Accounting

Revenue Recognition Policies

The purpose of this paper is to compare the revenue recognition policies of

two companies in the search, detection, navigation, guidance, and

aeronautical systems industry. The two companies I have selected are

Aerosonic Corporation, and Esco Electronics Company.

Esco Electronics Company is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and

support of engineered products. These products are used principally in

filteration/fluid flow applications, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

testing, and electric utility communications and control systems. The

filtration/fluid flow and EMC testing products are supplied to a broad base

of industrial and commercial customers worldwide. At the present time,

electric utility communications systems are marketed primarily to customers

in North America. The four primary industry segments of Esco are

Filtration/Fluid Flow, Test, Communications, and other.

In order for Esco to conform with generally accepted accounting principles,

management must make careful estimates in preparing the financial

statements. These estimates are for anticipated contract costs and revenues

earned during the life of the contract. These amounts affect the reported

amounts of assets and liabilities on the company’s financial statements.

Actual results could differ from these numbers.

Revenues are recognized on commercial sales when products are shipped

or when services are performed. Revenue on production contracts are

recorded when specific contract terms are fulfilled. These amounts are

determined either by the units of production or delivery methods. Revenues

from cost reimbursement contracts are recorded as costs are incurred, plus

fees earned. Revenue under long-term contracts in which the previous two

methods are inappropriate, the percentage-of-completion method is used.

Revenue under engineering contracts are generally recognized as certain

“milestones” are attained.

The percentage-of-completion method recognizes a portion of the estimated

gross profit for each period based on progress to date. Progress to date is

based on three factors. These three factors are the costs incurred to date,

the most recent estimate of the project’s total cost, and the most recent

gross profit percentage. Progress to date is assumed to ...

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...s these items as sales. Like Esco, Aerosonic

follows the percentage-of completion method to account for long-term

engineering contracts. Revisions in costs and revenue estimates are reflected

in the periods in which the revisions are made. Provisions for estimated

losses are determined without regard to the percentage-of-completion.

Like Esco, Aerosonic’s financial statements are based heavily on

management’s estimates. To auditors, this raises a red flag. Auditors must

be careful when conducting the audits of these particular companies. It is

rather easy, and conceivable for management to manipulate earnings to

meet projected totals. Another important area is that a company like

Aerosonic has one major customer, and that is U.S. government. Another

important factor is that Aerosonic recognizes revenue when title transfers to

the government. Since the two parties are closely related in a business

sense, Aerosonic may have the incentive to push titles of products to the

government to meet target revenues. Auditors should take care in

determining whether or not the financial statements conform generally

accepted accounting principles.