Weakness Of Internal Control System
Ahmad & Co. is a construction company having large workforce for its different work sites.
Wages system is being reviewed in the entity by an audit team.
Following information is available about the wages system.
• At the time of entrance and exit, workers punch their job cards on the clock system for recording of working hours. The machine punches the current date and time on the card.
• A foreman has been appointed on every site to monitor the workers. He also issues temporary entry cards and worker numbers to labor force hired on temporary basis.
• Computerized system calculates overtime based on the input of overtime hours reported by respective foreman and adds it to worker’s pay.
• Computerized pay system is managed by two employees who maintain the record of workers’ normal or unexpected leaves and their net wages. They can also amend the record, if required.
• Net pay is calculated by computerized system after adjusting overtime.
• Wages are paid in cash which is delivered on the wage pay point using secured transport.
• Two employees from the Wages Department are assigned the duty to make the packet of wages along with final wage sheet. Henceforth, the wage packets are given to the foreman who distributes it among the worker
Requirements:
Find out the shortcomings (weaknesses) in the Wages System of Ahmad & Co. You are required
to explain identified shortcomings in context of internal control system along with their remedies? (8+7)
Solution :-
Ahmad & Co. is a construction company having large workforce for its different work sites.
Wages system is being reviewed in the entity by an audit team.
Following information is available about the wages system.
• At the time of entrance and exit, workers punch their job cards on the clock system for recording of working hours. The machine punches the current date and time on the card.
• A foreman has been appointed on every site to monitor the workers. He also issues temporary entry cards and worker numbers to labor force hired on temporary basis.
• Computerized system calculates overtime based on the input of overtime hours reported by respective foreman and adds it to worker’s pay.
• Computerized pay system is managed by two employees who maintain the record of workers’ normal or unexpected leaves and their net wages. They can also amend the record, if required.
• Net pay is calculated by computerized system after adjusting overtime.
• Wages are paid in cash which is delivered on the wage pay point using secured transport.
• Two employees from the Wages Department are assigned the duty to make the packet of wages along with final wage sheet. Henceforth, the wage packets are given to the foreman who distributes it among the worker
Requirements:
Find out the shortcomings (weaknesses) in the Wages System of Ahmad & Co. You are required
to explain identified shortcomings in context of internal control system along with their remedies? (8+7)
Solution :-
| Internal Control weaknesses in wage | Internal control recommendations |
| system | |
| Workers can be paid for the work | A record of hours worked by each worker |
| which he has not performed. | should be signed by the site foreman to |
| confirm that the hours are accurate. | |
| Thumb impression should be used to | |
| reduce this internal control weakness. | |
| Fake and dummy workers may be put | Daily attendance sheet should be signed by |
| in Wage Sheet by the Foreman or the | the foreman and must be cross checked by |
| staff who maintains wages record. | a person other than the Wages Department. |
| Gross wages may be inflated by the | If any amendment occurs then it should be |
| staff of wages department. | prepared through computerized program |
| and one person should verify it outside the | |
| Wages Department. | |
| Overtime is not verified by the clock | Overtime should be verified with the clock |
| system. | system of employee by preparing overtime |
| work sheet. It should be signed by | |
| foreman. | |
| A record of hours worked by each | A record of hours worked by each |
| employee has no printed proof. | employee should be in printed form so that |
| it may be verified by the audit department | |
| or a person from outside the Wages | |
| Department. | |
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Spring 2012_ACC311_1_SOL_new