Text 7 Internal Control, Cash Transaction, and Ethical Issues

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

2 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.

3 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.

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

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

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

7 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. 保卫，捍卫

adherence n. 坚持，遵守

promote vt. 促进，提高

reliable personnel 可信赖的全体职工

clear-cut adj. 明确的，鲜明的

clear-cut assignment of responsibility 明确的责任分工

authorization n. 授权，委任

proper authorization 合理的授权

separation of duties 职能的划分

audit n. 查账

reconciliation n.调节（指表示一个帐户的输字如何得之余另一帐户的计算过程）

bank account 银行帐户

bank statement 银行报表

bank reconciliation 银行调节

imprest n. 预付款

imprest system 预支款体系

alternative adj.选择的

assess vt 对……进行估计