UNIT 7.

CASH

Contents
7.0 Aims & Objectives
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Meaning of Cash
7.3 Characteristics of Cash
7.4 Management of Cash
7.5 Internal Control of Cash
7.5.1 Control of Cash Through Bank Accounts
[Link] Reconciliation of Bank and Book cash Balances
[Link] Steps in Preparing Bank Reconciliation
[Link] Illustration of Bank Reconciliation
7.5.2 Petty Cash Fund
[Link] Establishment of Petty Cash
[Link] Replenishment of Petty Cash
7.5.3 Voucher System
7.5.4 Change Fund
7.5.5 Cash Short and Over
7.6 Summary
7.7 Answer to Check Your Progress Exercise
7.8 Model Exam Questions
7.9 Glossary

7.0 AIMS & OBJECTIVES

In this unit, internal control of cash, the accounting for cash transactions and other aspects will be discussed.
After you have studied this unit, you should be able to:
- define cash
- identify the with composition of cash
- explain the objectives of cash management
- prepare a bank reconciliation
- understand the internal control of cash
7.1 INTRODUCTION

Since cash is the asset most likely to be used improperly by employees, exposed for embezzlement and many
business transactions either directly or indirectly affect it, it is therefore necessary to have effective control of
cash.

7.2 MEANING OF CASH

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Cash includes money on deposit in banks and other items that a bank will accept for immediate deposit. Money
on deposit in banks includes checking and saving accounts. Other items such as ordinary checks received from
customers, money orders, coins and currency and petty cash also are included as cash. Banks do not accept
postage stamps, travel advances to employees, notes receivable or post-dated checks as cash.

7.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF CASH

The following are some of the characteristics of cash:

a) Cash is used as medium of exchange
b) Cash is the most liquid asset
c) Cash is mostly affected by business transactions
d) Cash is used to measure the value of other assets
e) Cash is mostly exposed to embezzlements

7.4 MANAGEMENT OF CASH

Cash management refers to planning, controlling and accounting for cash transactions and cash balances.
Efficient management of cash is essential to the survival and success of every business organization. Managing
cash requires planning wisely so that there will not be excess cash held on hand at any point in time; or there is
no shortage of cash at any point in time to meet the business’s needs.

Check Your Progress Exercise -1

1. Define cash as it is used for accounting purpose.

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2. Which of the following items should not be included as cash?

a) Ordinary checks
b) Post-dated checks
c) Cash deposited in saving accounts
d) Postage stamps
e) Deposits in checking accounts

7.5 INTERNAL CONTROL OF CASH

The need to safeguard cash is crucial in most businesses because cash is mostly exposed to embezzlement.
Firms address this problem through the internal control system. An internal control system is a set of policies
and procedures designed to protect assets, provide accurate accounting records and evaluate performances.

A sound internal control system for cash increases the likely hood that the reported values for cash are accurate.

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Internal control for cash should include the following procedures:
a) The individuals who receive cash should not also disburse (pay) cash
b) The individuals who handle cash should not access accounting records
c) Cash receipts are immediately recorded and deposited and are not used directly to make payments.
d) Disbursements are made by serially numbered checks, only upon proper authorization by someone
other than the person writing the check
e) Bank accounts are reconciled monthly.

The following are the most common elements of cash control and managements: bank account system, petty
cash fund, voucher system, change fund, and cash short and over.

7.5.1 Control of Cash through Bank Accounts

Bank accounts are one of the most important means of controlling cash that provide several advantages such as:
- Cash is physically protected by the bank,
- A separate record of cash is maintained by the bank,
- And customers may remit payments directly to the bank.

If a company uses a bank account, monthly statements are received from the bank showing beginning and
ending balances and transactions occurring during the month including checks paid, deposits received, and
service charges. These monthly statements (reports) received from the bank are called bank statements.
statements. Bank
statements generally are accompanied by checks paid and charged to the accounts during the month, debit and
credited memos, which inform the company about changes in the cash accounts. For a bank, the depositor’s
cash balance is a liability, the amount the bank owes to the firm. Therefore, a debit memo describes the amount
and nature of decrease is the company’s cash accounts. A credits memo indicates an increase in the cash
balance of the depositor that it has with the bank.

[Link] Reconciliation of Bank and Book Cash Balances

Monthly reconciling of the bank balance with the depositor’s cash accounts balance is essential cash control
procedure. To reconcile a bank statement means to verify that the bank balance and the accounting records of
the depositor are consistent. The balance shown in a monthly bank statement seldom equals the balance
appearing in the depositor’s accounting records. Certain transactions recorded by the depositor may not have
been recorded by the bank and vice versa.

The most common examples that cause disparity between the two balances are:
a) Outstanding checks:
checks:
Checks issued and recorded by the company, but not yet presented to the bank for
payment.
b) Deposits in transit:
transit:
Cash receipts recorded by the depositor, but not reached the bank to be
included in the bank statement for the current month.
c) Service charges:
charges:

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 Banks often charge a fee for handling checking accounts. The amount of this charge is
deducted by the bank form bank balance and debit memo is issued for the depositor.
d) Charges for depositing NSF- checks:
checks:
NSF stands for “Not Sufficient Funds.” When checks are deposited in an account,
the bank generally gives the depositor immediate credit. On occasion, one of these
checks may prove to be uncollectible because the maker of the check does not
have sufficient funds in his or her account. In such a case, the bank will reduce the
depositor’s account by the amount of this uncollectible item and return the check
to the depositor marked “NSF”.
e) Notes collected by bank:
bank:
If the bank collects a note receivable on behalf of the depositor, it credits the
depositor’s account and issues a credit memorandum for the depositor.

When the depositor prepares bank reconciliation, the balances shown in the bank statement and in the
accounting records both are adjusted for any unrecorded transactions. Additional adjustments may be required
to correct any errors discovered in the bank statements or in the accounting records.

[Link] Steps in Preparing Bank Reconciliation

A bank reconciliation is a schedule prepared by the depositor to bring the balance shown in the bank statement
and the balance shown in the depositor’s accounting into agreement.

The steps to prepare a bank reconciliation are:

a) The deposits listed on the bank statement are compared with the deposits shown in the accounting
records. Any deposits not yet recorded by the bank are deposits in transit and should be added to the balance
shown in the bank statements.
b) The paid and received checks from the bank are compared with the check stubs. Any checks issued but
not yet paid by the bank are outstanding checks and should be deducted from the balance reported in the bank
statements.
c) Any credit memorandums issued by the bank that have not been recorded by the depositor, are added to
the balance per depositor’s record.
d) Any debit memorandums issued by the bank that have not been recorded by the depositor are deducted
from the balance per depositor’s record.
e) Any errors in the bank statement or depositor’s accounting records are adjusted.
f) The equality of adjusted balance of statement and adjusted balance of the depositor’s record is
compared.
g) Journal entries are prepared to record any items delayed by the depositor.
[Link] Illustration of Bank Reconciliation

The January bank statement sent by Awash Bank to RAM Company shows Br. 4,262.83. Assume also that on
January 31, 2000, the Cash account of RAM Co. shows a balance of Br. 5,000.17. The accountant of RAM
Company has identified the following items:

1. A deposit of Br. 410.90 made after banking hours on Jan. 31 does not appear on the bank statement.
2. Two checks issued in January have not yet been paid by the bank:

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 Check No. 301 Br. 110.25
Check No. 342 607.50
3. A credit memorandum was included in the bank statement, which was for proceeds from collection of a
non-interest bearing note receivable from MAN company Br. 524.74.
4. Three debit memorandums accompanied the bank statement: Fee charged by bank for handling
collection of notes receivable Br.5; a check of Br. 50.25 received from a customer, RON company, and
deposited by RAM company was charged back as NSF; and service charge by bank for the month of January
amounts to Br. 12.00.
5. Check No. 305 was issued by RAM Company for payment of telephone expense in the amount of Br.
85 but was erroneously recorded in the cash payments journal as Br. 58.

The January 31 bank reconciliation for RAM Company is shown below:

RAM Company
Bank Reconciliation
January 31, 2000

Balance per bank statement, Jan. 31,2000 Br. 5,000.17

Add: Deposit of Jan. 31 not recorded by bank 410.90
Subtotal Br. 5,411.07
Deduct: outstanding checks:
No. 301 Br. 110.25
No. 342 607.50 117.75
Adjusted cash balance Br. 4,693.32

Balance per depositor’s record, Jan. 31,2000 Br. 4,262.83

Add: Note Receivable collected by bank 524.74
Subtotal Br. 4,787.57
Deduct: collection fee Br. 5.00
NSF check of Ron Co. 50.25
Service charge 12.00
Error on check stub No. 305 27.00 94.25
Adjusted cash balance Br. 4,693.32
The following are journal entries related to the bank reconciliation.
2000
Jan. 31 cash 524.74
Notes Receivable 524.74
To record collection of Note Receivable
collected by bank

31 Miscellaneous Expense 17.00

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 Accounts Receivable-RON Co. 50.25
Utilities Exp. 27.00
Cash 94.25
To record bank service charges,
NSF check and error in recording
Check No. 305

1. Which of the reconciling items necessitate an entry in the depositor’s accounts?

a) Deposit in transit
b) Outstanding checks
c) Note collected by bank
d) Bank service charge

7.5.2 Petty Cash Fund

Petty cash fund, which is part of the total cash balance, is used to handle many types of small payments such as
employee transportation costs, purchase of office supplies, purchase of postage stamps, and delivery charges.
Many businesses find it convenient to make minor expenditures instead of writing checks. The petty cash
amount various from Br. 50 or less to more than Br. 1,000, which will cover small expenditures for a period of
two or three weeks.

[Link] Establishment of Petty Cash

To establish a petty cash fund a check is issued to a bank. This check is cashed and the money is kept on hand
in a petty cash box. One employee is designated as custodian of the fund. The issuance of the check for
establishment is recoded by debiting petty cash account and crediting cash.

[Link] Replenishment of Petty Cash

During the period, the custodian makes small payments form the petty cash fund and obtains a receipt or
prepares a petty cash voucher. This petty cash voucher explains the nature and amount of every expenditure and
is kept with the fund. When the fund runs low or at the end of the company’s fiscal period, a check is issued to
reimburse the fund for the expenditures made during the period. The issuance of this check is recorded by
debiting the appropriate expense accounts and crediting cash or vouchers payable.

7.5.3 Voucher System

One method to control cash disbursements is a voucher system. A voucher is a special form, which contains
relevant data about a liability and its payment.

In a voucher system, a voucher is prepared for each expenditure and approved by the designated officials. Each
approved voucher represents liability and recorded in a voucher register, which is similar to purchases journal.
Those registered vouchers are filed according to their payment date in an unpaid vouchers file. The vouchers
and supporting documents then are sent to the treasure or other official is the finance department before issuing
checks. When the checks are signed, the paid vouchers are recorded in a check register which is similar to cash

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payments journal. Those paid vouchers are filed in paid vouchers file according to their serial number for future
reference.

7.5.4 Change Fund

Some businesses that receive cash directly from customers should maintain a fund of currency and coins in
order to make change (Amharic=>”zirzir”). This fund, which is part of the total cash balance, is called change
fund. A change fund is established by issuing a check to the bank and transferring the cash to the custodian. The
issuance of a check to establish a change fund is recorded by debiting cash on hand and crediting cash or
voucher payable.

Once a change fund is established, there will be no change in its balance unless there is a decision by
management to increase or decrease the fund balance.

7.5.5 Cash Short and Over

In handling cash receipts from daily sales, a few errors in making changes will occur. These errors may cause a
cash shortage or overage at the end of the day. The account cash short and over is debited if there is shortage
and credited if there is overage. At the end of the period if the account had a debit balance, it appears in the
Income statement as miscellaneous expense; if it has a credit balance, it is shown as miscellaneous revenue.

For example, assume that the total cash sales recorded during the day amounts to Br. 12,420. However, the cash
receipts in the cash register drawer (actual cash count) total Br. 12,415.

The following entry would be made to adjust the accounting records for the shortage in the cash receipts:

Cash Short and Over 5.00

Cash 5.00
To record a Br. 5.00 (Br. 12,420 – 12,415)
Shortage in cash receipts for the day

Check Your Progress Exercise-3

1. The petty cash account has a debit balance of Br. 200. At the end of the accounting period, there is Br.
160 in the petty cash fund along with petty cash receipts totaling Br. 40. Should the fund be replenished as of
the last day of the period? Why?
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…………………………………

2. In what order are vouchers ordinarily filed

A) In the unpaid voucher file
B) In the paid voucher file

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3 In which section of the Income statement would a credit balance in cash short and over be reported?

7.6 SUMMARY

1. Cash includes only those items immediately available to pay obligations.

2. The objectives of cash management are accurate accounting for cash transactions, the prevention of
losses through theft or fraud, and maintaining adequate cash balances.
3. The bank reconciliation adjusts the cash balance per book and the cash balance per bank statement for
any unrecorded items such as outstanding checks and bank service charges.
4. Bank reconciliation produces the correct amount of cash to be included in the balance sheet at the end
of the month.
5. A company may use a petty cash fund to make small payments that occur frequently, as payment by
check would cause delay and excessive expense of maintaining records.
6. One of the best systems for establishing control of cash payments is the use of a voucher system. A
voucher system uses vouchers, a voucher register, a file for unpaid vouchers, a check register and a file for paid
vouchers.

7.7 ANSWER TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS EXERCISES

Check Your Progress Exercise - 1

1. Cash includes all the items that are accepted for deposit by a bank, notably paper money and coins,
money orders, and checks.

2. a) Post-dated checks
b) Postage stamps

Check Your Progress Exercise - 2

1. The basic purpose of a bank reconciliation is to achieve the control inherent in the maintenance of two
independent records of cash transactions; one record maintained by the depositor and the other by the bank.
When these two records are reconciled (brought into agreement), we gain assurance of a correct accounting for
cash transactions.

2. a) Checks issued that have not been paid by the bank.

b) Deposits not recorded by the bank.
c) A customer’s check which was deposited but returned because of a lack of funds in the account on which the
check was drawn (in the customer’s bank account).
d) Note collected by bank
e) Bank service charge

Check Your Progress Exercise - 3

1. Yes. To record the unrecorded expenditures of Br. 40 at least by the end of the fiscal period
2. a) According to the earliest date

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 b) In numerical order

3. In miscellaneous revenue section of Income statement

7.8 MODEL EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

Part I. Short answer questions

1. In general terms, in which section does cash, appear on the balance sheet?
2. Explain some measures that strengthen internal control over cash receipts and payments.
3. What is the basic control feature in a voucher system?
4. List two items often encountered in reconciling a bank account that may cause cash per the bank statement to
be larger than the balance of cash shown in the depositor’s accounting records.

Part II. Work Out Questions

1. Shown below is the information needed to prepare a bank reconciliation for MITE company at
December 31.
a) At December 31, cash per the bank statement was $ 15,981; cash per the company’s records
was $ 17,445.
b) Two-debit memorandum accompanied the bank statement: service charges for December of $
24, and a $ 600 check drawn by RAMI marked ‘NSF’.
c) Cash receipts of $ 4,353 on December 31 were not deposited until January.
d) The following checks had been issued in December but were not included among the paid
checks returned by the bank: no. 620 for $ 978, no. 630 for $ 2,052, and no. 641 for $ 483.
Required:
i) Prepare a bank reconciliation at December 31
ii) Prepare the necessary journal entry or entries to update the accounting records based on the reconciliation.
2. RAM Company maintains its checking account with the Commercz Bank. The company is ready to
prepare its December 31 bank reconciliation. The following data are available:
a) The November 30 bank reconciliation showed the following:
1) Cash on hand (held by RAM company for day to day minor expenses), Br. 400
(included in RAM’s cash account)
2) Deposit in transit, Br. 2,000, and
3) Checks outstanding: N0. 121 Br. 1,000
No. 130 2,000
No. 142 3,000
b) Bank Statement, December 31:
 Balance, December 31 Br. 67,600
 Deposits: 188,500
 Checks: No. 130, Br. 2,000; N0. 142, Br. 3,000;
N0. 143 – 176, Br. 191,000 (196,000)
 Note collected for RAM company (including
Br. 720 interest) 16,720
 NSF check, customer Binda (250)

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 Bank service charges (20)
 Balance, December 31 Br. 76,550
Required:
i) Determine deposit in transit and checks outstanding
ii) Prepare the December 31 Bank reconciliation
iii) Based on your bank reconciliation, give all journal entries that should be made at December 31.

7.9 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Bank reconciliation: a schedule that explains the difference between the balance of cash shown in the bank
statement and the balance of cash shown in the depositor’s records.

Cash:
Cash: money on deposit in banks and other items that a bank will accept for immediate deposit.

Cash management: planning, controlling, and accounting for cash transactions and cash balances.

Petty cash: small amount of cash, which is used to make small payments that occur frequently.

Voucher: a written authorization used in approving a transaction for recording and payment.

Voucher system: an accounting system designed to provide strong internal control over cash disbursements.

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