The Piano Warehouse Company Limited was established in the UK on 1 January 20X7 for the purpose of making pianos. Jeremy Holmes, the managing director, had 20 years’ experience in the manufacture of pianos and was an acknowledged technical expert in the field. He had invested his life’s savings of £15,000 in the company, and his decision to launch the company reflected his desire for complete independence.

Nevertheless, his commitment to the company represented a considerable financial gamble. He paid close attention to the management of its financial affairs and ensured that a careful record of all transactions was kept.

At the end of the company’s first financial year, Jeremy Holmes was anxious that the company’s net profit to 31 December 20X7 should be represented in the most accurate manner. There appeared to be several alternative bases on which the transactions for the year could be interpreted. It was clear to him that, in simple terms, the net profit for the year should be calculated by deducting expenses from revenues. As far as cash sales were concerned he saw no difficulty.
But how should the pianos that were 50% completed be treated? Should the value of the work done up to 31 December 20X7 be included in the profit of that year, or should it be carried forward to the next year, when the work would be completed and the pianos sold? As regards the pianos sold under the hire purchase agreement, should profit be taken in 20X7 or spread over the years in which a proportion of the revenue is received?

Required:

(a) Prepare a statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 20X7 on a basis that would reflect conventional accounting principles.

(b) Examine the problems implied in the timing of the recognition of revenues, illustrating your answer by the facts in the case of The Piano Warehouse.

(c) Discuss the significant accounting conventions that would be relevant to profit determination in this case, and discuss their limitations in this context.

(d) Advise the company on alternative accounting treatments that could increase the profit for the year.

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The company's activities during the year ended 31 December 20X7 were as follows: (1) Four pianos had been built and sold for a total sum of 8,000. Holmes calculated their cost of manufacture as follows: Materials Labour Overhead costs 2,000 2,800 800 (ii) Two pianos were 50% completed at 31 December 20X7. Madrigal Music Limited had agreed to buy them for a total of 4,500 and had made a down-payment amounting to 20% of the agreed sale price. Holmes estimated their costs of manufacture to 31 December 20X7 as follows: Materials Labour Overhead costs 900 800 100 Two pianos had been rebuilt and sold for a total of 3,000. Holmes paid 1,800 for them at an auction and had spent a further 400 on rebuilding them. The sale of these two pianos was made under a hire purchase agreement under which The Piano Warehouse Company received 1,000 on delivery and two payments over the next two years plus interest of 15% on the outstanding balance.