Text 7 Internal Control， Cash Transaction， and Ethical Issues

Define internal control. Internal controls should safeguard assets， ensure accurate accounting records， promote operational efficiency， and encourage adherence to company policies.

Identify the characteristics of an effective system of internal control. An effective internal control system includes these features： reliable personnel， clear-cut assignment of responsibility， proper authorization， and separation of duties， which is the primary element of internal control. Many businesses use security devices， audits， and specially designed documents and records in their internal control systems. Effective computerized internal control systems must meet the same basic standards that good manual systems do.

Prepare a bank reconciliation and the related journal entries. The bank account helps to control and safeguard cash. Businesses use the bank statement and the bank statement and the bank reconciliation to account for banking transactions.

Apply internal controls to cash receipts. Different methods are used to control cash receipts over the counter and cash receipts by mail.

Apply internal controls to cash disbursements. A key control over cash disbursements is payment by check.

Account for petty cash transactions. An imprest system is used to control petty cash disbursements.

Weigh ethical judgments in business. Ethical judgments can be aided by a process that identifies the ethical issues， specifies the alternative actions， identifies the people involved， and assesses the possible consequences.

New Words

Safeguard vt. 保衛(wèi)，捍衛(wèi)

adherence n. 堅持，遵守

promote vt. 促進，提高

reliable personnel 可信賴的全體職工

clear-cut adj. 明確的，鮮明的

clear-cut assignment of responsibility 明確的責任分工

authorization n. 授權，委任

proper authorization 合理的授權

separation of duties 職能的劃分

audit n. 查賬

reconciliation n. 調節(jié)(指表示一個帳戶的輸字如何得之余另一帳戶的計算過程)

bank account 銀行帳戶

bank statement 銀行報表

bank reconciliation 銀行調節(jié)

imprest n. 預付款

imprest system 預支款體系

alternative adj. 選擇的

assess vt. 對……進行估計