North Face Case
Financial accountants and independent auditors commonly face challenges
Abstract
Financial accountants and independent auditors commonly face challenging technical and ethical dilemmas while carrying out their professional responsibilities. This case profiles an accounting and financial reporting fraud orchestrated by the chief financial officer (CFO) of a major public company and his subordinates. The CFO, who was a CPA, took extreme measures to conceal the fraud from his company’s audit committee and independent auditors. Despite those measures, the independent auditors identified suspicious entries in the company’s accounting records that were a result of the CFO’s fraudulent scheme but did not properly investigate those items. Shortly before the fraud was publicly revealed, a partner of the company’s audit firm instructed his subordinates to alter prior year audit workpapers for the client to conceal improper decisions made by himself and his firm.
History
Hap Klopp founded North Face in the mid-1960s to provide a ready source of hiking and camping gear.
In 1970, North Face began designing and manufacturing its own line of products after opening a small factory in nearby Berkeley.
In 1980, North Face began sponsoring mountain-climbing expeditions across the globe. And North Face became the only supplier in the United States to offer a comprehensive collection of high-performance outerwear, skiwear, sleeping bags, packs and tents.
Challenges
Sales Growth vs. Quality Control
By the mid-1980s, North Face’s overburdened manufacturing facilities could not satisfy the steadily growing demand for the company’s merchandise or maintain the high quality production standards established by management.
New Era
In July 1996, a new management team took North Face public, listing the company’s common stock on the
NASDAQ exchange.
The management team established a goal of reaching annual sales of $1 billion by 2003.
Later when the actual
Abstract
Financial accountants and independent auditors commonly face challenging technical and ethical dilemmas while carrying out their professional responsibilities. This case profiles an accounting and financial reporting fraud orchestrated by the chief financial officer (CFO) of a major public company and his subordinates. The CFO, who was a CPA, took extreme measures to conceal the fraud from his company’s audit committee and independent auditors. Despite those measures, the independent auditors identified suspicious entries in the company’s accounting records that were a result of the CFO’s fraudulent scheme but did not properly investigate those items. Shortly before the fraud was publicly revealed, a partner of the company’s audit firm instructed his subordinates to alter prior year audit workpapers for the client to conceal improper decisions made by himself and his firm.
History
Hap Klopp founded North Face in the mid-1960s to provide a ready source of hiking and camping gear.
In 1970, North Face began designing and manufacturing its own line of products after opening a small factory in nearby Berkeley.
In 1980, North Face began sponsoring mountain-climbing expeditions across the globe. And North Face became the only supplier in the United States to offer a comprehensive collection of high-performance outerwear, skiwear, sleeping bags, packs and tents.
Challenges
Sales Growth vs. Quality Control
By the mid-1980s, North Face’s overburdened manufacturing facilities could not satisfy the steadily growing demand for the company’s merchandise or maintain the high quality production standards established by management.
New Era
In July 1996, a new management team took North Face public, listing the company’s common stock on the
NASDAQ exchange.
The management team established a goal of reaching annual sales of $1 billion by 2003.
Later when the actual