Finance & Accounting Essays

The paper 'Managing Financial Resources ' is a great example of a Finance and Accounting Case Study. This paper looks at analyzing the different sources of finance and the manner in which it helps in financial planning. This will help the business to make different financial decisions and will help to provide a framework based on which important financial decisions will be taken. 

The paper 'Development, Roles and Authority of International Standards on Auditing " is a great example of finance and accounting coursework. The very first efforts of coming up with an international set of standards for auditing was initiate in 1969 (Roussey, 1999). During this time, there was a series of published reports that were directed towards international auditing by the Accountants International Study Group-a body.

The paper 'A Costing Approach for Virtual Organizations" is a great example of a finance and accounting report. In order for organizations to remain competitive in today’s business environment where the forces of globalization, technological change, functional competitiveness play a greater role in determining the strategic direction of organization business have to be managed and operated differently and the boundaries of product sourcing redefined.

Considering that A/R changed the calculation is needed to figure out the revenue from sales on account. Therefore, we need to add the customer receipts to the ending receivables as of 30 June 2009 then subtract the ending receivables as of 30 June 2010 to get 437,800. This number represents the taxable revenue received for the entire year. 

The process involves creating securities out of a pool of debts and turning them into a structure that replicates bonds. Various categories of debt including mortgages, credit card loans, car loans and personal loans are bundled together. Securitization of these instruments helps convert illiquid debt into liquid tradable securities in secondary markets.

The bank was subsequently registered under the Commercial Companies Law number 8 of 1984 as a Public Joint Stock Company. Dubai Islamic Bank is currently the leader when it comes to sharia-compliant and pure Islamic banking. In this age, Islamic banking is becoming increasingly popular and is emerging as an alternative to conventional banking. 

In terms of frequency and materiality of the accounts, the £ 554,000 cash is the most vulnerable account (Johnson, 2005). The cashier can pocket the amounts paid by the customers. After pocketing the cash, the cahier does not record the sales and payments paid by the customer.   In the busy store with long lines of customers paying for their purchases, the cashier may unintentionally punch the wrong sales amount. 

Investment decisions made by any organization follow certain patterns and strategies which may result in any number of end results for the investment (Lumby & Jones, 2003). In the corporate environment, the objective of any investment is to ensure that there is maximum utilization of the resources invested to create as much return for the shareholders as possible.

Strategic management accounting is one innovation that has been advanced in response to the pressures for change in management accounting practices in the private sector. It is now proven that strategic management accounting -- as presently defined -- as a distinct contribution to make to management accounting. 

Though the present value provides a solution in terms of the present worth of the project, its cash flow measurements are based on a number of assumptions and estimations. Also, NPV has an optimistic bias as the initial investment is underestimated and operating cash inflows are exaggerated.

The Bank of England has cut down the interest rate at 0.50%. (Metro, 2009) Basically, cutting down interest rates can help the local banks and other financial institutions to reduce the number of its respective non-performing loans. For instance: With the low-interest rate, banks can start making new deals with the borrowers concerning the number of years of payment.

It explains the competitiveness of the financial services sector, some influences of the external environment, influence of the social environment on customer attitudes and expectations, as well as the ways in which customers have changed in recent years and how this has impacted on their interaction with the financial services sector.

IMF offers a host of financial assistance where the technical expertise is just a part of the whole related package. IMF is situated in Washington DC, United States of America, and works from the basis of headquarters. 

The simulation illustrated lots of realistic economic scenarios that could be occurring in nations across the world. It was a fun and useful academic exercise. I think I noticed that could be applied in this hypothetical country in the future to improve its economic framework is changing the composition of its agricultural buyers.

In the stock market, we see how millions of participants in marketplaces such as the New York Stock Exchange are able to see with their owns the validity of the capital market efficiency theory as prices of thousands of stocks change in price every minute and its price adjust instantly to the reaction of buyers and sellers the new information that is released every minute.

Although Scapa Group PLC says that there is no significant difference in balance sheet value and the net realizable value, yet it should be investigated with professional skepticism (Scapa Group PLC, 2013). Scapa Group PLC is exposed to risk in European markets. Sales in Europe declined by 7.5% (Scapa Group PLC, 2013b).

Highlighting the second major success of the Euro Trichet (2005) explains that, “The second key success of the Euro relates to the convergence of long-term market interest rates towards those of the best performers in terms of credibility and low-interest rates. In most countries, including Italy, this convergence has meant significantly reduced financing costs, thereby providing an environment favorable to growth and employment.

Risk can be an opportunity but also a danger. Each company faces a different types of risk and the way to manage the risk is depending on what and how well the company is willing to bear with the risk. However, the greatest method to manage the risk effectively is by not only diversifying the risks but also by avoidance, mitigating, or transferring and retained. And Kushel suggested that the best method to manage risk is by curtailing it.

It follows that the financial services institutions are not as heavily taxed as other fast-moving, high-growth industries engaged in consumer goods, energy, or computer technology.  Nonetheless, the players in the financial services sector have emerged in recent years as among the largest groups of companies in the world and, despite this fragmentation, financial service companies as a group have become by far the most profitable in the world.

The Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002 did not result in the restoration of the claimed loss of investors’ confidence in the US securities market. It instead resulted to increase cost of doing business and has in fact driven out US investors to look for other securities markets outside the US because of added cost and conflict with foreign laws. This paper seeks to prove this assertion as an identified influence of the Sarbanes-Oxley regulations on the US and other securities markets.

The company is low geared and the equity holders are not in a position to take advantage of higher earnings of the company that is available under high geared capital structure. Though EPS is great but the company is facing problems in building confidence of investors. This is not because of operations of the company but effects of market changes in the last few years.

Zero-Based Budgeting enforces all levels of management in an organization to become a part of the budgeting process. The adaptation of Zero-Based Budgeting in a government organization or even a private firm can make a significant difference to their resource allocation, despite a few negatives mentioned above.

The achievement of the above target can be more difficult in certain industries – where competition is stronger; an indicative example is the airline industry. Southwest Airlines is among the most powerful firms in the US Airline industry; in 2007 the firm’s profits were estimated to $9,861 (in millions) – a significant increase compared to the firm’s profits in 2003 – about $5,937 (in millions);

Coordination failure can be described as the situation in which the bank is illiquid and solvent, but the market is incapable of resolving the difficulty. The difficulty can be temporary if it is resolved rapidly. This is because the credit counterparty limitations obstruct any single institution from doing the required lending and thus, the need for coordinated lending.

the inventory purchased at highest cost is first accounted for when the inventory is sold or issued. The profits of the company appear low, which could be beneficial if the company wants to reduce its tax payments. The cost of goods sold is based on the most recent purchase price and the cost of inventory is based on the earliest purchase price during the year.

The Financial Service Authority is the regulator of the UK’s financial services (Financial Services Authority, 2011). It lays down various rules and regulations regarding the operations in the stock market. There are strict regulations in UK stock markets. Saudi stock market is regulated by the Capital Market Authority.

The capital structure of the company is highly volatile. There are no long term strategic financial plans. Keeping these facts in view analysis is made of this financial strategy of the company making a comparative study of other firms in the industry.

The third activity pertains to developing in house talents which are often called “homegrown” players. Arsenal Holdings Plc operates in the same segment of football clubs but it also derives its major source of revenue from Real estate development. The Emirates Stadium has been at the heart of Arsenal Club and it is constantly investing money in the stadium to attract the soccer fans.

Economists, as well as policymakers, believe that a high rate of current account deficits does not necessarily call for concern (Ghosh & Ramakrishnan 2006, 44). This is primarily because a high current account deficit can be financed rather easily from flows of long term capital, which is, overall beneficial to the entire economy as a whole.

Goodall (2011) reports that the government has already admitted that the merger will have winners and losers even if the taxes and NICs are integrated partially. The government can be the most potential winner of such a move because this practice is better to cut down the costs of keeping two separate systems in order to manage taxes and benefits.

Singapore and Sydney competing with each other for the title of leading regional financial services hub. Australia has undergone a concerted push to show its capabilities in the financial sector to the world.  Singapore is also reorganizing its regulatory and corporate environment to attract and retain the globe's financial giants. For a good operation of financial regulatory system independence, transparency, and integrity are necessary.

Probability, Price, and Preferences form the basis of a systematic approach to rational decision-making in an uncertain world and these three P’s are central to Total Risk Management: prices, in considering how much one must pay for hedging various risks; probabilities, for assessing the likelihood of those risks; and preferences, for deciding how much risk to bear and how much to hedge.

All agencies are agreed upon one fact that, a single factor authentication as the only controlling element is totally inadequate to protect information about the customer or to the movement of funds between two or more parties. If proper precautions are taken, systematic controls are established, diligent practices are followed and adequate provisions are made, then Online Banking is as safe as any other normal commercial venture.

The paper will try to point out the problems that are mostly generated from the different risk perceptions and how these risks can be evaluated effectively. The increasing importance of risk in corporate scenario is explained by putting forward a number of risk theories. This explanation will constitute the qualitative study of this report. 

The IAS2 Inventories is a standard that has been developed with the objective of finding an accounting treatment for the inventories. The paper will also detail the measurement, presentation and disclosure details of the standard. A brief comparison of the standard has also been made with that of GAAP of US.

In the commercial world, guarantees are a commonly used phenomenon. These guarantees can range from the negotiated arrangements designed to help sales of services and products of a business and guarantees to bank loans as accommodations to business associates. The IFRS 4 was introduced in March 2004 mainly to regulate the insurance industry (Epstein et al 2008: 614).

The Easy Jet Airline Company, Ltd.  is one of Europe’s largest low fare airlines, plying 387 routes between 104 European and North African airports.  It holds an operating license permit from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seas.

The country has been proved as having the potentials for a high level of growth despite the extremely hostile global marketplace which ‘fights’ the development of its members especially when these belong to the ‘zone’ of ‘developing countries’. Towards this direction, the Bombay Exchange market should be considered as offering significant help to India’s financial development even under the pressure caused by the instability.

The BSE example shows that the introduction of innovative economic measures can help the development of a country’s economy in all its sectors. However, the control over the application of these measures in practice is necessary in order for any malpractices to be avoided. The existence of turbulences of course should be regarded as a normal phenomenon, however with the appropriate political and economic basis.

The strategy of differentiation emphasizes that firms need to create a competitive advantage of their own against their peer groups. They have to be able to service the customer with more valued products which are premium priced. The customer also needs to experience the superiority of the service they offer and that should be maintained if not improved further.

The main priorities of NFP entities in Australia can be defined in different aspects. The primary goal is to follow legal terms of operation and engagement. The next goal is to gather up funds and undertaking of plans. The next goal is in relation to the maintenance of the operation and characteristics as not-for-profit entities, thus, no sales can be undertaken.

The risk associated with such an investment is that of obsolescence. This may occur where such assets are no longer needed despite their being in good working order. This is due to the fact that new assets are frequently invented in IT and which come with more superior aspects and thus technical obsolescence in the virgin case is highly possible.

Dubai Islamic Bank plans to open up 10 new branches in 2009. It has offshore branches in Pakistan and the bank underwent a major rebranding exercise in 2006 where it adopted its new, easy to spot, green and yellow logo. The bank has therefore stayed with the mass as far as its IT spending is concerned, which is very competitive. 

The degree and value of finance vary according to the size and nature of business. Financial statements are the reflection of these financial activities. Companies are mandated to provide it to their stakeholders so as to keep their operations transparent and measurable. Government authorities responsible for maintaining business ethics and compliance has framed strict guidelines regarding its execution.

According to the report of the fraud-consultant, Yardley initially opened an account at the Chatham and Dover Building Society but every two months he would draw a cheque worth £1 million pounds payable to an account in an offshore branch of the CDBS in Jersey. However, in two instances, Yardley drew from the said accounts.

The information provided through a firm’s cash flow statement can be used in order to evaluate the firm’s position in its market. In this case, it would be valuable for the relevant figures to be compared with the figures included in other financial statements of the firm, especially those of the profit and loss account statement.

Sending out questionnaires to a random sample in the UK will not give correct results keeping in mind the factors like response rate and the number of respondents. Hence if the numbers of respondents are not high enough the results obtained through this form of research will not be statistically significant.

Manchester Money Universal plc holds a 20% equity investment in Aytoun plc which was acquired through a share exchange transaction during the year 2002. Aytoun is a recognized name in the medium-sized supermarket chain industry and enjoys a considerable market share. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has been classified as a small and medium-sized entity by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The primary research objective is to find out the effect of the global financial crisis and its effect on the Islamic banking industry in the US. The Islamic finance industry has proved more resilient than the conventional banking industry and more stable. This relationship is a result of non risky investments and asset based financing. The concurrent results can demonstrate the relationship between less volatility of Islamic banks.

The third production line which is considered to have served its useful life needs to be evaluated for its value and recognition in the company’s machinery records. Also, it needs to be assessed for safety issues and other problem areas like cost of production and output. Machinery which is idle and placed outside needs to be assessed for its inclusion in fixed assets and depreciation amount charged.