Harriet Knox, Ralph Patton, and Marcia Diamond work for a family physician, Dr. Gwen Conrad, who is in private practice. Dr. Conrad is knowledgeable about office management practices and has segregated the cash receipts duties as follows. Knox opens the mail and prepares a triplicate list of money received. She sends one copy of the list to Patton, the cashier, who deposits the receipts daily in the bank. Diamond, the accountant, receives a copy of the list and posts payments to patients accounts. About once a month the office clerks have an expensive lunch they pay for as follows. First Patten endorses a patients check in Dr. Conrads name and cashes it at the bank. Know then destroys the remittance advice accompanying the check. Finally, Diamond post payment to the customers account as a miscellaneous credit. The three justify their actions by the relatively low pay and knowledge that Dr. Conrad will likely never miss the money.

Who is the best person in Dr. Conrads office to reconcile the bank statement?

Would a bank reconciliation uncover this office fraud?

What are at least two procedures that if used would detect this fraud?

Suggest at least two additional internal controls that Dr.Conrad could implement.