CH01_Bragg_36794 3/13/01 9:40 M Page 9 PART I Purpose of Cost Accounting 9 CH01_Bragg_36794 3/13/01 9:40 M Page 10 CH01_Bragg_36794 3/13/01 9:40 M Page 11 CHAPTER 1 Role of Cost Accounting When properly implemented, the cost accounting function can have a pervasive influence in the modern corporation. Unfortunately, it is not always properly implemented because management often is not completely aware of all the uses to which the cost accounting function can be put. This chapter describes the main categories of activities in which this function can become involved, and can be used as a guide by the controller in creating a well-rounded niche for the cost accountant. EXTERNAL REPORTING The key task for the cost accountant is …show more content…
However, in terms of volume, the cost accountant probably issues more scorekeeping report cards than reports. These are simple reports, usually presenting a trend line of performance for a single key measurement that is posted frequently—perhaps daily. For example, the accounting staff may be called on to create a graph of machine utilization for each machine and post it on the appropriate machine every day. This is a highly standardized repetitive format that is easy to prepare and is targeted at a specific performance criterion. One can count on creating and distributing hundreds of these reports over the course of a full career in accounting. 13 CH01_Bragg_36794 3/13/01 9:40 M Page 14 ROLE OF COST ACCOUNTING BUDGETING Several of the subsidiary-level budgets that roll up into the main corporate budget involve information to which the cost accountant can contribute a great deal (Chapter 36). For example, the production budget includes estimated direct costs for each product the company expects to manufacture in the upcoming year, as well as estimated overhead allocations per unit based on expected production volumes. Cost accountants are in the best position to supply this information since they have access to all the needed information—bills of material, routings, throughput capacity constraints, and sales estimates by unit. Similarly, the direct labor budget requires input about expected labor costs, which requires information from
Managerial accounting is essential for decision making. Making the best choice depends on the manager's goals, the anticipated results from each alternative, and the information available when the decision is made (Schneider, 2012). The different techniques associated with managerial accounting are very helpful in the decisions that need to be made. In order to truly understand decision making with managerial accounting one must first discern exactly what managerial accounting means and some of the techniques associated with it. The definition of managerial accounting will be discussed along with the techniques of cost management techniques, budgeting, and quality control.
Dynamic companies use their internal budgets to make course adjustments throughout the year. For instance, if a product or service is not doing well in the first half of the year in comparison to the forecast or budget, the management team can use that information to make necessary changes or to scale back operations until market trends or the economy changes. Managerial accounts are the value creator for the organization (Collier, 2003). Their forward-looking capacity will help the organization to plan and make decisions for future profitability. The management accountants have a dual role to perform in an organization. The management accountant works as a strategic partner to provide strategic based financial and operational information (Collier, 2003). They are also responsible for business team management in organizations. The management accountant plays a prominent role in preparing financial reports, risk, and regulatory reporting, aggregating financial information, forecasting and planning important organizational information. Managerial accountants often perform cost analysis of products and divisions, which include variable and fixed costs. The production decisions made by managers are a direct result of information received from managerial accountants.
Equally important is the managerial accounting information. Since managerial accounting information includes economic, physical, and financial, there are many more accountability reports that must be generated and evaluated (Edmonds & et al, 2008). In the article, Costco must evaluate techniques that reduce labor, expedite inventory and
Kess, M. (1995). Cost accounting and cost analysis at the united states mint. The Government Accountants Journal, 44(2), 56. Retrieved from http://prx-herzing.lirn.net/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.prx-herzing.lirn.net/docview/222366904?accountid=167104
Almost every single company that is in business faces a serious problem called cost allocation. Every company no matter what they sell or what service they provide faces the problem of allocating costs to defined cost objects. The cost allocation process is a very hard process for most. Cost allocation is a very complex and difficult procedure that requires the application of appropriate accounting procedures. These accounting methods sometimes will not provide objective and fair cost allocation because they have irrational bases that are not always reliable or appropriate. This is why accounting theory and practice steadily try to advance upon methods that are already in place and help develop new ones that could provide objective and fair cost allocation (Perčević & Dražić, 2008).
In this module you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of cost terms and their application in the aviation industry.
The management of the cost of the company's product is an important part, which a cost accountant has to deal with. The profit of the company depends on the extent of the control on the production cost of the product. As the increase in sales and the profitability is the main aim of the management, so it will attract more conflicts of views and multiple sources of actions. A cost accountant has work in this direction and clears the things to the management so that they can have appropriate decisions with regard to the product, its costs and the company's profits at
As Certified Public Accountants, my staff and I were able to construct numerous financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, journal entries, job cost sheets and variable costing structures) that can illustrate a clearer description on how revenues and expenses relate to each other based on product output and input, as well as how direct labor and overhead can have a great impact on the company’s net income and operating income.
Bhimani, A., Horngren, C., Datar, S., Rajan, M. et al. (2012) Management and Cost Accounting. 5th ed. Edinburgh: Prentice Hall, p.369 - 378.
Would factory security and assembly activities be best classified at an appliance manufacturing plant as unit-level, batch-level, product-level, or organization-sustaining?
Cost Accounting: Its role and ethical considerations Introduction: Accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, and communicating economic information about an entity for the purpose of making decisions and informed judgements. The major areas of within the accounting are: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting/Cost Accounting and Auditing- Public Accounting Managerial accounting is concerned with the use of economic and financial information to plan and control the activities of an entity and to support the management in planning and decision-making process. Cost accounting is the subset of managerial accounting and it helps management in determination and accumulation of product, process or service cost.
Costing system is the most important part for any business or engineering company. Cost accounting is necessary for a company to be able to exercise control over the actual costs incurred compared with planned expenditure. From the point of view of cost control, a costing system should not only be able to identify any costs that are running out of control but should also provide a tool that can assist in determining the action that is required to doing right things.
Nonvalue-added activities do not add value to the goods or services. 1–4. Differential costs are important for managerial decision making, but other cost data can provide management with additional important information. For example, inventory values and costs of goods sold are important for income tax and financial reporting purposes as well as for most bonus and cost-plus contracting purposes. Costs for performance evaluation are not necessarily differential costs. Companies try to recover all costs, hence some estimate of total costs is needed. (This could be an opportunity to discuss short-run and long-run costs with students, noting that in the long run, all costs must be covered.)
Management accounting is described as “a profession that involves partnering in management decision making, devising planning and performance management systems, and providing expertise in financial reporting and control to assist management in the formulation and implementation of an organisations strategy” (Blocher, et al., 2009). Many Changes in the business environment have occurred in recent years which have caused substantial adjustments in cost management practices leading to a contemporary business environment. These changes in the business environment have caused management accountants to respond by implementing and innovating specific management techniques to better implement strategy in these dynamic times. Also in looking at
There are different costs that respond to the different activities like variable costs are directly associated with the products sold. The cost behavior patterns of selling, general, administrative, and other operating expenses are determined, and these expenses are budgeted accordingly. For example, sales commissions will be a function of the forecast of either sales dollars or units. The historical pattern of some expenses will be affected by changes in strategy that management may plan for the budget period. In a participative budgeting system, the manager of each department or cost responsibility center will submit the anticipated cost of the department 's planned activities, along with descriptions of the activities and explanations of significant differences from past experience. After review by higher levels of management, and perhaps negotiation, a final budget will be established. Because of the necessity to recognize cost behavior patterns for planning and control purposes, overhead costs will be classified as variable or fixed.