LOS f: Describe the process of converting a cash flow statement from the indirect to the direct method of presentation.

Beginning with net sales, calculating cash collected from customers requires the addition (subtraction) of any increase (decrease) in unearned revenue. Cash advances from customers represent unearned revenue and are not included in net sales, so any advances must be added to net sales in order to calculate cash collected.

An inventory writedown, as a result of applying the lower of cost or market rule, will reduce ending inventory and increase COGS for the period. However, no cash flow is associated with the writedown, so COGS is reduced by the amount of the writedown in calculating cash paid to suppliers.

A decrease in accounts receivable represents an increase in cash so this should be added to sales. Increases in accounts payable represent an increase in cash so these should be subtracted from cost of goods sold. Increases in inventory represent a use of cash so these would be added to cost of goods sold.

Decreases in inventory represent a source of cash so these would be subtracted from cost of goods sold. Any depreciation and/or amortization included in the cost of goods sold does not represent an actual use of cash, so this amount should be subtracted from cost of goods sold. Decreases in accounts payable represent a use of cash so these should be added to cost of goods sold.

The cash flows from investing activities and cash flows from financing activities sections of the statement of cash flows are the same for both the indirect and direct methods. Only the cash flows from operations section must be adjusted to convert the statement of cash flows from the indirect to the direct method.