Question 420
A finance governance committee considers: An annual maintenance expense is prepaid, but the expense hits one month instead of spreading over coverage. Which repeatable safeguard is most targeted?
Explanation
Correct Answer
Reconcile prepaid schedules at each month-end. This prevents recurrence of the identified mechanism: Expense deferral allocates incurred prepaid costs over their benefit period. Validate the control by checking: Monthly recognized expense and unamortized prepaid balance reconcile to the original vendor invoice.
Incorrect Answers
Run overlap detection before subscription renewals and upgrades. That safeguard is aimed at a different risk: A customer upgrades from a monthly to an annual plan, but its old schedule continues billing and overlaps the new contract. It does not most directly prevent recurrence of: Expense deferral allocates incurred prepaid costs over their benefit period.
Require a signed amendment before changing schedule pricing. That safeguard is aimed at a different risk: A subscription customer receives a new contracted unit price midterm, but the billing schedule keeps the old amount. It does not most directly prevent recurrence of: Expense deferral allocates incurred prepaid costs over their benefit period.
Reconcile deferral schedules to invoicing and general ledger balances. That safeguard is aimed at a different risk: A prepaid annual license is invoiced today, but accounting books all recognized revenue immediately. It does not most directly prevent recurrence of: Expense deferral allocates incurred prepaid costs over their benefit period.