Brian Marlow recently was hired to prepare Louise Michenor Consulting’s year-end financial statements. Brain just entered his CPA certificate, and Louise Michneor was one of his first clients. Louise employs a bookkeeper, Martha Hailing, who does the daily journal entries and prepares a year-to-date trial balance at the end of the of each month. Martha gives the December 31 trial to a CPA to make adjustments and generate the financial statements. As Brian was looking through Louise Michenor’s books, he noticed two things. First, in each of the last three years, a different COA had prepared the financial statements. Second, the amount shown on the December 31 trial balance for miscellaneous expense was quite high this year compared to prior years. Brian called Martha to find out is she new why miscellaneous expense had such a high balance. Martha’s response was “ I just do what Louise tells me to do. If she wants to charge personal expenses to the company, it’s none of my business “. 1. What should Brian do? 2. How might Brain’s decision affect Martha? Has Martha done anything unethical? 3. Why should personal items not be charged to business? Explain to Louise. 4. What are the ethical responsibilities of an accountant relating to a client’s book?

Principles of Accounting Volume 1

19th Edition

ISBN:9781947172685

Author:OpenStax

Publisher:OpenStax

Chapter13: Long-term Liabilities

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 3TP: Assume you are a newly-hired accountant for a local manufacturing firm. You have enjoyed working for...

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Brian Marlow recently was hired to prepare Louise Michenor Consulting’s year-end financial statements. Brain just entered his CPA certificate, and Louise Michneor was one of his first clients. Louise employs a bookkeeper, Martha Hailing, who does the daily journal entries and prepares a year-to-date trial balance at the end of the of each month. Martha gives the December 31 trial to a CPA to make adjustments and generate the financial statements. As Brian was looking through Louise Michenor’s books, he noticed two things. First, in each of the last three years, a different COA had prepared the financial statements. Second, the amount shown on the December 31 trial balance for miscellaneous expense was quite high this year compared to prior years. Brian called Martha to find out is she new why miscellaneous expense had such a high balance. Martha’s response was “ I just do what Louise tells me to do. If she wants to charge personal expenses to the company, it’s none of my business “. 1. What should Brian do? 2. How might Brain’s decision affect Martha? Has Martha done anything unethical? 3. Why should personal items not be charged to business? Explain to Louise. 4. What are the ethical responsibilities of an accountant relating to a client’s book?

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