Question - You are the Controller of Harmon Oil, a medium-sized oil exploration company in Texas. It is time to make a forecast of the company's annual earnings. You know that additional losses will be recognized before the company prepares its financial statements. Information on the magnitude of the losses is still in the process of being determined.
The President of Harmon Oil has asked you to ignore the additional losses. He argues that the losses have not occurred and the information that you are providing is an estimate, so precision is not required. The President knows that if the forecasted numbers are lower-than-expected, the company will not be able to obtain a loan from the bank, the loan is desperately needed. The loan will fund before the actual earnings are realized.
REQUIRED:
Include at least two sources, appropriately cited and referenced.
NOTE: The following questions are not in any particular order. ORGANIZE your discussion in a logical manner.
Discuss the ethical implications and demonstrate your decision-making processes for the above scenario. Below are questions that may help guide your discussion. The questions are a guide (a sentence or two answering each question is insufficient). You should provide a well-organized thoughtful discussion of the ethical situation and the business problem that the company faces.
What ethical dilemma does the accountant face?
What business problem(s) does the company have?
Who are the potential stakeholders and how might they be affected by the decision of the accountant?
What choices does the accountant have? Evaluate the choices, i.e. who benefits or who is hurt by the choice(s).
What action would you recommend, i.e. how do you believe the business problem should be resolved? How should the ethical dilemma be resolved?
Going forward, what should the company do regarding organizational ethics?