(BQ) Part 2 book "Financial accounting" has contents: Cash and receivables; current liabilities and the time value of money, contributed capital, the statement of cash flows, financial performance measurement; the corporate income statement and the statement of stockholders’ equity,.and other contents. | C H A P T E R 7 Cash and Receivables C ash and receivables require careful oversight to ensure that they are ethically handled. If cash is mismanaged or stolen, it can bring about the downfall of a business. Because accounts receivable and notes receivable require estimates of future losses, they can be easily manipulated to show improvement in reported earnings. Improved earnings can, of course, enhance a company’s stock price, as well as the bonuses of its executives. In this chapter, we address the management of cash and demonstrate the importance of estimates in accounting for receivables. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Mak ing a Statement LO1 Identify and explain the management and ethical issues related to cash and receivables. LO2 Define cash equivalents, and explain methods of controlling cash, including bank reconciliations. Balance Sheet LO3 Apply the allowance method of accounting for uncollectible accounts. Statement of Cash Flows Income Statement Estimation of uncollectible credit sales affects the amount of accounts receivable on the balance sheet and operating expenses on the income statement. 374 LO4 Define promissory note, and make common calculations for promissory notes receivable. DECISION POINT A USER’S FOCUS ● How can the company control its cash needs? ● How can the company evaluate credit policies and the level of its receivables? ● NIKE, INC. How should the company estimate the value of its receivables? Nike, one of the world’s largest and best-known athletic sportswear companies, must give the retail stores that buy its products time to pay for their purchases. At the same time, however, Nike must have enough cash on hand to pay its suppliers. As you can see in Nike’s Financial Highlights, cash and accounts receivable have made up roughly 50 percent of its current assets in recent The company must therefore plan and control its cash flows very carefully. NIKE’S FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (In millions) 2004 Cash Accounts .
