Sweets R Us Pty Ltd. is a large confectionary company that manufactures a range of standard sweet products and some specialty products for the Australian market. Most of the companys production is in standard chocolate goods and they offer personalised packaging for promotional or fundraising purposes. They also provide uniquely moulded and decorated chocolate items for special events such as grand finals. You have been allocated the role of assessing the controls in the Purchases, Accounts Payable and Payments system, and have obtained the following details:

Raw material ordering process

1. To maintain and control product quality a limited number of trusted suppliers are used.
2. The production manager oversees raw material inventory. Orders are placed based on current production orders and quantities of raw material currently on hand with next day delivery where possible.
3. No formal purchase order system is used.

Raw material warehousing procedures

1. The warehouse personnel are trusted, long-term employees.
2. One of the warehousing staff ensures that all goods received, primarily raw materials, are in good order and signs the couriers delivery dockets in acknowledgment of materials received.
3. Movement of in and out of the warehouse is not recorded, but the production manager monitors stock levels and movements daily.

Note: Finished goods are warehoused in a separate secured area that only the production manager and his assistant have access to.

1. Identifies and explains t (5) control weaknesses associated with the purchases and accounts payable outlined above.
2. Identifies and explains the account balance assertions for raw material inventory and accounts payable that are most impacted by control weaknesses.
3. Recommends and justifies a control improvement for each of the weaknesses identified in requirement one.