abus You are the accountant for London Imports and Exports. The company imports and exports food and candy items throughout the world. The company is finalizing its 3 quarter financial results. All adjustments have been made for the 3rd quarter except the adjustment for Bad Debts Expense. The preliminary 3rd quarter results along with the 1st and 2nd quarter results are shown below. London Imports and Exports Quarterly Income Statements (amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars) Online Q3 Q2 Q1 (preliminary) (as reported) as reported) Net Sales $135,800 $135 460 $130,100 Cost of Goods Sold (58.400) (58.250) (55.990) Gross Profit $77,400 $77.210 574,110 56,560) (53.975) (53.690) Selling, General, & Admin Expenses (6.050) (4.200) Bad Debts Expense 20,840 17.185 16.220 Income Before Income Tax (5.620) (5,155) 15,0201 Income Tax Expense $11.200 $12,030 $15.220 Net Income The CFO asked you to look at the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and use the Aged Accounts Receivable to calculate the adjustment needed for bad debts expense for the 3rd quarter. The CFO stated that he knows the customers are slower at paying this quarter but he wants the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts to not be increased: in fact he's encouraging you to decrease it so it has an adjusted balance of $8,000. He wants you to play around with the estimated bad debt loss rates to get the number he wants for the adjusted balance of the Allowance account. You are confused, so you decide to analyze the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, and you came up with the following summary of the Taccount below: o ITZUU The CFO asked you to look at the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and use the Aged Accounts Receivable to calculate the adjustment needed for bad debts expense for the 3rd quarter. The CFO stated that he knows the customers are slower at paying this quarter but he wants the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts to not be increased; in fact he's encouraging you to decrease it so it has an adjusted balance of $8.000. He wants you to play around with the estimated bad debt loss rates to get the number he wants for the adjusted balance of the Allowance account. You are confused, so you decide to analyze the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, and you came up with the following summary of the Taccount below: Allowance for Doubtful Accounts DEBITS CREDITS 7900 Jan. 1 Balance Forward Q1 Write Offs 4110 4200 01 Bad Debts Estimate 7990 March 31 Adjusted Q2 Write Offs 4120 6050 Q2 Bad Debts Estimate 9920 June 30 Adjusted Q3 Write Offs 4030 5890 Sept. 30 Unadjusted AGING OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SCHEDULE: Number of Days Unpaid 0-30 Days 31-60 Days Over 60 Days Total $78,000 $35.000 $123,000 $10.000 Total Accounts Receivable B% 12% Estimated Uncollectible % Answer the following questions: 1. What is the problem with the Controller asking you to "play around with the estimated bad debt loss until you get it to work"? 2. If you were to record the bad debts expense based on what you learned in accounting, what amount would you record and how did you calculate this? 3. If you were to record the bad debts expense based on what the controller wants, what amount would you record and how did you calculate this? 4. Is there any evidence of unethical behavior in this case? Thoroughly explain your answer. Refer to specific GAAP rule/s that should be followed. Be sure to mention how net income would be affected based on your answers to #2 and #3 and how this would affect stakeholders. State what you believe is the ethical course of action