In: Accounting
Willingham Construction is in the business of building high-priced, custom, single-family homes. The company, headquartered in Anaheim, California, operates throughout the Southern California area. The construction period for the average home built by Willingham is six months, although some homes have taken as long as nine months.
You have just been hired by Willingham as the assistant controller and one of your first tasks is to evaluate the company’s revenue recognition policy. The company presently recognizes revenue upon completion for all of its projects and management is now considering whether revenue recognition over time is appropriate.
Revenue recognition policies describe that when a revenue should
be recognised.
These policies states that revenue should only be recognised by the
organisation whenever it become certain to receive such
revenue.
In construction business such revenues can be recognised on the amount of completion of work or whenever the construction is approved.
In the given case :
Willingham Construction is in the business of building
high-priced, custom, single-family homes. The company,
headquartered in Anaheim, California, operates throughout the
Southern California area. The construction period for the average
home built by Willingham is six months, although some homes have
taken as long as nine months.
Also, the company presently recognizes revenue upon completion for
all of its projects.
Such revenues by the Willingham Construction can also be recognised
before the completion for all of its projects.
Revenues can be recognised based on billing and approval of
completion.
Revenues can be recognised in installments also.
Even though the company's present policy of recognition for revenues is also correct but still before the completion for all of its projects, the company can recognize the revenues in its financial statements.