Revenue Cycle Procedure

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    Contributed December 21, 2001

    REVENUE CYCLE PROCEDURES

    1. Functions of the revenue cycle

    Revenue cycle includes following functions:

    concluding services contracts with customers, client acceptance procedures,

    credit control

    activation and disactivation of subscribers

    providing cellular communications services and products

    customer master file maintenance

    customer billing

    sales analysis

    customer returns and allowances collection of accounts receivable

    provisioning for doubtful accounts

    receipt of cash from trade customers (initial deposit, prepayments, under/overpayments, regular receipts, etc.)

    2. Critical forms and documents associated with the cycle:

    Service agreements with clients;

    Billing system output (minutes used by clients);

    Invoices;

    Credit memos;

    Bank statements evidencing payments for services received

    3. Common risks associated with the Revenue cycle

    Authorization and accuracy of contracts with clients Unauthorized rates or prices are quoted.

    Extension of credit terms to customers who represent unacceptable credit risks tothe company.

    Orders may be accepted/contracts concluded from/with related parties withoutmanagement's knowledge or at unacceptable prices or terms.

    Orders may be accepted at prices or on terms that violate governmental laws and

    regulations.

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    Providing services/shipping

    Goods may be shipped or services delivered (cellular services provided) to thewrong party.

    The wrong goods or services or the wrong quantity of goods or services may be

    shipped or delivered. Fictitious or otherwise invalid shipments or services may be made or provided.

    Billing

    Goods (phones) sold or cellular services provided may not be initially recordedand reported.

    Records of sales or cellular services provided may be lost and therefore not billed.

    Incomplete invoicing of services and goods delivered to customers (minutes used

    are not included in the customers billings). Invoices are raised on an untimely or inaccurate basis leading to payment delays.

    Revenues may be recorded for goods or services that were not delivered.

    Invoices may not be priced from an authorized source.

    Incorrect billings may be issued due to clerical or mechanical errors.

    Invoices may not be summarized and posted on a timely basis.

    Accounts receivable

    Ineffective collections of receivables from customers.

    Cash receipts

    Non-recording of cash receipts. Incorrect application of cash receipts to thesubsidiary ledger.

    Non-compliance with statutory rules and regulations in respect of revenue

    recognition and taxes.

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    4. Control objectives of the revenue cycle internal controlprocedures

    The principal objective of control procedures supporting the revenue cycle includethe following:

    Authorization and accuracy of contracts with clients

    Contracts with customers are subject to full review and authorization prior toapproval (client acceptance procedures are in place).

    All orders received (for cellular telephones) should be reported on a timely basisto enable warehouse to order and prepare the requested goods.

    Rates, special rates and discounts as well as prices for cellular telephones shall be

    approved on an appropriate level and quoted in accordance with current policy

    Billing

    All cellular communication services or goods delivered should be recorded andrecognized in the accounting records in the appropriate period.

    Billing for services and goods (cellular telephones) should be complete, accurateand recognized in the appropriate accounting period.

    Billings recorded in the billing system shall be reconciled to the general ledger ona regular basis.

    Accounts receivable

    Credit control procedures shall be designed to ensure consistent and effectivecredit collection policies are applied and no unauthorized credits to be granted tocustomers with doubtful credit worthiness.

    Cash receipts

    All cash receipts should be recognized in the books on a timely basis and beaccurately applied to customer accounts in the subsidiary ledger or serve as abasis for sales recognition (in Russian books).

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    5. Transaction flow control procedures

    An entity's internal control structure comprises the policies and proceduresestablished to provide reasonable assurance that specific entity objectives will be

    achieved. The internal control structure might include a wide variety of objectivesand related policies and procedures. Mostly important procedures to be establishedin revenue cycle are as follows:

    Authorization and accuracy of contracts with clients

    Authorization and Accuracy of Sales Orders - Customer requests for goods and services andaccordingly services contracts that meet management's criteria should be approved andshould be accurately reported on a timely basis.

    1. Controls to ensure valid authorization of salesorders:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Approval by the proper level of management ofestablished prices, rates per minute, special ratesand prices (for cellular telephones), customers,credit limits and terms.

    establishing ofthe procedure

    FinancialDirector

    Current prices, customers, credit limits and termsare made available to order entry personnel.

    on a regularbasis

    Salesdepartment

    Approval by authorized individuals of orders andservices contracts as to customers, prices, credit,quantities and terms by reference to documented

    data approved by management. Approval is madeby persons not involved in the sales function norin the preparation of sales orders or contracts.

    on a regularbasis

    FinancialDirector

    2. Controls to ensure accurate recording of salesorders and services contracts:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Accurate recording of orders received and

    contracts concluded as to customer, prices,quantities and terms for use in subsequentprocessing.

    on a regular

    basis

    Sales

    department

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    3. Supervisory controls to ensure the continuedoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Review and approval by a designated official ofsales orders over a specified amount, andorders/services contracts with special prices,terms or discounts.

    adherence tothe procedure

    FinancialDirector

    Completeness of Services Contracts and Sales Orders - All customer requests for goods andservices should be reported.

    1. Controls to ensure completeness of sales orders: Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Use of prenumbered sales orders/contracts or

    other means in recording all orders.

    adherence to

    the procedure

    Sales

    department

    Accounting for the sequence of prenumbered salesorders/contracts and follow-up of missing orders.

    - - - -

    2. Supervisory controls to ensure the continuedoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Review by a designated official of the results offollow-up on missing documents.

    on a regularbasis

    FinancialDirector

    3. Written procedures to ensure the properoperation of above controls

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Adequate written procedures regarding orderentry function activities.

    establishing ofthe procedure

    FinancialDirector

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    Providing services/Shipping Function

    Completeness of Shipments - All shipments made and services provided should be reported.

    1. Controls to ensure completeness of recording

    of goods shipped and services provided:

    Type of the

    controlprocedure

    Responsible

    person

    Use of prenumbered documents, logs, or othermeans in recording all shipments and servicesrendered (For computer-generated shippingdocuments, assignment by computer ofsequential number to the documents - minutesof use report).

    establishing ofthe procedure

    billingdepartment,

    warehouse in-charge

    Accounting for the sequence of prenumbered

    shipping documents or records of servicesprovided (minutes of use report), and follow-upof missing documents.

    on a regular

    basis

    - -

    Matching of shipping documents with salesorders and records of services provided (minutesof use report) with services contracts and follow-up of long unmatched orders, by persons otherthan those who maintain the records ofunmatched orders.

    on a regularbasis (for

    phone sales),on a periodic

    basis- forcellular

    services

    - -

    2. Supervisory controls to ensure the continuedoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Review by a designated official of the results offollow-up on unmatched orders and missingdocuments.

    on a regularbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

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    Accuracy of Providing Service/Shipments - Shipments made and services provided should bebased on authorized customers' orders/services contracts, and should be accurately reportedon a timely basis.

    1. Controls to ensure validity of shipments andservices provided.

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Shipment of goods or providing of services notmade without an authorized salesorder/services contract.

    adherence tothe procedure

    Billing

    2. Controls to ensure accuracy of recording ofshipments and services provided:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Physical counting of goods at time of shipment

    by persons other than those who: a) have custodyor access to inventories; b) authorize or makeshipments.

    on a regular

    basis

    warehouse in

    charge

    Accurate recording of services provided as todescription, dates, quantities and other relevantdata for use in subsequent processing.

    Use of verified shipping documents insubsequent posting of quantities to inventorysubsidiary records.

    Adherence to documented procedures forservices provided/shipping cut-off (daily andperiod end).

    - -

    - -

    adherence tothe procedure

    Billing

    warehouse in-charge

    FinancialDirector

    3. Supervisory controls to ensure the continuedoperations of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Assignment of a designated official to superviseproviding services and shipping operations.

    assignment ofthe person

    FinancialDirector

    4. Written procedures to ensure the properoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Adequate written procedures regarding shippingfunction activities.

    establishing ofthe procedures

    FinancialDirector

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    Billing

    Completeness of Billings - All shipments made and services provided should be billed andrecorded in the general ledger and subsidiary records.

    1. Controls to ensure the completeness of recording

    of billings for goods shipped and servicesprovided:

    Type of the

    controlprocedure

    Responsible

    person

    For computer-generated invoices, assignment bycomputer of sequential number to invoices (inmanual systems - use of prenumbered andcontrolled sales invoices in recording all billings.)

    establishing ofthe procedure

    Billing

    Invoices are automatically generated by thecomputer system based on computer records ofshipments/services provided to customers.

    For invoices produced manually - Matching ofsales invoices with shipping documents or recordsof services provided, and follow-up of longunmatched shipments or services by persons otherthan those who maintain the records of unmatcheditems.

    - -

    on a regularbasis

    Billing

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

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    2. Controls to ensure the completeness ofsummarization of billings for goods shipped andservices provided:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Accounting for sequence of prenumberedmanually-prepared invoices, and follow-up ofmissing and/or duplicate invoices by personsother than those who (1) prepare invoices, (2)record shipments, (3) process accounts receivabletransactions, (4) deal with cash receipts (5)authorize the voiding of invoices, (6)prepare creditmemos. (7) record goods returned and claims or (8)are involved in computer operations andprogramming.

    on a regularbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

    Detailed checking of sales invoices (quantities

    billed) against printouts (minutes of use reports),follow-up of unprocessed invoices, andinvestigation and correction of differences bypersons with no incompatible duties.

    on a regular

    basis

    - -

    Reconciliation (by computer or users) of invoicecontrol totals for posting to the receivable controlaccount with totals of previous reports.Reconciliation, and investigation and correction ofdifferences, by persons with no incompatible

    duties.

    - - - -

    Prenumbered journal entry forms and relatedaccountability for all numbers each period.

    adherence tothe

    establishedprocedure

    - -

    3. Supervisory controls to ensure the continuedoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Review by a designated official of the results offollow-up on unmatched shipments and services.

    on a periodicbasis

    FinancialDirector

    Review by a designated official of the results offollow-up on missing documents.

    - - - -

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    4. Written procedures to ensure the properoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Adequate written procedures regardingprocedures for billing and summarization of salesinvoices.

    establishing ofthe

    procedures

    FinancialDirector

    Accuracy of Processing and Summarization of Billings - Billings (including costs of goodsand services sold and sales-related expenses where these are based on billings) should be basedon shipments made and services provided (actual minutes used by client), should beaccurately computed, and should be accurately and promptly summarized and recorded in thecorrect accounts in the general ledger and subsidiary records.

    1. Controls to ensure validity of recorded sales Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Verification of invoiced prices to approved salesorders or price lists, by persons other than thosewho (1) prepare sales invoices or (2) are involvedin the order entry function (For computer-generated invoices where prices are stored oncurrent authorized price master file adequatecontrols over the master file).

    on a test basis Deputy ChiefAccountant

    Ensuring that manually-prepared sales invoiceshave been checked and approved as being valid

    before posting of amounts to the accountsreceivable control account and subsidiary records.

    on a regularbasis

    - -

    2. Controls to ensure accuracy of recorded sales: Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Verification of extensions and footings of invoicesby persons other than those who prepare sales

    invoices. (For computer-generated invoices,adequate assurance of the propriety of programlogic.).

    on a periodicbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

    3. Controls to ensure propriety of accountclassification

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Checking of coding of invoices. on a regularbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

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    4. Controls to ensure accuracy of summarization Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Verification of mathematical accuracy ofsummaries (e.g., by periodic refootings oragreement to independent control totals) used asbasis for general ledger entries.

    on a regularbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

    Period-to-period comparisons of the amounts ofrecurring entries.

    on a periodicbasis

    FinancialDirector

    Adherence to documented cut-off and period-endclosing procedures.

    at the end ofperiod

    - -

    5. Supervisory controls to ensure the continuedoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Review by a designated official of exceptionreport on the verification and checking ofinvoices.

    on a periodicbasis

    ChiefAccountant

    Review and approval by a designated official ofinvoices over a specified amount, and invoiceswith special prices, terms or discounts.

    on a regularbasis

    FinancialDirector

    Review and approval of each journal entry by adesignated official who did not participate in its

    preparation.

    - - ChiefAccountant

    6. Written procedures to ensure the properoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Adequate written procedures regarding activitieson billing and summarization of sales invoices.

    establishing ofthe procedure

    FinancialDirector

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    Accounts receivable related procedures

    Substantiation of balances - the validity, accuracy and completeness of recorded balances ofreceivables and sales should be periodically substantiated.

    1. Controls to ensure the validity, completeness

    and accuracy of recorded balances:

    Type of the

    controlprocedure

    Responsible

    person

    Periodic comparison of recorded balances withbudgeted amounts, prior periods and industrystatistics.

    on a periodicbasis

    FinancialDirector

    Maintenance of the accounts receivable subsidiaryrecords by persons other than those who (1)prepare, check or approve accounts receivabledocumentation, (2) maintain the control account

    or (3) deal with the cash receipts function.

    appointmentof the person

    ChiefAccountant

    Periodic reconciliation of accounts receivablesubsidiary records with related control accountand investigation of differences by persons otherthan those who (1) post the accounts receivablesubsidiary records, (2) maintain the controlaccount, (3) account for sales invoices and creditmemos or (4) deal with the cash receipts function

    on a periodicbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

    Periodic mailing of customer statements, and

    investigation of exceptions by persons with noincompatible duties.

    - - - -

    Periodic review of credit balances in accountsreceivable to determine their causes.

    - - ChiefAccountant

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    Evaluation of balances - the valuation of recorded balances of receivables and relatedallowances should be periodically evaluated.

    1. Controls to ensure receivables are stated atrealizable value.

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Comparison of provisions, write-offs, creditmemos and other non-cash reductions toreceivables with budgets and historicalinformation.

    on a periodicbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

    Preparation of an aged analysis of receivablesand follow-up of past due items (Compiling andapproving a disconnection list). Reconciliation oftotal of aging analysis with related controlaccount balance.

    on a regularbasis

    A/Raccountant

    Periodic review of the formula used fordetermining provisions and allowances fordoubtful accounts.

    on a periodicbasis

    - -

    Periodic determination of provisions requiredand accounts to be written off by a person notinvolved in the sales, accounts receivablerecording and cash functions.

    - - ChiefAccountant

    Periodic determination of additional valuationallowances (returns, allowances and other non-cash reductions) by persons not involved in thesales, accounts receivable recording and cashfunctions.

    - - - -

    2. Supervisory controls to ensure the continuedoperation of above controls

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Review by a designated official of aged analysisof receivables for unusual items and results ofreconciliation procedure.

    on a periodicbasis

    FinancialDirector

    Review and approval by a designated official ofprovisions, write-offs and additional valuationallowances made.

    - - - -

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    3. Written procedures to ensure the properoperation of above controls of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Adequate written procedures regarding accountsreceivable function activities.

    establishing ofthe procedure

    FinancialDirector

    Cash Receipts control procedures

    Completeness of cash receipts procedures- all cash receipts should be recorded in the generalledger and subsidiary records.

    1. Controls to ensure the completeness ofrecording of cash receipts:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Prenumbering and control over bank statementsevidencing cash receipts from customers, that aresubsequently accounted for, in recording all cashreceipts.

    establishing ofthe procedure

    Cash in bankaccountant

    Comparison, either individually or in total, of therecords of entries in the cash receipts book withbank statements as to dates and amounts, bypersons other than those who (1) handle cashreceipts or (2) maintain the accounts receivablerecords (This is done as part of bank

    reconciliation.)

    on a periodicbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

    2. Controls to ensure completeness ofsummarization of cash receipts:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Accounting for sequence of prenumbered cashreceipts documents and follow-up of missingdocuments.

    Prenumbered journal entry forms and related

    accountability for all numbers each period.

    on a regularbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

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    Accuracy of processing and summarization of cash receipts - cash receipts should beaccurately recorded as to amounts, dates, customer names and numbers, and should beaccurately and promptly summarized and recorded in the correct accounts in the generalledger and subsidiary records.

    1. Controls to ensure validity of cash receipts: Type of the

    controlprocedure

    Responsible

    person

    Ensuring that cash receipts have been checkedand approved as being valid before posting ofcash receipts to control account and subsidiaryrecords.

    on a regularbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

    2. Controls to ensure propriety of accountclassification:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Checking of account coding of cash receipts forposting to general ledger.

    on a regularbasis

    Deputy ChiefAccountant

    3. Controls to ensure accuracy of summarizationof cash receipts:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Verification of mathematical accuracy ofsummaries (e.g., by periodic refootings or

    agreement to independent control totals) used asbases for general ledger entries.

    Period-to-period comparisons of amounts ofrecurring entries.

    Adherence to documented cut-off and period-end closing procedures.

    on a periodicbasis

    ChiefAccountant

    4. Written procedures to ensure the proper

    operation of above controls:

    Type of the

    controlprocedure

    Responsible

    person

    Adequate written procedures regarding cashreceipts processing and summarization activities.

    establishing ofthe procedure

    FinancialDirector

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    Access To Cash ReceiptsAccess to cash receipts should be restricted to authorizedpersonnel, and cash receipts should be deposited in bank accounts promptly.

    1. Controls to ensure adequacy of physicalsafeguards:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Adequate physical controls (e.g., lockboxarrangements, work area layouts, safes, etc.) ofcash on hand.

    establishing ofthe controls

    ChiefAccountant

    2. Written procedures to ensure the continueoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Adequate written procedures regarding cashreceipts function activities.

    establishing ofthe procedure

    ChiefAccountant

    Completeness Of Receiving And Processing Of Sales Returns (phones) And AllowancesAllgoods(phones) returned should be promptly reported and recorded in the accounting records.

    1. Controls to ensure the completeness of

    recording of returns and allowances:

    Type of the

    controlprocedure

    Responsible

    person

    Use of prenumbered receiving documents, logsor other means to record all returns made.

    establishing ofthe procedure

    Warehouse in-charge

    Accounting for sequence of prenumberedreceiving documents and follow-up of missingdocuments.

    on regularbasis

    - -

    Use of prenumbered and controlled credit anddebit memos, that are subsequently accountedfor, in recording all returns and otheradjustments.

    - - Deputy ChiefAccountant

    Matching of credit memos with prenumberedreceiving documents, and follow-up ofunmatched items by persons other than thosewho maintain the records of unmatched items.

    - - - -

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    2. Controls to ensure accuracy of recordedreturns and allowances:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Physical counting of goods at time of return. adherence tothe procedure

    warehouse in-charge

    Accurate recording of returns made as toquantities, description, customer, date and otherreference data for use in subsequent processing.

    - - - -

    3. Written procedures to ensure the properoperation of above controls:

    Type of thecontrol

    procedure

    Responsibleperson

    Adequate written procedures regarding activities

    on processing and summarization of sales returnsand allowances.

    establishing of

    the procedure

    Financial

    Director

    6. Common accounting entries

    Revenue cycle functions are likely to initiate accounting entries reflecting sucheconomic events as:

    Sales Costs of services rendered, goods sold

    Cash receipts

    Cash discounts

    Sales returns and allowances

    Allowance for doubtful accounts

    A/R write-offs and recoveries

    Commission expense

    VAT

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