compare and contrast the three (3) methods for depreciating plant assets. Recommend the method that maximizes profits for both a shorter period of time and a longer period of time.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 7 Discussion

Budgeting

(o Analyze the major pros and cons of preparing annual company budgets. Identify at least two (2) critical budget line items that you believe are essential for managing your company. Provide a rationale for your response.

o One way to monitor a company is to break it into different centers or business units. For example, a Revenue Center oversees the sales teams while the Cost Center focuses on making the product or delivering the services. If the company maintains a store or locations that handles both revenue and costs, this is called a Profit Center. Managers of each center have their own budgets and are held accountable for achieving it. Analyze the most common responsibility reporting systems. From your analysis, argue at least one (1) pro and one (1) con of using responsibility reporting systems.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 8 Discussion

Liabilities

For this week’s Discussion, research one (1) publicly traded company in which you are interested using the Internet and/or Strayer databases. Locate the company website and financial statements. Also locate information on the types of bonds the company issues. Review the Liabilities section of the company’s Balance Sheet. Be prepared to discuss.

Imagine that you just read about another company in the same industry facing criminal charges for misrepresenting their liabilities. Naturally, you’re worried that the company you’re researching might be doing something similar. Hypothesize a scenario in which someone at the company could intentionally misstate liabilities for his or her personal financial gain. Recommend two (2) actions that these companies can take to prevent or detect intentional misstatements of liabilities for personal financial gain. Justify your response.

Imagine that you are advising an investor who is considering purchasing bonds issued by the selected company. Analyze the types of bonds the chosen company issues. Make a recommendation to the investor as to which type of bond would provide the most value. Justify your response.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 9 Discussion

Cash Flows

For this week’s discussion, research one (1) publicly traded company in which you are interested using the Internet and/or Strayer databases. Review its most recent statement of cash flows and income statement on the company’s Website. Be prepared to discuss.

Outline a strategy for companies to spend excess cash and maximize the value of that spend. Provide a rationale for your response.

Compare and contrast the selected company’s statement of cash flows to its income statement. Suggest at least two (2) items from each statement that investors should analyze when deciding whether or not to purchase the company’s stock. Justify your response.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 10 Discussion

Sustainable Income and Ratio Analysis

Describe sustainable income and the importance of sustainable income in the evaluation of the income statement. Choose at least two (2) items or events that will affect sustainable income of a company.

Propose the manner in which you would disclose these items or events to investors. Justify your response.

ACC556 Financial Accounting for Managers

Week 11 Discussion

Sum It Up

Provide two (2) examples that demonstrate a change in your theories of financial accounting for managers since the beginning of this course.

Rate the three (3) most important concepts that you have learned in this course in order of importance (one [1] being the most important; three [3], the least). Provide a rationale for your rating scheme.