Check list

REVENUE

60% of the accounting frauds take place in the top line.

1). Sharp decline in cash collection to sales ratio.

cash collection = (sales - change in accountsreceivable + change indifferedrevenue)

2). sharply Increasing days of sales outstanding(DOS).

DOS = 365/(Sales/accountsreceivable)

3). aggressive revenue recognition policy.

4.Lowerdays of sales outstanding(DOS) accompanied by factoring.

5). sharp decline in sales to working capital turnover

6.Frequent Inconsistency in firmsdefinitionof operating revenue.

7). Barter transactioncontributing significantly to top line.

8.channel stuffing.

9.Significant sales to related.

10.Integratedcustomerbase(if theintegrated customer base is present then look for the customers capacity to pay).

11). Price sensitive customers.

12). Operating in highly competitive market with the subject company having no pricing power.

I have a very basic checklist that I try and use and also try and expand with time.

The way I have tried to structure it is:-

  1. Business Questions
  2. Financial Questions
  3. Valuations
  4. Risks
  5. Past Mistakes (this is where most of the addition goes in)

Let me try and put up some of the questions in separate posts to maintain clarity.