Minimum: Two double-spaced pages, normal 1-inch margins, 12-point font

Maximum: Four double-spaced pages, normal 1-inch margins, 12-point font

It is February 16, 2020, and you are auditing Bloomfield Corporations financial statements for 2019 (which will be issued in March 2020). On February 15, 2020, you read in the newspaper that Tritt, Inc., a major customer of Bloomfield, currently is in financial difficulty. Included in Bloomfields accounts receivable is $50,000 (a material amount) owed to it by Tritt. You approach Tom Bloomfield, president of Bloomfield Corporation (your client), with this information and suggest that a reduction of accounts receivable and recognition of a loss on doubtful accounts for 2019 might be appropriate. Tom replies, Why should we make an adjustment? Mary Tritt, the president of Tritt, Inc., is a friend of mine; she will find a way to pay us, one way or another. Furthermore, this occurred in 2020, so lets wait and see what happens; we can always make an adjustment later this year. Required: In your position as the external auditor of Bloomfield Corporation, prepare a memo to Ms. Smith, the audit intern on the engagement, and address the following:

1. The ethical issues faced by yourself and the client.

2. Identify the major stakeholders involved and state how the stakeholders would be affected by the course of action suggested by Tom Bloomfield.

3. State the different accounting treatments that could apply to this situation.

4. Explain your suggested course of action.

5. Explain the proper accounting treatment and support your answer with appropriate authoritative citation.

Note: Ms. Smith is an intern, not an experienced auditor; therefore, the items in the memo should be explained in a manner that a novice can understand.

Refer to the Analytical Model for Ethical Decisions in Chapter 1 of the Spiceland textbook for guidance on reaching a decision. Refer to your Introductory Financial Accounting textbook.

Refer to Chapter 7 of the Spiceland textbook. Refer to Chapter 10 of A Handbook for Accountants by May and May for the basic principles, components, and format of a professional memo.