Multiple Choice Questions
The following questions concern internal controls in the acquisition and payment cycle. Choose the best response.
a. A client erroneously recorded a large purchase twice. Which of the following internal controls would be most likely to detect this error in a timely and efficient manner?
(1) Footing the purchases journal.
(2) Reconciling vendors’ monthly statements with subsidiary payable ledger accounts.
(3) Tracing totals from the purchases journal to the ledger accounts.
(4) Sending written quarterly confirmations to all vendors.
b. Budd, the purchasing agent of Lake Hardware Wholesalers, has a relative who owns a retail hardware store. Budd arranged for hardware to be delivered by manufacturers to the relative’s retail store on a COD basis, thereby enabling his relative to buy at Lake’s wholesale prices. Budd was probably able to accomplish this because of Lake’s poor internal control over
(1) Purchase requisitions.
(2) Purchase orders.
(3) Cash receipts.
(4) Perpetual inventory records.
c. Which of the following is an internal control that will prevent paid cash disbursement documents from being presented for payment a second time?
(1) The date on cash disbursement documents must be within a few days of the date that the document is presented for payment.
(2) The official signing the check compares the check with the documents and should deface the documents.
(3) Unsigned checks are prepared by individuals who are responsible for signing checks.
(4) Cash disbursement documents are approved by at least two responsible management officials.
d. Which of the following questions would be best to include in an internal control questionnaire concerning the completeness assertion for purchases?
(1) Is an authorized purchase order required before the receiving department can accept a shipment or the vouchers payable department can record a voucher?
(2) Are purchase requisitions prenumbered and independently matched with vendor invoices?
(3) Is the unpaid voucher file periodically reconciled with inventory records by an employee who does not have access to purchase requisitions?
(4) Are purchase orders, receiving reports, and vouchers prenumbered and periodically accounted for?