Basic guidelines for control of cash and cash equivalents include: handling of cash must be separate from recordkeeping of cash, cash receipts are promptly deposited in bank, and disbursements of cash are by check. |
A. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Liquidity |
1. Liquidity refers to a company's ability to pay for its near term obligations. |
2. Cash includes currency and coins, deposits in bank and checking accounts (called demand deposits), many savings accounts (called time deposits), and items that are acceptable for deposit in those accounts (customers checks, cashier checks, certified checks, and money orders). 3. Cash equivalent (examples; short-term U.S. Treasury bills and money market funds) are short‑term, highly liquid investment assets meeting two criteria: |
a. Readily convertible to a known cash amount. b. Sufficiently close to their maturity date so that market value is not sensitive to interest rate changes. |
B. Cash Management Effective cash management principles: |
a. Encourage collection of receivables b. Delay payment of liabilities c. Keep only necessary levels of assets d. Plan expenditures e. Invest excess cash |
C. Control of Cash Receipts |
1. Apply internal control principles. 2. Record cash shortages and overages in and income statement account called Cash Over and Short. |
D. Control of Cash Disbursements |

