Namaste Company manufactures a unique yoga mat. The company began operations December 1, 2018. Its accountant quit the second week of operations, and the company is searching for a replacement. The company has decided to test the knowledge and ability of all candidates interviewing for the position. Each candidate will be provided with the information below and then asked to prepare a series of reports, schedules, budgets, and recommendations based on that information. The information provided to each candidate is as follows.

Cost Items and Account Balances Administrative salaries $15,500 Advertising 11,000 Cash, December 1 0 Depreciation on factory building 1,500 Depreciation on office equipment 800 Insurance on factory building 1,500 Miscellaneous expensesfactory 1,000 Office supplies expense 300 Professional fees 500 Property taxes on factory building 400 Raw materials used 70,000 Rent on production equipment 6,000 Research and development 10,000 Sales commissions 40,000 Utility costsfactory 900 Wagesfactory 70,000 Work in process, December 1 0 Work in process, December 31 0 Raw materials inventory, December 1 0 Raw materials inventory, December 31 0 Raw material purchases 70,000 Finished goods inventory, December 1 0

Production and Sales Data Number of mats produced 10,000 Expected sales in units for December ($40 unit sales price) 8,000 Expected sales in units for January 10,000 Desired ending inventory 20% of next months sales Direct materials per finished unit 1 kilogram Direct materials cost $7 per kilogram Direct labor hours per unit .35 Direct labor hourly rate $20

Cash Flow Data Cash collections from customers: 75% in month of sale and 25% the following month. Cash payments to suppliers: 75% in month of purchase and 25% the following month. Income tax rate: 45%. Cost of proposed production equipment: $720,000. Manufacturing overhead and selling and administrative costs are paid as incurred. Desired ending cash balance: $30,000.

Instructions Using all the data presented above, do the following.

Please complete in Excel spreadsheet showing calculations if possible!

12. Identify one potential cause of direct materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead variances in the production of the helmet.

13. Determine the cash payback period on the proposed production equipment purchase, assuming a monthly cash fl ow as indicated in the cash budget (requirement 10f).