Chapter 17 Case 17.2

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Aaron Atlhea aaronwesley74@gmail.com 2012FA-BMGT 1301-31420 Chapter 17 Case 17.2 Making the Numbers or Faking the Numbers? 1. What are the ethical and legal implications of using accounting practices such as the book-and-hold technique to inflate corporate earnings? * Depending on the specific situation of the accounting fraud, it results in financial cost, prison time, and other legal punishments. * The firm or the accountant losses credibility in the market, if an accounting fraud is found. * The trust built in the company over a long period of time by its investors and employees may be lost due to such accounting practices. * If the company indulges in inappropriate practices, it can affect the willingness of suppliers and customers to conduct business with it. Over time, this may lead to the destruction of the business entirely. * If company management is unethical to the extent of committing accounting fraud, the company could be subject to criminal penalties. For publicly traded companies, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act prescribes fines and prison time for deliberately manipulating financial information. Further, investors may be able to sue the company and its owners for civil damages. Small-business owners should exercise caution, as not understanding accounting practices and standards is not a cover for deceitful reporting. If a reasonable person believes a manager should have known about fraud in the business, this may be a good reason to allow the jury to side with the claimant. Although some of the practices may meet GAAPs, that doesn’t mean all are ethical. One of the biggest problems is the legality of it. What may be deemed legal by the SEC one year may not be considered legal the next year. So if you’re involved n questionable accounting technique like “book-and-hold” or something similar, and then it becomes

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