Final answer:
To determine the days' sales in accounts receivable, first calculate the average accounts receivable, then the accounts receivable turnover ratio, and finally divide the days in a year by this ratio. The result for the given figures is 75 days.
Step-by-step explanation:
The days' sales in accounts receivable is calculated using the average accounts receivable and net credit sales to give insight into how effectively a company is managing its accounts receivable.
Steps to Calculate Days' Sales in Accounts Receivable:
- Calculate the average accounts receivable by adding the beginning and ending accounts receivable, then dividing by two. For the values given: (290,000+201,000)/2 = 245,500.
- Divide the net credit sales by the average accounts receivable to find the accounts receivable turnover ratio. Using the values given: 1,200,000 / 245,500 = 4.89 times.
- Finally, to find the days' sales in accounts receivable, divide the number of days in a year (365) by the accounts receivable turnover ratio. 365 / 4.89 = 74.64 days.
Rounding to the nearest whole day, the company's days' sales in accounts receivable would be 75 days.