Final answer:
The internal control typically associated with maintaining accurate inventory records is using physical inventory counts to adjust the perpetual records. This practice helps verify inventory quantities and values, ensuring financial reporting integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The internal control typically associated with the maintenance of accurate inventory records is d. using physical inventory counts as a basis for adjusting the perpetual records. This method involves regularly counting the physical inventory to verify the accuracy of the perpetual inventory records, which continually track inventory additions and subtractions. By periodically reconciling the physical count with the records, discrepancies can be identified and investigated, ensuring that inventory quantities and values are correct in the company's accounting system.
Alternative options such as performing regular comparisons of perpetual records with recent costs of inventory items (a) are helpful but more focused on cost control rather than inventory accuracy. Using a just-in-time system (b) is an inventory management strategy aimed at reducing the inventory on hand and associated holding costs, while performing a match of the purchase request, receiving report, and purchase order before payment is approved (c) is related to the procurement process and helps prevent unauthorized purchases, but it doesn't directly ensure accurate inventory records.
In conclusion, physical inventory counts are critical for the internal control of inventory records as they serve as a check against the perpetual records and help maintain the integrity of financial reporting.