The document describes the roles and responsibilities of three office staff members in a small air conditioning repair company, highlighting potential risks associated with task segregation and reliance on long-serving employee Harold Jones. It emphasizes the need for internal controls to mitigate risks without increasing staff, particularly focusing on areas like cash handling, inventory management, and payroll processing. Recommendations for improving controls are also implied to address these risks effectively.

1. VvS L MInI-Cases Chapter 4 -. Small Business Processes and Segregation of Duties A small air
conditioning repair and parts supply company employs 25 workmen who perform services tasks
and 3 office staff: One of the office staff, Harold Jones, has been with the company since it opened
its doors. During that time, he has earned the trust of the owner and has proven to be a diligent
employee who often works late, occasionally comes in on weekend for no additional pay, and
hasn't taken a substantial vacation in over 10 years. Instead, he staggers his vacation days
throughout the year to avoid the need for a replacement and ensuring that none of the other office
staff is burdened with his work. Harold's primary tasks include: - Responsible for POS cash and
credit sales - Bills those customers who purchase on credit - Opens the mail and posts cash
receipts to AR records, and - Prepares the daily cash deposits for the business. Another office
worker, Mike Larkin, handles purchasing of inventory and supplies from vendors, stocking,
shipping merchandise, updating inventory records, and writing checks to vendors in payment of
purchases. The third office staff member, Mary Smith, performs the payroll transactions including,
recording employee time and attendance, preparing paychecks, posting payroll payments to
employee accounts, and performing general ledger updates. 1) Discuss the risks inherent in the
scenario. 2) Make control recommendations to mitigate the risks under the constraint that no
additional employees can be hired. Solution: