Assume that you are the controller for a small manufacturing company. You became aware that the accounts receivable clerk may be incorrectly applying cash receipts and credit memos to the same customer. Other employees who suspect the wrong acts have communicated their concerns directly to you and the Chief Financial Officer. The CFO has directed you to address this issue immediately and to contact the internal audit department for its assistance if you feel it is necessary. Prior to contacting them, you decide to do some research to determine how internal auditors can assist your company in maintaining an ethical environment.

In this discussion with the CFO, you need to attend to the following:

Describe your assessment of the role that internal auditors have when dealing with ethical issues in your company.

Do you feel that you could handle this type of matter by yourself, or should you involve the internal audit department? Note: Consider using the four-step process to making an ethical decision.

If you inform the internal auditors, what is your responsibility for working with them?

If you handle it yourself, what are the steps that you would follow to make sure that you dealt with this situation in an ethical manner?