Homework: Number Cruncher versus Strategic Thinker
It is one thing to be able to look at a financial report and analyze it using ratios and comparisons. However, keep in mind that, when you do that, you are studying historical information. Your true value as an accountant will come if you can use that historical information to make future projections and decisions involving change.
For this homework, you will take a set of financial reports from a company and try to determine what would happen if something changed within the company. You will identify something you want to change and then try to determine the impact of that change. This link will take you directly to the Nexis Uni database. This database will enable you to search for a company and review its financial information.
For example, suppose you want to grow the company's sales by extending credit to more customers. How will this impact sales, accounts receivable, cash flow, expenses (especially bad debt), and so on? Once you determine that, how will it ultimately impact the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows? How will it impact your key ratios? What non-accounting information (such as training staff in new processes) might be impacted?
Some other examples could be: what happens if you reduce payroll (a very common thing these days) or reduce inventory (to move to more of a real-time inventory system), or make a significant capital purchase? What would be impacted?
For this homework, write 2 to 3 pages paper in which you:
a. Identify something you want to change in the company and identify and explain the impact of the change.
b. Identify a financial report related to your proposed change and explain how your use of this report will influence your decision-making.
c. Identify how information or processes not directly related to accounting will be impacted by the proposed change.
d. Cite at least one reference other than your textbook that supports your rationale.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.
The specific course learning outcome associated with this homework is:
a. Analyze the influence of a financial report on decision making related to an organizational change.