Trading and distribution businesses need records that connect purchases, inventory movement, landed costs, sales, returns and cash. BizPro can help clarify these flows, strengthen reconciliations and align accounting, GST, governance, data handling and reporting processes around the business’s actual operating model.
Follow the movement of goods and information
Physical goods, supplier documents and system entries do not always move together. A timing or quantity difference can affect inventory, payables, cost of sales, margin reporting and GST evidence. A useful review follows the end-to-end transaction instead of treating each account in isolation.
Purchasing, inventory and landed costs
The business should define when purchases and inventory are recognised, how quantities are received, how freight or other attributable costs are handled, and how differences are investigated. The appropriate accounting treatment depends on facts and the applicable reporting framework; it should not be inferred from a generic page.
Sales, returns and customer credit
Order, delivery, invoice, return, credit note and receipt records need consistent references. Credit limits and collections may also require clear approval and escalation. Management reporting should distinguish volume, price, mix, returns and cost changes where the data supports it.
GST and source evidence
Imports, exports, local supplies and special transaction types can have different evidence and GST implications. Current IRAS guidance and transaction-specific facts should be checked. Returns should reconcile to the accounting records, with exceptions documented.
Reporting and workflow improvement
Potential improvements include better master-data ownership, receiving controls, inventory reconciliations, margin views, exception reporting and automated document routing. Automation should surface discrepancies rather than force uncertain items through.
Governance and personal-data touchpoints
Customer and supplier contacts, delivery details, credit records, staff approvals and account access may contain personal or confidential information. Roles should separate master-data changes, purchasing, receiving, credit approval, payment and review where proportionate, with compensating checks where a small team cannot fully separate duties.
Scope depends on the operating model
Wholesale, import, export, consignment, drop-shipping and multi-location models differ. BizPro must confirm the actual flow, systems, volume and jurisdictions before recommending scope.
Questions to bring to the initial discussion
- How do purchase orders, receipts, supplier invoices and landed-cost evidence connect?
- How do orders, deliveries, returns, credit notes, receipts and customer-credit decisions connect?
- Which inventory quantities, values, locations and exceptions are reconciled?
- Which import, export or unusual transactions need GST and source-evidence review?
- Who can change master data, approve purchases, release credit, pay suppliers and review exceptions?
- What customer, supplier, staff or access data needs governance and protection?
Discuss the next step
This information is general and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice. Scope and advice depend on the facts and current requirements.