Reference no: EM132479954

INTERNAL CONTROL ANALYSIS

A company that produces component parts for automobile manufacturers has grown rapidly since its incorporation several years ago. Management is concerned about internal controls over the purchasing cycle because the cost of goods sold percentage has continued to rise even though it seems that many of the raw materials and supplies used in production are costing less.

The following description of the purchasing process is available:

Pre-numbered purchase requisitions are used to order most goods, except when a critical need is identified

(1). If an urgent order must be placed, the production department personnel can call it in directly to the vendor, usually with same-day delivery

(2). A purchase requisition is ordinarily completed when the supply of raw materials falls to a certain reorder point as determined by a mathematical formula

(3). Purchase requisitions are forwarded to the purchasing department where vendors are selected, terms are negotiated, and orders are placed using pre-numbered purchase orders

(4). Although there is no formal approved vendor list, the purchasing department tries to maximize volume discounts and prefers to sole-source purchases as much as possible

(5). Four-part purchase orders are created-the original that is mailed to the vendor and three copies for, respectively, the requisitioning department, accounts payable, and receiving

(6). Upon receipt of the goods, the receiving department matches the item description, quantity ordered, and vendor per the accompanying packing slip with the receiving department's copy of the purchase order

(7). To prevent loss or theft, the goods are not unpacked until they are moved to the warehouse where they are placed into inventory

(8). The receiving department prepares a receiving report and forwards it along with the goods to the warehouse for safekeeping

(9). Vendors send invoices directly to the accounts payable department where, upon receipt, the accounts payable clerk reconciles the invoice with the department's purchase order copy

(10). Based on this reconciliation, the accounts payable clerk prepares a voucher and forwards it to the accounting department for controller approval and general ledger entry

(11). Once recorded, the approved voucher is returned to accounts payable to serve as the basis for check creation and eventual vendor payment

Required-

Question 1: Identify in a cross-referenced list any three (3) internal control deficiencies in the process described above, making sure to explain why each would be considered as such.