Corporate Governance Flashcards
Corporate Governance
What is the primary duty of the board of directors?
To monitor management behavior.
Corporate Governance
What is the responsibility of the Nominating or Corporate Governance Committee of the board of directors?
Oversees the board
Responsible for hiring new CEO
Corporate Governance
What is the responsibility of the audit committee of the board of directors?
The audit committee appoints and oversees the external auditor.
Corporate Governance
What is the duty of the compensation committee of the board of directors?
The compensation committee handles the CEO’s compensation package.
Corporate Governance
What does the NYSE and NASDAQ require of the board of directors?
They require the board to be independent.
Corporate Governance
What is the main goal in an executive compensation package?
The package should ensure that the goals of management should match those of the shareholders.
Corporate Governance
How can an executive compensation package ensure that goals of management align with those of shareholders?
Executive compensation should create an incentive for management to govern in a shareholder-friendly way that doesn’t sacrifice the long-term success of the enterprise for short-term gain.
Corporate Governance
Which influences help mold the direction that management takes?
They range from internal (Board of Directors- Audit Committee- Internal Control) to external (Creditors- SEC- IRS)
These influences should not be tainted by undue influence from management or have financial ties to management such as compensation-related duties
Corporate Governance
What is shirking?
When management doesn’t act in the best interest of shareholders.
It can be alleviated by tying compensation to stock performance or company profit.
Corporate Governance
What requirements are imposed on a public company under Sarbanes-Oxley?
Management must submit a report on the effectiveness of Internal Control in the 10K.
Management must disclose significant Internal Control deficiencies.
CEO/CFO must certify that the financial statements comply with securities laws and fairly present the financial condition of the company.
Corporate Governance
What characteristics are promoted by the COSO framework on internal control?
Reliable financial reporting
Effective and efficient operations
Compliance
Corporate Governance
What are the elements of the control environment?
Integrity & Ethics Competence The Board of Directors & Audit Committee Management's Operating Style Organizational Structure Authority & Roles of Responsibilities HR Policies
Corporate Governance
What are control activities?
A component of internal control that includes actions being taken to promote the control environment.
Corporate Governance
What are the basic elements of internal control?
Control Environment Risk Assessment Control Activities Information and Communication Monitoring
Corporate Governance
What is the significance of the Information and Communication aspect of internal control?
Management must have access to relevant and timely information to make good decisions.
Corporate Governance
How does Monitoring affect internal control?
Internal Control activities must be constantly monitored and evaluated for effectiveness.
Corporate Governance
What activities does the COSO framework for enterprise risk management include?
Identifies Risk Factors Promotes Risk Response Decisions Compares Management Risk vs. Shareholder Goals Aids in evaluating opportunities Promotes Quicker Capital movement
Does NOT eliminate all risk
Corporate Governance
What are possible responses to risk under the COSO framework for enterprise risk management?
Avoid or Reduce
Share or Accept
Cost Accounting
What is Cost Accounting?
Cost Accounting is a component of GAAP that records Ending Inventory on the Balance Sheet for o Direct Materials o Direct Labor o Work in Process o Finished Goods
Cost Accounting also records for the Income Statement
Cost Accounting
What is the difference between Cost Accounting and Managerial Accounting?
Cost Accounting - External Focus- GAAP
Managerial Accounting - Internal Focus- Not GAAP
Cost Accounting
What are Product Costs (aka Inventory Costs)?
Prime Costs
Conversion Costs
Cost Accounting
What are included in Prime Costs?
Direct Material USED - Have become part of the product or had a direct impact on the product
Direct Labor Used - Employees who worked on product and had direct impact
Cost Accounting
What is Factory Overhead?
All factory costs except for DM and DL used in production- including Spoilage (except for abnormal spoilage- which is a period cost and not included in OH).
Cost Accounting
What is included in Fixed Factory Overhead?
FFO = Estimated Costs / Normal Capacity
Uses Normal Activity
Examples of Fixed Factory OH: Depreciation (SL)- Utilities- Taxes
Under/Over-applied Fixed OH always goes to COGS
Cost Accounting
What is included in Variable Overhead?
VO = Estimated Activity / Actual Activity
Uses Actual Activity
Examples of Variable Factory OH: Deprecation (Units of Prod)- Indirect materials (supplies & insignificant items)- Indirect labor (factory foreman- janitors- machine maintenance)
Cost Accounting
Where is Under/Over-applied Variable OH recorded?
If Immaterial – Goes to COGS
If Material – Goes to WIP- Finished Goods- or COGS- based on their Ending Balance
Cost Accounting
Where is Under/Over-applied Fixed OH recorded?
It always goes to COGS
Cost Accounting
What is indicated by a Debit balance in Actual Factory Overhead? How is it corrected?
Under-applied overhead.
If it’s Fixed OH- under-applied goes to COGS.
If it’s Variable OH- under-applied goes to COGS if immaterial- but is allocated to WIP- FG or COGS based on ending balances.
Cost Accounting
What is indicated by a Credit balance in Applied Factory Overhead? How is it corrected?
A credit balance indicates over-applied overhead.
If Fixed overhead- it is corrected from COGS.
If Variable overhead- it is corrected through COGS if immaterial- but if material overage is allocated to WIP- FG or COGS based on ending balances.
Cost Accounting
Which variables are used to calculate Direct Material balances?
Beginning Balance
DR Net purchases (plus freight-in)
CR Direct Materials Used
= Ending balance (goes to BS)
Cost Accounting
What variables are used to calculated Work in Process (WIP)?
Beginning Balance (End Bal of Previous WIP)
DR Direct Materials Used
DR Direct Labor Used (Conversion Cost)
CR COGM
DR Factory Overhead Applied (Conversion Cost)
= Ending Balance (Goes to BS)
Cost Accounting
What variables are included in Finished Goods calculations?
Beginning Balance DR COGM = COGAS (Cost of Goods Avail for Sale) CR COGS = Ending Balance (Goes to BS)
Cost Accounting
How does Freight In affect Cost Accounting calculations?
Inventory (Product) Cost
Part of DM Purchases
Cost Accounting
How does Freight Out affect Cost Accounting?
Selling (Period) Cost
Not part of inventory
Cost Accounting
When is Job-Order Costing used?
Used when costs are easily connected to a specific product or product line
Can also be applied to services
Calculation is the same as normal cost accounting – just use your T Accounts
o DM to WIP to FG to COGS
o You’re likely going to be solving for the last job in the queue
Cost Accounting
What is the Direct Method for allocating service department costs?
No services allocated between service departments- even if they serve each other. Only allocate to product(s)
Cost Accounting
What is the Step Method for allocating service department costs?
Services can be allocated to both other service departments and the product(s)
Cost Accounting
Under process costing- how are the units shipped calculated?
Beginning Inventory
+ Units Started
- Ending Inventory
= No. Units Shipped
Cost Accounting
Which two inventory methods are used under Process Costing?
FIFO
Weighted Average
Cost Accounting
What is another name for Process Costing?
Equivalent Units of Production
Cost Accounting
How will Equivalent Finished Units under FIFO compare to EFU under the Weighted Average method?
EFU FIFO will always be LESS than EFU Weighted Avg (unless Beginning Inventory is Zero)
Cost Accounting
How are Direct Materials calculated under the Weighted Average Method?
Beginning Inventory + Current Costs / EFU WA
Cost Accounting
How are Conversion Costs calculated under Weighted Average Method?
Beginning Inventory + Current Costs / EFU WA
Cost Accounting
How are Equivalent Finished Units calculated for Direct Materials?
Units Shipped
+ EI x % Complete DM
= EFU (Weighted Average Method)
- Beginning Inventory x % Complete
= EFU (FIFO)
Cost Accounting
How are Equivalent Finished Units calculated for Conversion Costs?
Units Shipped
+ EI x % Complete CC
= EFU (Weighted Average)
- Beginning Inventory x % Complete
= EFU (FIFO)
Cost Accounting
How are Direct Materials calculated under the FIFO method?
Current Costs / EFU FIFO
Note: FIFO method uses Current Period costs only and ignores Beginning Inventory
Cost Accounting
How are Conversion Costs calculated under the FIFO method?
Current Costs / EFU FIFO
FIFO method uses Current Period costs only and ignores Beginning Inventory
Cost Accounting
How is WIP calculated?
Beginning balance (DM- DL- OH) \+ Current Costs (DM- DL- OH) - COGM (Goes to Finished Goods) \+ DM EFU x Cost per DM EFU \+ CC EFU x Cost per CC EFU = Ending WIP
Cost Accounting
How do period costs and product costs relate to net sales- gross margin and operating income?
Net Sales - Product Costs = Gross Margin - Period Costs = Operating Income
Cost Accounting
What is the focus of Activity Based Costing (ABC)?
Focuses on eliminating non-value-added activities for poor quality and inventory and things customers don’t want or don’t care about
Inventory is expensive to store and storing something is not a value-added expenditure
Uses Cost Pools - Different departments can have different OH rates
Uses Several OH rates based on Activity - Cost Pool / Cost Driver
Cost Accounting
How do Cost Pools and Allocations compare under ABC versus traditional costing system?
Cost Pools and Allocations increase compared to a traditional costing system
Cost Accounting
What is Backflush Costing?
Connected to Just-in-Time Production- which is part of Activity-Based Costing and Total Quality Management (TQM)
o Works backward to “flush out” COGS
o ‘Mostly’ GAAP
Cost Accounting
What are the characteristics of By-Products?
Usually immaterial and common costs aren’t allocated to them
o Low Market Value
o Can be valued at NRV
o Can be treated as a contra expense and netted against COGS
o Can be treated as a contra sale and netted against Sales
o Recognition rules are very flexible with valuing and classifying by-products
Cost Accounting
What are Cost Functions?
Measure how costs change relative to activity levels
High-Low Method
Change in Cost (High-Low pts) / Change in Activity (High-Low pts)
Economics
How does a price increase affect supply?
When the prices of an item increases supply increases- because more sellers are willing to sell.
Economics
What is a supply curve shift?
When supply changes due to something other than price.
Economics
What are the characteristics of a positive supply curve shift (shift right)?
Supply increases at each price point
Higher Equilibrium GDP
Number of sellers increases - market can get flooded
Examples: Government subsidies or technology improvements that decrease costs for suppliers
Economics
What are the characteristics of a negative supply curve shift (shift left)?
Supply decreases at each price point
Lower Equilibrium GDP
Cost of producing item increases
Examples: Shortage of gold- so less gold watches are made; wars or crises in rice-producing countries means there is less rice on the market
Economics
How does price affect the demand for an item?
When the prices of an item increases- demand for it decreases.
Economics
What is a Demand Curve Shift?
When demand changes due to something other than price.
Economics
What is a Positive Demand Curve Shift (Shift Right)?
When demand increases at each price point
Price of substitutes go up - price of beef rises- so people buy more chicken
Future price increase is expected - War in Middle East- people go out and buy gas
Market expands - i.e. people get new free health care plan- demand at clinic rises
Expansion - more spending increases equilibrium GDP
Economics
What is a Negative Demand Curve Shift (Shift Left)?
Demand decreases at each price point.
Price of complement goes up - price of beef goes up- less demand for ketchup
Boycott - Company commits social blunder- consumers boycott
Consumer income rises - Demand for inferior goods drops as people have more money to spend
Consumer tastes change
Contraction - less spending decreases equilibrium GDP
Economics
What is the Marginal Propensity to Consume?
How much you spend when your income increases
Calculate: Change in Spending / Change in Income
Economics
What is the Marginal Propensity to Save?
How much you save when income increases
Calculate: Change in Savings / Change in Income
Also equals 1 - Marginal Propensity to Consume
Economics
How is the multiplier effect calculated?
(1 / 1-MPC) x Change in Spending
Economics
How does increased spending by consumers and the government affect the demand curve?
As spending by consumers or the government increases- the demand curve increases (shifts right).
Economics
How does spending change due to the multiplier effect?
The increase in demand ends up being larger than the amount of additional income spent in the economy due to the multiplier effect.
One consumer spends money- which:
- Increases the income of a business
- Increases the income of a vendor
- Increases income of employees
- Increases tax revenue
Economics
How is Price Elasticity of Demand calculated?
% Change in Quantity Demand / % Change in Price
Economics
Under elastic demand- how does price affect revenues?
Price increases- Revenue decreases
Price decreases- Revenue increases
Economics
What conditions would indicate Elastic Demand?
Many substitutes (luxury items) Considered elastic if elasticity is greater than 1 10% drop in demand / 8% increase in price = 1.25 (Elastic)
Price increases- Revenue decreases
Price decreases- Revenue increases
Economics
How does revenue react to price under Inelastic Demand?
Price increases- Revenue increases
Price decreases- Revenue decreases
Economics
What conditions would indicate Inelastic Demand?
Few substitutes (groceries- gasoline)
Considered inelastic if coefficient of elasticity is less than 1
5% drop in demand / 10% increase in price = .5 (inelastic)
Price increases- Revenue increases
Price decreases- Revenue decreases
Economics
What is Unitary Demand?
Total revenue will remain the same if price is increased
Considered unitary if coefficient of elasticity = 1
Economics
How is Income Elasticity of Demand calculated?
% Change Quantity Demanded / % Change in Income
Normal goods greater than 1 (demand increases more than income)
Inferior goods less than 1 (demand increases less than income)
Economics
What conditions occur under periods of inflation?
Interest rates increase
Reduced demand for loans
Reduced demand for houses- autos- etc.
Value of bonds and fixed income securities decrease
Inferior good demand to increase
Foreign goods more affordable than domestic
Demand for domestic goods decrease
Economics
What happens under Demand-Pull inflation?
Overall spending increases
Demand increases (shifts right)
Market equilibrium price increases
Economics
What happens under Cost-Push inflation?
Overall production costs increase
Supply decreases (shifts left)
Market equilibrium price increases
Note: Demand-Pull and Cost-Push Inflation BOTH result in market equilibrium price to increase
Economics
What is the Equilibrium Price?
The price where Quantity Supplied = Quantity Demanded
Economics
What is Optimal Production?
When Marginal Revenue = Marginal Cost
Economics
What is the result of a Price Floor?
Causes a surplus if above equilibrium price.
Economics
What is GDP (Gross Domestic Product)?
The annual value of all goods and services produced domestically at current prices by consumers- businesses- the government- and foreign companies with domestic interests
Included: Foreign company has US Factory
Not included: US company has foreign factory
Economics
What is included under the income approach for calculating GDP?
Sole Proprietor and Corp Income Passive Income Taxes Employee Salaries Foreign Income Adjustments Depreciation
Economics
What is included under the Expenditure Approach for calculating GDP?
Individual Consumption
Private Investment
Government Purchases
Net Exports
Economics
What is Nominal GDP?
Measures goods/services in current prices.
Economics
For what is a GDP Deflator used?
Used to convert GDP to Real GDP
Economics
What is Real GDP?
Nominal GDP / GDP Deflator x 100
Economics
What is Gross National Product (GNP)?
Like GDP; Swaps foreign production. US Firms overseas are included- Foreign firms domestically are not included
Economics
What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)? How is it applied?
Price of goods relative to an earlier period of time- which is the benchmark. Year 1 = 1.0
((CPI Current - CPI Last) ÷ CPI Last) * 100
Economics
How is disposable income calculated?
Personal Income - Personal Taxes
Economics
How is Return to Scale calculated?
% Increase in output / % Increase in input
Greater than 1 = Increasing returns to scale
Less than 1 = Decreasing returns to scale
Economics
When is the economy in Recession?
When GDP growth is negative for two consecutive quarters.
Economics
What is a Depression?
A prolonged- severe recession with high unemployment rates
No requisite period of time for the economy to officially be in a depression
Economics
What are the stages of the Economic Cycle?
Peak (highest) Recession (decreasing) Trough (lowest) Recover (increasing) Expansion (higher again)
Economics
What are leading indicators?
Conditions that occur before a recession or before a recovery
Example: Stock Market or New Housing Starts
Economics
What are lagging indicators?
Conditions that occur after a recession or after a recovery
Examples: Prime Interest Rates- Unemployment
Economics
What are coincident indicators?
Conditions that occur during a recession or during a recovery
Example: Manufacturing output
Economics
Which people are included in the calculation of unemployment?
Only people looking for jobs
Economics
What is Cyclical Unemployment?
GDP doesn’t grow fast enough to employ all people who are looking for work
Example: People are unemployed in 2010 because there aren’t enough jobs available due to the economy
Economics
What is Frictional Unemployment?
People are changing jobs or entering the work force. This is a normal aspect of full employment.
Example: A recent college graduate is looking for a job
Economics
What is Structural Unemployment?
A worker’s job skills do not match those necessary to get a job so they need education or training
Example: A construction worker wants to work in an office- so they quit their job and get computer training
Economics
How does inflation relate to unemployment?
High Unemployment = Low Inflation (Vice Versa)
Economics
What is the Discount Rate?
The rate a bank pays to borrow from the Fed.
Economics
What is the Prime Rate?
The rate a bank charges their best customers on short-term borrowings.
Economics
What is the Real Interest Rate?
Inflation-adjusted interest rate
Economics
What is the Nominal Rate?
Rate that uses current prices
Economics
What is the Risk-Free Rate?
Rate for a loan with 100% certainty of payback.
Usually results in a lower rate.
US Treasuries are an example.
Economics
What is included in the M1 money supply?
Currency- Coins- and Deposits
Economics
What is included in the M2 money supply?
Highly liquid assets other than currency- coins or deposits
Economics
What is Deficit Spending?
Increased spending levels without increased tax revenue.
Lower taxes without decrease in spending
Gamble that the multiplier effect will take over and boost economy
Economics
How can the Fed control the money supply?
By buying and selling the government’s securities.
Economics
How does the Fed control economy-wide interest rates?
By adjusting the discount rate charged to banks
Economics
What is a Tariff?
A tax on imported goods
Economics
What is a quota?
A limit on the number of goods that can be imported
Economics
How do international trade restrictions affect domestic producers?
They are good for domestic producers.
Demand curve shifts right
Fewer substitutes
They can charge higher prices
Economics
How to international trade restrictions affect foreign producers?
They are bad for foreign producers
Demand curve shifts left
Fewer buyers
They must charge lower prices
Economics
How do international trade restrictions affect foreign consumers?
They are good for foreign consumers
Supply curve shifts right
Goods purchased at lower prices in the foreign markets
Economics
How do international trade restrictions affect domestic consumers?
They are bad for domestic consumers
Supply curve shifts left
Fewer goods bought due to higher prices
Economics
What is Accounting Cost?
Explicit (Actual) cost of operating a business
Implicit costs are opportunity costs
Economics
What is Accounting Profit?
Revenue - Accounting Cost
Economics
What is Economic Cost?
Explicit + Implicit Cost
Economics
What is Economic Profit?
Revenue - Economic Cost
What is the primary focus of working capital management?
Managing inventory & receivables (current assets & liabilities)
How is Net Working Capital calculated?
NWC = Current Assets - Current Liabilities
What are the characteristics of effective Working Capital Management?
Shorten the cash conversion cycle
Don’t negatively impact operations
What is the Inventory Conversion Period?
Average time needed to convert materials into finished goods and sell them
Average Inventory = (BI + E) / 2
Inventory Conversion Period = Average Inventory / Sales Per Day
What is the Receivables Collection Period?
Average time needed to collect A/R
RCP = Average Receivables / Credit Sales Per Day
What is the Payables Deferral Period?
Average time between materials and labor purchase and their A/P payment
Average Payables = (BP + EP) / 2
Payables Deferral Period = Average Payables / (COGS/365)
What is the Cash Conversion Cycle?
Amount of time it takes to receive a cash inflow (Customers) after making a cash outflow (Vendors)
Inventory Conversion Period
+ Receivables Collection Period
– Payables Deferral Period
= Cash Conversion Cycle
(Inventory Really (-Pays) Cash)
What traits should Cash and Short-Term Investments have?
Liquid
Safe
For what are Letters of Credit used?
Used for importing goods.
Issued by importer’s bank.
What is the advantage of using Trade Credit?
No interest cost if paid timely.
What is a Lockbox System? What are the advantages?
Customer Payments are sent to a bank-managed PO box.
Employees don’t have access to cash.
Deposits are more timely.
Interest income from deposits should pay for the Lockbox fees (if they don’t- lockbox is not beneficial)
What is float?
Time it takes to mail a payment and have it clear your bank account
Maximize float on cash payments
Minimize float on cash receipts
What are Zero Balance Accounts?
Regional bank sends enough cash to cover daily checks
Advantages:
Checks take longer to clear -more float
Low amounts of cash tied up for compensating (minimum) balances
What is the difference between Treasury Bills- Notes and Bonds?
Treasury Bills: Short term (less than one year) Think: $1 Bill
Treasury Notes: Medium term (less than 10 years- more than 1)
Treasury Bonds: Long term (greater than 10 years) Think: government is in long-term bondage to you; they owe you money
What is commercial paper?
Similar to T-Bill- but issued by corporations instead of Government
Greater than 9 Months Maturity
Unsecured
Issued by large firms
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Commercial Paper?
Advantages: Financing at less than Prime. No compensating balances required.
Disadvantages: Unpredictability of markets. Credit crisis emerges and large insurance/investment companies aren’t lending.
What is Economic Order Quantity?
The order quantity that minimizes inventory costs.
EOQ = Square Root of (2DO/C)
D = Unit Demand (Annual) O = Order Cost C = Cost of Inventory
What is Carrying Cost?
The cost of keeping inventory.
What is Order Cost?
Cost of executing an order and starting product production.
What is inventory reorder point?
How low inventory should get before it should be re-ordered.
IOP = Average Daily Demand x Average Lead Time
What is a Just In Time (JIT) system?
Orders inventory so that you get it just in time for when it’s needed
JIT is valuable when Order Cost is low and Cost of Carrying Inventory is high