ACP 323 - AUDITING AND ASSU.

: CONCEPTS AND APPL

JOVIT G. CAIN, CPA, MSA
CASE STUDY – B

CASE 1.
Claire is an assistant manager at a retail-clothing store. She is aware of numerous incidents of insider
theft. The cash drawer is always short several dollars at a time and there are bogus returns with a
common customer. Her manager, Paul is also her friend. She has worked with him at other companies
and he is responsible for her obtaining her present job as an assistant manager. Claire is in charge of
the paperwork that deals with customer returns, deposits, and inventory. The entire staff only
consists of six people, including the manager, Paul and assistant manager, Claire. Everyone is aware
of the problems and Paul is telling you the sales associates are the ones he is suspicious of. You know
that only the manager and assistant are allowed to do the deposits, paperwork, and all returns. All
the clues are pointing to your manager, but he insists it is the lower level employees. All cash drawer
shortages are reported to the corporate office of the company and it reflects on you. The customer
that keeps getting the returns comes in and tries to return items that don’t have a receipt. Claire is
already aware of the bogus returns and declines the return without proof of purchase. Paul realizes
at this point that Claire has proof that he is acting Journal of Business Case Studies unethically and in
turn harming the company. She believes that most likely there are other instances of Paul’s unethical
behavior. What do you do?

CASE 2.
You are an audit senior partner of a large accountancy firm SALTY Ltd. One of your biggest clients is
SORBETS Collection, a company which undertakes major construction projects such as building new
roads, motorways etc. Until last year the company had been very profitable, but the economic
downturn has started to hit the company hard. You are preparing for the final audit meeting with the
client at which you will discuss your main findings and any adjustments which are required to the
accounts. The big issue is clear “Is the company still a going concern?” This issue has caused you many
sleepless nights of late – you like the people who run this company and you are aware of the impact
that the closure of this business would have on its employees. You are also aware that it would most
likely have a negative impact on your immediate career prospects.

The company’s year-end was 31 December and your firm carried out most of its work during the
same month. At that time everything was fine, however, recently you noticed that one of the
company’s major clients, CATOURE Collection had been placed in administration. Although you are
not sure of the amount of work carried out post year end you do know that further work was carried
out for this client. You are also aware that at the company’s year-end CATOURE Ltd owed SORBETS
Ltd Php1.8 Billion. You were aware that CATOURE Ltd were disputing the amount due, but such a
delaying tactic was obvious in the industry – you had fully expected much of the sum due to be paid.
This is all now in doubt.

At the meeting with the client, you are surprised to find that the Financial Director is not able to
attend the meeting due to ill health. After the usual small talk, you ask whether the client has made
any provision in relation to the amount due from CATOURE Ltd and whether it has updated its
projections to take account of this. Ms. Couch, the company’s Chief Executive, advises you that she
does not believe this to be necessary. She informs you that the administrator has advised him that
CATOURE Ltd will be able to meet all its current outstanding debts. You advise Ms. Couch that you

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sincerely hope that this will indeed be the case but that you will need to check with the administrator
directly. Ms. Couch asks why this is necessary as she is happy to give you a letter to that effect. You
advise Ms. Couch that you have to do your job.

Ms. Couch stands up and starts shouting: “You have been our auditor for 10 years, at the first sign of
trouble you appear willing to help the bank shut our doors, the effect of which will be a disaster for
our employees and also for your firm. All we are asking for is time – to let us trade out of this situation.
As far as I am concerned, the accounts will not be altered. You can do as you wish – however,
remember what I have told you – our employees need businesses like ours. I will let them know who
caused the closure of this business, if that is what it comes to!”

Questions:
1. What will you do now? What are the readily identifiable ethical issues for your decision?
2. Who are the key parties who can influence, or will be affected by, your decision?
3. What fundamental ethical principles for accountants are most applicable and is there an apparent
conflict between them?
4. Is there any further information (including legal obligations) or discussion that might be relevant?
5. Is there a conflict between the ‘Guardian’ and ‘Commercial’ strands of an accountant’s
responsibilities?

Support your answers with appropriate theories. Provide recommendations.

-God Bless-

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