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MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
GROUP ASSIGNMENT
19.1 UGC A1
Year 01 Semester 02
Module Code: 1306_MGT
Module Lecturer: Ms. Maithri Vidana
Date of submission: 9th January 2020
19.1 UGC A1
BSc in Business Management
National School of Business Management
Group Members
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Acknowledgment
The completion of this assignment should not have been possible without the
participation and assistance of so many people. We would like to express our
special thanks and gratitude to our lecturer Ms. Maithri Vidana who gave us this
opportunity to do this assignment of management accounting on modern costing
methods and this assignment cannot be completed without the effort and
cooperation from our group members. Their contributions are sincerely
appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. Finally we would like to dedicate this
report as an appreciation for all your support.
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Contents
1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………..5
2. Objectives………………………………………………………………………………………………………7
3. Types of Variance analysis……………………………………………………………………………..8
I. Total sales variance………………………………………………………………................8
i. Sales price variance…………………………………………………………………….8
ii. Sales volume variance………………………………………………………………..8
iii. Sales mix variance………………………………………………………………………8
iv. Sales quantity variance……………………………………………………………...8
II. Total cost variance………………………………………………………………………………9
i. Material variance……………………………………………………………………….9
a. Direct material price variance…………………………………………..9
b. Direct material usage variance…………………………………………9
c. Direct material mix variance…………………………………………….9
d. Direct material yield variance…………………………………………..9
ii. Labor variance……………………………………………………………………………9
a. Direct labor rate variance…………………………………………………9
b. Direct labor efficiency variance………………………………………10
c. Direct labor idle time variance……………………………………….10
iii. Variable overhead variance……………………………………………………10
a. Variable overhead spending variance……………………………10
b. Variable overhead efficiency variance…………………………..10
iv. Fixed overhead variance……………………………………………….............10
a. Fixed overhead total variance…………………………………………10
b. Fixed overhead spending variance………………………………….11
c. Fixed overhead volume capacity and efficiency variance..11
4. Analysis of variance analysis…………………………………………………………………………11
I. Main characteristics, main roles and purpose of variance analysis……11
i. Main characteristics…………………………………………………………………11
ii. Main roles……………………………………………………………………………….12
iii. Purpose……………………………………………………………………………………14
II. Comparison of variance analysis with other techniques……………………15
i. Forecasting……………………………………………………………………………….15
ii. Budget process…………………………………………………………………………16
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III. Implementation of practical usage of Variance Analysis in Highland
Company ……………………………………………………………………………………………17
IV. Advantages and Disadvantages of variance analysis…………………………..20
i. Advantages…………………………………………………………………………….20
ii. Disadvantages…………………………………………………………………………21
5. Potential development in management accounting……………………………………22
6. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………….24
7. References………………………………………………………………………………………………….25
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1. Introduction
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The total cost difference can be reconciled by comparing the actual and standard
cost through variance. The main purpose of variance is to provide reasons for off-
standard performance. Management can correct errors, improve operations and
deploy resources effectively to reduce costs using this technique.
Two main types of variances are considered under this variance analysis
technique;
1. Total Sales Variance
2. Total Cost Variance
Total sales variance is the difference between budgeted sales and actual sales. It
is used to analyze the business results and to measure the performance of the
sales function to understand the market conditions in a better way. This includes
subtypes of variances; sales price variance, sales volume variance, sales quantity
variance, and sales mix variance.
Total cost variance is the difference between budgeted costs and actual costs. If
actual costs are less than budgeted costs, then it is a favorable variance and if
actual costs are higher than budgeted costs then it is an unfavorable variance.
This includes subtypes of variances; material variance, labor variance, variable
overhead variance, fixed overhead variance.
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2. Objectives
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3. Types of Variance Analysis
Sales price variance= Actual Price × Actual units sold – Standard price × Standard units sold
Sales price variance = Actual Sales Revenue - Standard Revenue of Actual Units Sold
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II. Total Cost Variance
i. Material variance
i. Direct material price variance
The direct material price variance is the difference between the actual cost
of direct material and the standard cost of the quantity purchased or
consumed.
Material price variance = (Standard Unit Price – Actual Unit Price) × Actual Usage
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ii. Direct labor efficiency variance
Direct labor efficiency variance is the measure of the difference between the
standard cost of the actual number of direct labor hours utilized during a
period and the standard hours of direct labor for the stage of output
achieved.
Labor idle time variance = Number of Idle Hours × Standard Labor Rate
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Fixed overhead total variance
= Actual Fixed Overheads × Absorbed Fixed Overheads
i. Main Characteristics
Actual financial performance is compared with budgeted
financial performance periodically.
It estimates the earnings achievable of the business unit.
Variance analysis is prepared for a defined future period.
It is prepared in either in monetary terms or in quantitative
terms or in both.
Variance analysis acts as a control mechanism
Facilitates assigning responsibility and engages control
mechanisms on departments.
Helps managers in making efficient and detailed budgetary
decisions.
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ii. Main Roles
Materiality
A materiality limit is the level of factual fluctuation considered important, or
significant. This will shift from organization to organization. For instance, a
business target change of $100,000 will be more material to an independent
venture retailer than to a national retailer acquainted with producing billions
in yearly incomes. Then again, a 2 percent cost overwhelm may be
unimportant for an independent venture however convert into a huge
number of dollars for a larger organization.
Relationship
Connections between sets of factors may likewise be recognized when
performing change examination. Positive and negative connections are
essential in business arranging. For instance, fluctuation examination may
uncover that when sales for gadget A ascent there is an associated ascend in
the sales for gadget B. Enhanced security includes for one item may bring
about deals increments. This data may be utilized to exchange this
accomplishment with another comparative item.
Forecasting
An essential kind of expectation is business forecasting. It utilizes examples
of past business information to build a hypothesis about future execution.
Difference information is put into a setting that enables an investigator to
recognize factors, for example, occasions or regular changes as the main
driver of positive or negative fluctuations. For instance, the month to month
example of offers of TVs more than five years may recognize a positive deals
incline to pave the way to the start of the school year. Subsequently, gauges
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for TV deals throughout the following year may incorporate expanding stock
by a specific rate in light of authentic deals designs in the weeks prior to the
begin of nearby colleges' fall term.
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Hold managers accountable
The variance analysis is often written up in document shape by way of the
finance personnel with explanations of why the foremost variances occurred.
The business proprietor may additionally talk about the effects with each of
her managers individually, or she may also acquire them together for a
month-to-month meeting and go over the effects of all departments. These
discussions enable the proprietor to get greater extraordinary explanations
about why variances took place and discuss what each and every branch
supervisor intends to do to tackle larger serious variances by revising
methods or making changes to operations.
iii. Purpose
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II. Comparison of variance analysis with other techniques
i. Forecasting
Forecasting is the way toward foreseeing future numbers for the
business. A considerable lot of these future numbers rely upon business
insights from the past, so bookkeepers regularly perform a significant
part of the forecasting work in organizations. They utilize rates of return
and rates of progress keeping in mind the end goal to foresee future
figures as precisely as could reasonably be expected. This enables the
business to choose what undertakings to seek after and where to set
objectives. There are a few particular regions where forecasting is utilized
as a part of spending plans and comparable money related explanations.
Its characteristics are: The forecast is ordinarily constrained to significant
income and cost line things. There is generally no forecast for the
budgetary position, however, money streams might be forecast. The
forecast is refreshed at standard interim, maybe a month to month or
quarterly. The forecast might be utilized for here and now operational
contemplation, for example, changes in accordance with staffing, stock
levels, and the creative design. There is no change examination that looks
at the forecast for real outcomes. Changes in the forecast don't affect
execution-based remuneration paid to representatives.
Key features of forecasting are its use as an estimation tool, way to
address an unsure enterprise environment and issues, a tool to predicting
occasions associated with operations planning and control, an imperative
prerequisite for the basic business planning process.
Variance analysis is critical and can be more precise and proficient. Plans
regularly go amiss which is fine if it's your super designs. Nonetheless,
when your genuine outcomes don't sync with your money financial plan,
you have an issue.
Each broad record account adjust of your month to month real outcomes
is probably going to be unique in relation to your arrangement, it's just a
matter of by how much. The main thing you have to decide is the thing
that the level of variance is worthy 1%, 5%, 10+%. When you establish
that you can proceed onward and start to dissect what the distinctions
are, and what caused them. The way that there is variance isn't all by
itself an awful thing – you may have chosen that in reality, you have to
approach things uniquely in contrast to when you set up your vital
arrangement together a half year back – a considerable amount can
change in a half year.
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Variance analysis is an important malevolence, as you close the month or
year. Truth be told unless you comprehend what your variance is
involved "shutting the books" for the month is a non-starter.
Delving into the numbers behind the variances can be a test. Exceed
expectations-based arranging can be defective. Indeed, even precise
suspicions can be traded off by broken equations, connections or macros.
Wage Statement arranging is generally straight forward, yet at last
despite everything, it includes a considerable measure of manual work.
Monetary record and Cash Flow arranging in exceed expectations are
loaded with risk since such huge numbers of your suspicions are gotten
from your wage proclamation, yet your key money related reports are
readied free of each other. In the event that you require 100% precision
in your arrangement as your reason for significant variances analysis, you
require an option that is other than exceed expectations. Bundled
applications are your answer. In any case, not every bundled application
are made equivalent.
Generally, the advantageous, the most exact way to deal with arranging
and subsequently variance analysis ensure the application you pick has
worked in a money related and operational rationale and synchronizes
your key monetary reports, so your presumptions are predictable all
through. After all precision and productivity are what you're searching for
as a reason for breaking down your variance.
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Negotiation of budgets with greater management, Co-ordination and
review of budgets, Final acceptance of budgets, Ongoing evaluate of the
budgets. Stages in variance analysis are compared actual and standard
costs, calculate variance, select important variance, identify reasons for
variance, make conclusions and take actions.
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Materials Direct labor Variable
used manufacturing
overhead
Total standard cost $16 800 $10 500 $4200
allowed*
Actual costs incurred $15 000 ? $3600
Direct materials ?
price variance
Direct materials $1200
quantity variance
Direct labor rate ?
variance
Direct labor ?
efficiency variance
Variable overhead ?
rate variance
Variable overhead ?
efficiency variance
*For the month’s
production
Required;
1. What is the standard cost of a single backpack?
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1. Standard cost for march production
Materials $16 800
Direct labor 10 500
Variable manufacturing overhead 4200
Total standard cost (a) $31 500
Number of backpacks produced (b) 1000
Standard cost of single backpack $31.50
(a)÷(b)
2. Standard cost of a single backpack $31.50
(above)
Deduct difference between standard 0.15
cost and actual cost
Actual cost per backpack $31.35
3. Total standard cost of materials $16 800
allowed during march (a)
Number of backpacks produced 1000
during march (b)
Standard materials cost per $16.80
backpack (a)÷(b)
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IV. Advantages and disadvantages of variance analysis
i. Advantages
1. Help to management
The functions of the management are planning, coordination,
organization, motivation, and control. Variance analysis helps the
administration in performing its functions in the following manner;
Planning
Activities are studied carefully, previously and requirements
are constant on a conceivable basis, with effort. This is a
beneficial exercise in commercial enterprise planning.
Variance analysis instills in the management an addiction of
thinking, in advance.
Coordination
Variance is constant for exceptional functions such as
purchasing, selling, production, accounting, etc. Coordination
is completed between the exceptional functions, through the
working of variance analysis.
Organization
Facilitates Delegation of Authority: Shortfalls are to be
recognized for corrective action. So, the agency chart is
organized which establishes the responsibilities of the
executives. With the assist of an organization chart, authority
is defined and responsibility for corrective action is identified,
in the very beginning. This helps the higher success of
consequences as authority and responsibility go hand in hand
for better performance.
2. It is used for cost control.
3. The top management can follow the principle of administration
through exception.
4. Only adverse variances are reporting to management.
5. It highlights all inefficient performances and the extent of
inefficiency.
6. The sub-division of variance analysis discloses the relationship
prevailing between distinct variances.
7. It is relatively useful for fixing the responsibility of an individual or
department or section for every variance separately.
8. The consequences of managerial action can be a price reduction.
9. It creates cost-consciousness in the minds of each worker of the
business organization.
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ii. Disadvantages
1) Unsuitable for job orders
Variance analysis is high priced and unsuitable in job order industries
and units engaged in manufacturing non-standardized products. For
example, in a repair workshop, for each repair job undertaken,
standards have to be set. Setting a variance analysis for each
individual job is pretty expensive.
2) Conditions change
A commercial enterprise may also not be capable to preserve
requirements up-to-date. Conditions trade-in enterprise and are
never static. Standards to have to alternate with the times. Revision
of standards is costly. If firms ignore to revise standards, suitably, the
injury would occur. If a commercial enterprise does no longer revise
the standard in manufacturing conditions, in tune with changes, even
the modern stage of development may not be sustained. Firms may
also no longer revise requirements as it is a difficult and highly-priced
affair.
3) Difficult to establish
It is hard to set up standard costs. Inaccurate standards do greater
harm than good. Inaccurate and unreliable standards may
additionally provide misleading results. The variance analysis set may
not enjoy the self-assurance of the users.
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5. Potential development in management accounting
Management accounting causes an affiliation to make due in the focused, ever-changing
world since it offers a vital higher hand to an affiliation that aid’s administrative activity,
persuades practices, underpins and makes the social esteems important to accomplish an
association's key destinations. Management accounting offers data from its circumstance to
administration to motivate basic leadership. Great management accounting records have
three traits. The first one is technical-it upgrades the comprehension of the marvels
estimated and offers considerable records to integral choices. The second one is behavioral-
it empowers activities that are reliable with an association's key targets. The third one is
cultural-it underpins as well as makes an association of shared social esteems, convictions,
and mentalities in affiliation and society.
The improvement of management accounting is receptive to the requests of administration
and the earth. Management accounting adjusts to hierarchical change and three
noteworthy powers make associations advance: progressive change, globalization, and
client needs. Management accounting is not new in any feeling of the world. The beginnings
of present-day management accounting can be followed to the development of oversaw,
innovative ventures in the mid-nineteenth century.
Kaplan attracts on Johnson's work in this segment based on crafted by means of Chandler,
Littleton, Solomon, and Garner. It creates the impact that data required for arranging and
manipulate emerged amid the predominant element of the nineteenth century in material
vegetation and railways, and later on to some diploma later in tobacco businesses and
metal-production enterprises. It is fascinating and necessary to take notice of that
deterioration and the coordinating concept had no longer been created as of now, so
settled costs were not distributed to items or periods. What's more, capital planning had no
longer been created.
Frederick Taylor and Hamilton Church were powerful amid the mid-1900s in developing
gauges and estimating and assigning overhead expenses to items. Earn back the original
investment examination was utilized as a section of 1903. The church appears to have
comprehended the concept we now allude to as action-based costing in 1908, cautioning
that all overhead costs ought no longer to be stacked onto items utilizing direct work as the
cost designation premise.
In 1923, J. Maurice Clark expounded on numerous ideas that despite everything we find in
management accounting books today, for example, avoidable cost, differential prices, and
sunk expenses. He moreover confused distinctive prices for a number of purposes, utilizing
measurable strategies to assess price habits and preserving cash related accounting
information isolate from cost accounting data. Cost records were once utilized for key
choices identified with evaluating and working effectiveness. After 1925, little was created
that affected practice. Joel Dean expounded on capital planning, GE built up the lingering
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wage estimation, alternate valuing remained an unsolved issue, and a few methods, for
example,
Direct programming, nonlinear programming, relapse examination, and possibility
speculation were produced in operations inquire about.
Data financial aspects and organization hypothesis have been scholastic points, but these
models barred the phase of learning, development, and other indispensable zones, for
example, promoting, preparing, inspiration, quality, and upkeep. Exchange cost financial
aspects moreover created amid this era, however, it was not sufficiently tried and had little
impact on training. For the most part, this writing was without references to authentic
associations. The customary cost accounting model created for large scale manufacturing of
institutionalized items should be refreshed to help new working ideas, for example, without
a moment to spare, zero deformities, zero stock, an agreeable workforce, adaptable
assembling frameworks, PC supported outline and assembling, and PC coordinated
assembling.
Standard Costing guides as an estimating bar to the management for assurance of
"Variances" with a unique end purpose to assess the creative execution. The expression
"Variances" might be characterized as the contrast between Standard Cost and genuine cost
for every component of cost brought about amid a precise period. The expression "Variance
Analysis" might be characterized as the way towards investigating differences by
subdividing the aggregate change such that management can appoint duty regarding off-
Standard Performance. The fluctuation might be a good distinction or ominous change. At
the point when the real execution is superior to anything the Standard, it detests "Favorable
Variance." Similarly, where real execution is underneath the standard it is known as
"Unfavorable Variance." Various present and future patterns in management accounting
errands and exercises were watched,
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6. Conclusion
By the use of variance analysis to identify areas of concern, management has another
tool to reveal the project and organizational health. People reviewing the variances
need to focus on the necessary exceptions so management can emerge as conscious of
adjustments in the organization, the environment and so on, except is information,
management risks blindly previous down a path that can't be judged as good or bad.
Variance analysis refers to the investigation as to the cause for deviations in the
financial performance from the standard set by and organization in its budget. It helps
the management to maintain control of its operational performance. Variance analysis
has five main types. Material variance, labor variance, variable overhead variance,
constant overhead variance, and sales variance.
Implementation and practical usage of the variance analysis shown by taking the
Highland Company. Highland Company produces a lightweight backpack that is famous
for university students. After that variance analysis compared with the budget process
and forecasting. In that comparison talk about functions, stages, processes between
variance and similar trends. Advantages in variance analysis are Help to Management,
Planning, Coordination, Organization, and the negative aspects are Difficult to Establish,
Conditions Change, Morale and Motivation may be Affected, Unsuitable for Job Orders.
In potential developments in management, accounting provided a description of
possible future development in the variance analysis as per the understanding of ours.
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7. Reference List
Frost, J., 18 May, 2016. The Minitab Blog. [Online] Available at:
http://blog.minitab.com/blog/adventures-in-statistics-2/understanding-analysis-of-
variance-anova-and-the-f-test.
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