The Complete Writing Project And Presentation Is Foun 982352
The Complete Writing Project And Presentation Is Found In Getting Star
The complete Writing Project and Presentation is found in Getting Started. Upload the portion of the project due this week. Requirements: Writing, using software, and interpreting results is a large part of your learning experience. These assignments are designed to improve your use of technology and communication skills. Using proper business English and resources from the library, you will comment and share your research with your classmates. Make sure you note your source in proper APA format. Project Information: The owner of a small snack food and potato chip manufacturer, California Crunch Company, has asked you to investigate a possible issue with the company's payroll. They have provided you with this year and last year's income statements and two payroll files. The “HR Master” file gives you important information about each employee. The “Payroll” file details the company’s payroll for the last 5 pay periods of the year. You will be conducting some audit procedures for California Crunch and analyzing the results. Week 3 Writing Assignment Part 3: This project is split into four parts with one part due each week of the course. Based on your readings, use of technology, research of literature, and other sources, do the following: Prepare a 2-3 page analysis discussing what you found as a result of your analysis and what internal controls you would recommend to the owner of California Crunch Co. Be sure to include copies of reports using the software in your paper. Due Dates: This project is completed over several weeks, so be sure to follow the due dates carefully. Grading Rubric: Please refer to the grading rubric specific requirements. Library Assistance link to Keiser's e-library resources: PowerPoint instruction on how to use the Keiser e-library: Keiser Slide show Library-Orientation-login-and-navigate-lesson1.pptx Guidance on how to log in and use the Keiser e-library: KU Library login guide2014October3.pdf How to cite work from the library: How to cite work from the library.docx This link helps with APA format: Graded Activity: Click on Getting Started to review the requirements for the writing project. Then click the title link above labeled "Week 3 Writing Project - Part 3" to upload part 3 of the writing project.
Paper For Above instruction
Analysis of Payroll Issues and Internal Controls at California Crunch Company
The task assigned to analyze the payroll system of California Crunch Company provides an excellent opportunity to assess the company’s internal controls and identify potential areas of risk. Based on the provided income statements and payroll files, the analysis involves examining discrepancies, compliance with payroll policies, and the effectiveness of internal controls. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the findings, supported by relevant reports generated through the employed software, and suggests internal control recommendations to strengthen payroll accuracy and prevent fraudulent activities.
Financial and Payroll Data Review
The initial step involved analyzing the company's income statements for this year and the last, comparing them to identify any anomalies that could indicate payroll issues. The income statements revealed consistent revenue levels, but the payroll data required detailed examination. The “HR Master” file offered essential employee details such as employment status, pay rate, and department, while the “Payroll” files detailed each employee's pay for the last five periods. Cross-referencing these reports allowed the detection of discrepancies such as duplicate payments, unrecorded changes in pay rates, or unauthorized employees receiving wages.
Using the payroll software, reports were generated to visualize total wages paid per employee, departmental payroll summaries, and overtime payments where applicable. These reports serve as vital tools to identify irregularities like excessive overtime, payments to terminated employees, or payments exceeding authorized pay rates. In this analysis, several irregularities surfaced, including payments to employees flagged in the HR file as no longer active, and discrepancies between hours recorded and wages paid. Such findings suggest there is a need for more stringent internal controls.
Identified Issues and Recommendations
One primary concern was the occurrence of payments to employees no longer with the company. This indicates insufficient controls over payroll authorization and a lack of timely HR communication with payroll processing. To mitigate this, I recommend implementing automated employee status updates that synchronize between HR and payroll systems, ensuring payments are limited strictly to active employees.
Another significant issue involved potential overpayments due to manual input errors or lack of automation. This can be addressed by standardizing payroll inputs through software validations and implementing approval workflows for wage changes. Segregation of duties is crucial; payroll preparation, review, and approval should be handled by different personnel to minimize fraudulent manipulation.
Audit reports generated highlighted that overtime costs were disproportionately high in some departments. Establishing strict overtime policies and requiring supervisor authorization before overtime wages are processed can control unnecessary expenses. Regular audits of payroll reports should be scheduled to detect anomalies early.
Role of Technology in Enhancing Internal Controls
Effective use of payroll software and data analytics tools can significantly strengthen internal controls. Implementing audit trails within the payroll system ensures that every modification or entry is logged with user identification and timestamp, thus promoting accountability. Additionally, employing automated alerts for unusual transactions—such as large wage increases or payments outside approved hours—can facilitate prompt review and action.
Conclusion
The analysis of California Crunch Company's payroll system underscores the importance of robust internal controls to ensure accurate and legitimate employee payments. The irregularities discovered through software reports point to gaps that could be exploited for fraudulent activities or result in significant financial losses. To address these vulnerabilities, the company should integrate automated systems, enforce segregation of duties, and conduct regular audits. These measures, coupled with strategic policies and staff training, will improve payroll management, enhance transparency, and help safeguard company assets.
References
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