Harvard Case - Financial Reporting at Mattel
"Financial Reporting at Mattel" Harvard business case study is written by Aiyesha Dey, Trung Nguyen, Marshal Herrmann, Julia Kelley. It deals with the challenges in the field of Accounting. The case study is 28 page(s) long and it was first published on : Oct 12, 2021
At Fern Fort University, we recommend a comprehensive overhaul of Mattel's financial reporting system, focusing on improved transparency, accuracy, and consistency. This includes implementing a robust activity-based costing (ABC) system, strengthening internal controls, and enhancing corporate governance practices. These changes will ensure more reliable financial reporting, improve decision-making, and restore investor confidence.
2. Background
Mattel, a leading toy manufacturer, faced challenges in the early 2000s due to accounting irregularities and financial reporting issues. These issues led to a loss of investor confidence, a decline in stock price, and a significant drop in profitability. The case highlights the importance of sound financial reporting practices, the need for robust internal controls, and the role of corporate governance in ensuring ethical and transparent business operations.
The main protagonists in the case are:
- Mattel's Management: Responsible for overseeing the company's financial reporting and ensuring compliance with accounting standards.
- The Board of Directors: Responsible for providing oversight of management and ensuring ethical and transparent business practices.
- Investors: Rely on accurate and reliable financial information to make informed investment decisions.
- Auditors: Responsible for reviewing and verifying the accuracy of financial statements.
3. Analysis of the Case Study
This case study can be analyzed through the lens of several frameworks:
- Corporate Governance Framework: Mattel's shortcomings in corporate governance, including weak internal controls and a lack of transparency, contributed significantly to the financial reporting issues. The case highlights the importance of a strong board of directors, independent audit committees, and a culture of ethical behavior.
- Financial Reporting Framework: The case highlights the need for accurate and reliable financial reporting. Mattel's use of aggressive accounting practices, such as revenue recognition issues and improper cost allocation, led to distorted financial statements. This emphasizes the importance of adhering to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
- Cost Accounting Framework: The case highlights the need for accurate cost accounting practices. Mattel's reliance on traditional cost allocation methods led to inaccurate product costing and profitability analysis. Implementing an activity-based costing (ABC) system would provide a more accurate picture of product costs and profitability.
4. Recommendations
To address Mattel's financial reporting challenges, we recommend the following:
- Implement an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) System: This will provide a more accurate picture of product costs and profitability, enabling better decision-making regarding pricing, product mix, and resource allocation.
- Strengthen Internal Controls: This includes establishing clear procedures and policies for financial reporting, implementing segregation of duties, and conducting regular internal audits.
- Enhance Corporate Governance Practices: This involves strengthening the board of directors, establishing an independent audit committee, and promoting a culture of ethical behavior.
- Improve Transparency and Disclosure: Mattel should provide clear and concise financial reporting, including detailed disclosures about its accounting policies, assumptions, and risks.
- Focus on Employee Incentives: Align employee incentives with long-term shareholder value, discouraging aggressive accounting practices and promoting ethical behavior.
5. Basis of Recommendations
These recommendations are based on the following considerations:
- Core Competencies and Consistency with Mission: Implementing an ABC system, strengthening internal controls, and enhancing corporate governance practices are consistent with Mattel's core competencies in toy manufacturing and its mission of providing high-quality products for children.
- External Customers and Internal Clients: Improved financial reporting will provide investors with more reliable information, leading to increased confidence and investment. Internally, it will enable better decision-making and resource allocation.
- Competitors: Implementing these recommendations will help Mattel compete effectively in the toy industry by ensuring accurate financial reporting and improving operational efficiency.
- Attractiveness - Quantitative Measures: Implementing an ABC system will provide more accurate cost data, leading to better pricing strategies and improved profitability. Strengthening internal controls and enhancing corporate governance practices will reduce the risk of accounting irregularities and improve investor confidence, leading to a higher stock price and increased valuation.
6. Conclusion
By implementing these recommendations, Mattel can restore investor confidence, improve financial performance, and position itself for long-term growth. A robust financial reporting system, coupled with strong internal controls and ethical corporate governance practices, will be crucial for Mattel's success in the competitive toy market.
7. Discussion
Alternative solutions could include hiring external consultants to assist with the implementation of these recommendations or engaging in a merger or acquisition with another company to gain access to best practices and expertise. However, these options may be costly and time-consuming.
The key risks associated with our recommendations include resistance to change from employees, the potential for implementation errors, and the possibility of unforeseen challenges. However, the potential benefits of improved financial reporting, increased transparency, and enhanced corporate governance outweigh these risks.
8. Next Steps
The implementation of these recommendations should be phased in over a period of 12-18 months. Key milestones include:
- Months 1-3: Conduct a thorough assessment of Mattel's current financial reporting system and identify areas for improvement.
- Months 4-6: Develop a detailed implementation plan for the ABC system, including training for employees and system testing.
- Months 7-9: Implement the ABC system and begin using it for cost analysis and decision-making.
- Months 10-12: Strengthen internal controls and enhance corporate governance practices, including establishing clear procedures and policies, implementing segregation of duties, and conducting regular internal audits.
- Months 13-18: Monitor the effectiveness of the implemented changes and make adjustments as needed.
By following these steps, Mattel can successfully implement a comprehensive overhaul of its financial reporting system, leading to improved transparency, accuracy, and consistency. This will ultimately contribute to the company's long-term success and restore investor confidence.
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Case Description
In September 2020, Diana Ferguson was nearing her first Audit Committee meeting as the newly appointed Audit Committee chair of Mattel, Inc. Mattel was just recovering from an accounting scandal which had revealed the company's poor internal controls and weak board oversight over financial reporting, and the committee had important decisions to make going forward. In early 2018, Mattel's Tax team had discovered a significant reporting error in its third-quarter financial results. In consultation with Mattel's independent auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Mattel's finance team opted not to issue a correction and instead (effectively) concealed this mistake. This cover-up came to light in 2019, when an anonymous whistleblower reported the incident, setting off a chain of negative press coverage and senior-level resignations. Mattel responded by conducting an internal investigation, and concluded that, while their accounting processes needed to be improved, there was no evidence of fraud. Despite this, this issue had resurfaced in early 2020 when the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched a fresh investigation into the accounting error and subsequent cover-up. In light of these events, Ferguson and the Audit Committee faced a challenging road ahead with several important issues to consider. They needed to tackle Mattel's problematic governance and internal controls, and restore investor confidence in the company's financial disclosures. They also needed to review their earlier decision to continue to engage PwC as Mattel's auditor going forward.
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