Consequence of the cash operating cycle, Financial Management

Assignment Help:

Q. Consequence of the cash operating cycle?

The cash operating cycle is the length of time among paying trade payables and receiving cash from receivables. It is able to be calculated by adding together the average inventory holding period and the average receivables' deferral period and then subtracting the average payables' deferral period. The inventory holding period perhaps subdivided into the holding periods for raw materials work-in-progress and finished goods. In words of accounting ratios the cash operating cycle is able to be approximated by adding together inventory days and receivables days (receivables' ratio) and subtracting payables days (payables' ratio). If payables are paid prior to cash is received from receivables the cash operating cycle is positive if receivables pay before trade payables are paid the cycle is negative.

The consequence of the cash operating cycle in determining the level of investment in working capital is that the longer the cash operating cycle the higher the investment in working capital. The length of the cash operating cycle differ among industries for instance a service organization may have no inventory holding period a retail organization will have a inventory holding period based almost entirely on finished goods and a very low level of receivables and a manufacturing organization will have a inventory holding period based on raw materials work-in-progress and finished goods. The stage of investment in working capital will thus depend on the nature of business operations.

The cash operating cycle as well as the resulting level of investment in working capital does not depend only on the nature of the business however. Companies within the similar business sector may have different levels of investment in working capital measured for example by the accounting ratio of sales/net working capital as a result of adopting different working capital policies. A moderately aggressive policy on the level of investment in working capital is characterized by lower levels of inventory and receivables this lower level of investment raises profitability but also increases the risk of running out of inventory or of losing potential customers due to better credit terms being offered by competitors. A moderately conservative policy on the level of investment in working capital has higher levels of investment in inventory and receivables: profitability is consequently reduced but the risk of stock-outs is lower and new credit customers may be attracted by more generous terms.

It is as well possible to reduce the level of investment in working capital by reducing the length of the cash operating cycle. This is achieved by decreasing the inventory holding period (for example by using JIT methods) by reducing the receivables deferral period (for example by improving receivables management) or by increasing the payables deferral period (for example by settling invoices as late as possible). In this manner an understanding of the cash operating cycle can assist in taking steps to improve working capital management and profitability.


Related Discussions:- Consequence of the cash operating cycle

Business proposal of a pet care shop, With the advent of globalization ther...

With the advent of globalization there had been much importance which is being given to the issues related to the general health of pets and other associated services as the people

Types of capital budgeting, Types of Capital Budgeting Decisions: A bu...

Types of Capital Budgeting Decisions: A business organization has to quite normal face the problem of capital investment decisions. Capital investment defines as the investmen

Leverage, evaluate the importance of leverage in a small scale company

evaluate the importance of leverage in a small scale company

Explain vernon’s product life cycle theory of fdi, Explain Vernon’s product...

Explain Vernon’s product life-cycle theory of FDI. What are the strength and weakness of the theory? Answer:  As to the product life-cycle theory, companies undertake FDI at a ce

Caselets, How would you judge the potential profit of Bajaj Electronics on ...

How would you judge the potential profit of Bajaj Electronics on the first year of sales to Booth Plastics and give your views to increase the profit.

Define country risk, Define country risk. How is it different from politica...

Define country risk. How is it different from political risk? Country risk is a broader quantify of risk as compared to the political risk, as the former encompasses political ri

Explain about the debt policy, Explain about the debt policy Designing...

Explain about the debt policy Designing debt policy the debt policy of a firm is significantly influenced by the cost consideration. In designing financing policy, that is, p

Sunk cost, Sunk Cost This is a cost which has already been incurred and...

Sunk Cost This is a cost which has already been incurred and cannot be affected through present or future decisions.

Obtain the break even rate, Question 1 (a) These are merely the diffe...

Question 1 (a) These are merely the differences of the two prices. Consequently the mark to market losses are given by { Q 1 - Q 0 ,Q 2 - Q 0 ,Q 3 - Q 0

Determine the example of future value of an annuity, Determine the example ...

Determine the example of Future Value of an Annuity An annual payment of 7000 $ is invested at 5% per annum compounded yearly. What will be the amount after 20 years? Solut

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd