Managerial Accounting Practices and SMEs

This assignment explores the application of managerial accounting principles within the context of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). It delves into various aspects of managerial accounting, including budgeting, cost analysis, performance evaluation, and decision-making. The focus is on understanding how SMEs utilize these tools to enhance financial performance, overcome challenges, and achieve sustainable growth. The assignment draws upon academic research and real-world examples to illustrate the significance of effective managerial accounting practices for SMEs.

Management accounting

INTRODUCTION
Management accounting is process of preparing the report that provide correct, accurate
and timely data related to finance and statistics (Elsevier Jones, 2008) These reports are prepared
by the managers in order to make short term and day to day decisions. In other words it could be
said that management accounting is the provision of all the financial data that is used by the
company fir its development and growth.
The following report is prepared in order to analyze the financial position of Jeffrey and
Son's. Jeffrey and Son's is a manufacture company that produces many popular branded products
known as exquisite. The following report is going to depict about the various cost that is incurred
by the company at the time of undertaking various operations. In addition to this cost of exquisite
is mentioned. In this report unit cost and job cost that is incurred by the company are also
interpreted.
In the following report purpose and nature of the budgetary process is also discussed. In
addition to this method of budgeting that can be used by the Jeffrey and Son's are also
mentioned. Thus, in order to find out the flow of cash of Jeffrey and Son's cash budget is
prepared. At last variance of the Jeffrey and Son's is also interpreted.
Task 1
1.1 Classification of different types of cost
On the basis of elements
Features
Fixed cost Fixed cost is the fixed amount of expenses that are required to be paid by the
company. The amount of fixed cost does not change with change in time. For
example: - rent of a building, factory and so on.
Semi-variable
cost
Semi variable cost is the mixture of fixed cost and variable cost. In case of
semi variable cost remain fixed up to a predetermined limit and when limit is
crossed the cost became the variable cost (Hooks and et. al. 2012). For
example: - electricity bills, telephone bills and so on.
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Variable cost Variable cost is the cost which keeps on changing. This cost changes with the
change in the level of production. For example: - cost of goods produced.
On the basis of function
Features
Production cost Production cost included all the cost that is incurred by the company during
the manufacturing and production of the product (Joshi, Al-Mudhaki and
Bremser, 2003).
Commercial cost Commercial cost is the cost which is incurred by the company at the time of
administration and selling & distribution of the product produced by them.
On the basis of nature
Features
Material Material cost is the cost that is incurred by the company at the time of
converting the raw material into the finished goods.
Labour Labour cost is the cost which is incurred by the company at the time of
paying salary and wages to the employees. Labour cost can be said as the
cost affiliated to the human resource (Lucey, 2002).
Overhead Overhead cost is the cost that is beard by the company at the time of
undertaking its various functions and operations into consideration.
On the basis of Behaviour
Features
Controllable cost Controllable cost is the cost that can be changed by the company. It is the
cost which can be increased or decreased by the company when they
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want. Controllable cost can be both fixed cost and variable cost.
Sunk cost Sunk cost is the cost that is incurred by the company in past and is not
relevant in the future decision making problems (Narayanan and Nanda,
2004).
Replacement cost Replacement cost is the cost that is beard by the company when changing
any method or policy of production or at the time of taking any decisions.
1.2Calculation of unit cost and total job cost for job 444
Cost sheet: It is the document which is prepared by the organization in order to estimate
the cost that is mandatory by every project and department in order to achieve their desired target
(Stoltz, 2007).
Job cost sheet for Job no. 444
Particulars Total cost
Direct material 40000
Direct Labour 54000
Fixed production overhead 24000
variable production overhead 36000
Total cost 154000
Unit cost 770
Working note:
Direct material cost
Material cost = Quantity * price per kg.
= 50kg* £4 per kg *200 units= £400000
Direct labour cost
Labour cost = Total working hours * rate per hour
Labour hours = 30 hours per unit*200 Units = 6000 Hours
Overhead
Fixed overhead = Total fixed production overhead/Total budgeted labour hours*Labour hours
for job
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Fixed overhead = £80000/20000 hours* 6000 hours
= £24000
Variable production overhead = Total hours* rate per hour
Variable overhead = = £6 per hour * 6000 hours
= £36000
Unit cost = Total cost/ number of units
= £154000/200 Units = £770 cost per unit
Hence, Jeffery & Son's is required to obtain £770 in order to produce per unit of product
or service.
1.3Calculation of cost of Exquisite
A) Allocation and apportion of overhead to the production department of machine X. Y and
assembly
Production department
Service
department
Particulars
Basis of
allocation
Total in
(£)
Machine
X (£)
Machi
ne Y
(£)
Assembly
1 (£)
Stores
(£)
Mainten
ance (£)
Indirect wages
and supervision 362000.00 100000.00
99500.0
0 92500.00
Indirect material 253000.00 100000.00
100000.
00 40000.00
light and heating
Machine
hours 50000.00 26666.67
20000.0
0 3333.33
rent
Area
occupied 100000.00 20000.00
10000.0
0 30000.00
30000.0
0
10000.0
0
insurance and
machinery
Book value of
machinery 15000.00 3529.40 2205.90 4411.80 2205.90 2647.06
depreciation
Book value of
machinery 150000.00 35294.12
22058.8
0 44117.65
22058.8
0
26470.5
9
Insurance of Area 25000.00 5000.00 2500.00 7500.00 7500.00 2500.00
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building occupied
salaries of work
management
No. of
employees 80000.00 24000.00
16000.0
0 24000.00 8000.00 8000.00
Total cost
1035000.0
0 314490.19
272264.
70
245862.7
8
69764.7
0
49617.6
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B) Reapportion of the cost of service and support department to the production department
Particulars Production
Basis of
allocation
Total in
(£) Machine X Machine Y (£) Assembly 1 (£)
Primary
distribution
(Earlier table)
103500
0.00 314490.19 272264.70 245862.78
Stores Direct material 34882.35 26161.76 8720.59
Maintenance Machine hours 23816.47 15877.65 9923.53
Total 373189.01 314304.11 264506.9
C) Deducing the overhead absorption rate for Machine X, Y and assembly by using the machine
hours
Rate of overhead absorption = Fixed overhead / machine hours
Calculation of the overhead absorption rate for each of the production department is as follows:
Machine shop X = 314490.19+ 26161.76+ 15877.65/80000
= 373189/80000
= £4.66
Machine shop Y = 272264.70+ 26161.76 +15877.65/ 60000
= 314304.11/60000
= £5.24
Assembly = 245862.78+ 8720.59+ 9923.53/10000
= 264506.90/10000
= £4.41
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As per the above calculation, it can be suggested that overhead absorption rate of
department X is £4.66 whereas for department Y, it is £5.24. Thus, in place of which assembly
needs to absorb their overhead rate at £4.41.
D) Calculating the overhead charge to the product by using the absorption rate
Total overhead cost = 4.66+ 5.24+ 4.41 = 14.31
Cost of product may be defined as the sum up of material, labour and overhead expenses.
Total cost of the product: Material + Labour + Overhead
= 8+ 15+ 14.31
= £37.31
1.4 Analysing the cost data of Exquisite by using appropriate techniques
Particulars Production
Basis of
allocation
Total in
(£) Machine X Machine Y (£) Assembly 1 (£)
Primary
distribution
(Earlier table)
103500
0.00 314490.19 272264.70 245862.78
Stores Direct material 34882.35 26161.76 8720.59
Maintenance Labour hours 2:1.5:1 22052.29 16539.22 11026.14
Total Cost 371424.83 314965.68 265609.51
Calculation of the overhead absorption rate as per the labour hours is as follows:
Production department Overhead absorption rate in the form of
labour hours
Machine X = 371424.83/200000 labour hours = 1.86£
Machine Y = 314965.68/150000 labour hours = 2.10£
Assembly = 265609.51/100000 labour hours = 2.66£
As per the above calculation, it is analysed that maintenance cost of machine y and assembly is
more as compared to that of machine X if taken in terms of labour cost. The cost of maintenance
of machine X is 23816.4, machine Y is 15877.65 and assembly is 9923.53 if calculated in terms
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of machine hours. Similarly cost of maintenance of machine X is 2205.29, machine y is
16539.22 and assembly is 11026.14 if calculated in terms of labour hours. Thus, it can be
concluded that cost of maintenance of changes as the cost per unit product changes. Moreover it
can be said that the cost of product changes as a when cost of maintenance changes.
Task 2
2.1Analyse and preparation of cost report for the month of September
On the basis of above case scenario, material, labour and overhead cost of product are
2000 units whereas cost of material, labour and overhead calculated by the company are 1900
units. Thus, following calculation has been mentioned below:-
Particulars Formula Calculation
Material cost
Total number of units*material
price per unit = 1900 units* 12£ = 22800£
Labour cost
Total number of units*Piece
rate = 1900 units * 10£ = 19000£
Electricity: Electricity is the expense that remains constant/fixed for a certain time period
and then change after the specific time period is completed (Zawawi and Hoque, 2010).
Variable cost of electricity = (8000£ - 5000£)/ (2000 – 1200 units)
= (3000£)/ (800 units)
= £3.75 per unit
Variable electricity charges for 1900 units
= £3.75 * 1900 units = £7125
Fixed charges = Total cost – variable cost
= £8000 - (3.75*2000)
= £500
Total electricity charges = fixed + variable
= £500 + £7125 = £7625
Cost of maintenance has reduced due to the change in the production unit (i.e. from 1000
to 500 units).
Calculation of maintenance cost:
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Maintenance cost = £5000 - (£1000/500*100) = £4800
Total cost = Material + Labour + Electricity + Fixed overhead + Maintenance
= £22800+£19000+£15000+£7625+£4800 = £69225
Per unit cost = Total cost / total number of units
= £69225/1900 units = £36.43sss
Analysis of the variances is as follows:
Particular Budgeted cost Actual cost Variance
Material 24000 22800 1200
Labour 18000 19000 -1000
Fixed Overhead 15000 15000 0
Electricity 8000 7625 375
Maintenance 5000 4800 200
Total 70000 69225 775
As per the above calculation it is analysed that the unit produced by the company reduces
from 2000 units to 1900 units. This in turn shows that the company has generated the condition
of positive variance. Similarly, on the other hand, labour variance indicates that the company has
generated the negative variance which has gravely affected the cost of goods and services offered
by the company. Therefore, in order to overcome the problem of negative variance Jeffrey and
Son's should try to motivate its workforce to give their best performance within the organisation.
Situation of positive variance has been seen in case of electricity and maintenance cost due to the
less production made by the company. The condition of positive variance occurs because Jeffrey
and Son's have produced only 500 units instead of 1000 units. Therefore, at last it is suggested
that Jeffrey and Son's should form various policies and strategies in order to train and motivate
its workforce.
2.2 Performance indicators to identify areas for potential improvements
There are many types of areas where Jeffrey and Son's need to improve. Some of the area
is listed below:-
1. Satisfying its workforce: - Jeffrey and Son's should make efforts to conduct various
training and development sections in order to motivate the workforce. Jeffrey and Son's
will be able to satisfy its employee by providing them what they want (Walker, 2009).
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Highly motivated workforce will be able to produce the good and better quality of
product by reducing the wastage of the resources.
2. Jeffrey and Sons should prepare various types of accounting and financial statements in
order to analyse the position of the company. By preparing this statements company will
be able to reduce the cost of the production and at the time will help the company to
increase its level of profitability.
3. Jeffrey and Son's should prepare various budgets in advance in order to reduce the cost of
sales (Halbouni and Hassan, 2012). Along with this company will also be able to reduce
its cost of production and manufacturing.
2.3 Ways to reduce cost of production and to enhance the value and quality of the product
1. Jeffrey and Son's should make efforts to prepare various budgets in advance in order to
manage all its operations properly. Preparation of budgets will also aid the company to
monitor the growth of budget which in turn will help the company to estimate the actual
position of the company (Mirghani, 2001).
2. Jeffrey and Son’s company should also try to motivate its employees by organising
various training and development sections. Highly motivated and trained employee will
be produce better quality of goods and services. This in turn will take the company
towards the growth rate.
3. Jeffrey and Son's should also try to properly utilise the production process. This in turn
will assist the company to reduce the steps in the production process and easily generate
what they want.
4. Company should try to appoint the highly skilled and trained workers. This in turn will
help the company to reduce the value of its products (Bourne, Franco and Wilkes, 2003).
Task 3
3.1Purpose and nature of the budgeting process to the budget holders of Jeffrey and Son's
Budget is the plan that is prepared by the company in order to estimate the income
generated and expense made by the company during a certain time period.
Purpose of preparing the budgeting process.
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1. Budgets are prepared by the company in order to calculate the amount the income
generated and expenditure that are made company after the completion of the specific
time period (Burns, Hopper and Yazd far, 2004).
2. Budgets are prepared by the company in order to develop various strategies. Strategies
are developed by the company in order to achieve what they want by beating its
competitors.
3. These budgets are also prepared by the company in order calculate the difference
between the actual performance and the estimated performance.
Nature of budgeting process
1. In order to prepare new budget and estimate the financial environment company need to
compare its previous budgets in order to get the accurate results.
2. Once budgets are compared than company to define the amount of capital that is going
to be incurred by the company at the time of selling its products (Irwin, D. and Scott, M.
J., 2010).
3. After that company should define the cost of expenses that are going to be incurred by
the company at the time of undertaking the various promotional activities like
advertisement, sales distribution and so on.
4. Then at last company should subtract the estimated income from that of estimated
expense in order to find out whether the condition of deficit has arisen or surplus (Portz,
and Lere, 2010).
5. At last the following budget prepared should be submitted in order to implement it.
3.2Appropriate budgeting method need to be used by the organisation and its needs
Jeffrey and Son's prepare the incremental budgets with an aim to prepare various budgets.
In order to prepare new incremental budgets Jeffrey and Son's consider the previous budgets. But
the incremental budget that is prepared by Jeffrey and Son's is losing its existence now-days.
Thus, Jeffrey and Son's should prepare the realistic budget in order to analyse the actual
results. Therefore, in order to prepare the actual budget company should use Zero base budgeting
method. Zero based budgeting method is the budget that is prepared by the organisation in order
to incur the cost of expenses that can be incurred by the company during a financial year. This
type of budgets is prepared by the company keeping the Zero as a base.
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3.3Formulation of production and material purchase budgets
Production budget: Production budget is the budget that is prepared by the organisation in
order to calculate the cost that is incurred by the company at the time of manufacture process.
Production budget of Jeffery & Sons are as follows:
Particulars July August September October
Sales 105000 90000 105000 110000
Op. Stock 11000 13500 15750 16500
Total 94000 76500 89250 93500
Closing stock 13500 15750 16500 15000
Production 107500 92250 105750 108500
Working note:
Calculation of closing stock is as follows:
July = 90000Units*15% = 13500 Units
August = 105000Units*15% = 15750 Units
September = 110000Units *15% = 16500 Units
October = 100000Units * 15% = 15000 Units
Closing stock is calculated by taking into consideration the facet that is equivalent to 15%
sales of next year.
Material purchase budget: Material purchase budget is prepared by the company in order
to symbolize the amount of quantity of finished goods that is required to be produced by the
company during a predetermined time period. Preparation of these budgets aid the company to
properly manage all its activities.
Material purchase budget of Jeffrey & Son's are enumerated below:
July August September October
Material Require (2 per kg) 215000 184500 211500 217000
Less- Opening stock 52000 46125 52875
Total 163000 138375 158625
Add- Closing stock 46125 52875 54250
Purchase 209125 191250 212875
Calculation of closing stock is equal to the 25% of the production of following month.
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Opening stock for the month of July is 52000 {Given}
Closing stock (July) = 184500 * 25% = 46125
3.4 Preparation of cash budget
Cash budget: Cash budget is the budget prepared by the company in order to analyse the
income and expenses that are incurred by the company during a specific time period.
Particulars July(£) August(£) September(£)
Cash Inflows
Sales receipts 900000 731250 864000
Cash outflows
Purchase 365969 334688 372531
Labour 322500 276750 317250
Variable overhead 108500 98350 100350
Fixed overhead 75000 87500 87500
Net cash flow 28031 -66038 13631
Opening balance 16000 44031 -22007
Closing balance 44031 -22007 -35638
As the per calculation it is concluded that outflow of cash of Jeffrey and Som's is more as
compared to its inflow. Sales of the company have reduced in the month of August as compared
to July and September. In addition to these expenses of the company in the month of September
is more as compared to September. Along with this it is seen that the cost of labour has
decreased in the month of August. Therefore, in order overcome the problem of negative
variance company should prepare various strategies. This in turn will also assist the company to
improve its financial position.
Task 4
4.1Calculation of variance, assessment cost and recommend corrective actions
Variance is the difference between actual costs that is incurred buys the company and the
estimated cost of the organization.
Particular Budgeted Fixed Actual
Sales 16000 14000 13820
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Material 3840 3360 3420
Labour 3200 2800 2690
Fixed overhead 4800 4800 4900
Profit 4160 3040 2810
Sales variance
Particulars Variance
Sales volume variance ( 4160 - 3040) 1120 (A)
Sales price variance ( 14000 - 13820) 180 (A)
Material price variance
Particulars Variance Net variance
Material price variance (1425 * 2040 ) 3420 (A)
Material usage variance [( 3500 * .4) * (2.40)] 3360 (A)
60 (A)
Labour variance
Particulars Variance Net variance
Actual hours * Actual
rate
345 *7.8 2690
70 (f)
Labour rate variance 345 * 8 2760
40 (f)
Labour efficiency
variance
350 hrs * 2.40 2800
Fixed overhead variance
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Particulars Variance Net variance
Actual fixed overhead 4900
Fixed overhead expenditure variance 100 (A)
Budgeted fixed production overhead 4800
Causes of deviations:-
It can be evaluated that from the above calculation it can be stated that the material cost
has minimized from 3840 to 3420. Thus, it results into the positive variance i.e. 420 units that
have been produced during the financial year. Further, the actual units produced by Jeffrey and
Son's is 3500 that is less than the budgeted units such as 4000. Thus, it showcases the positive
deviation because of decreasing the labour cost (Wood, 2012). For instance, through evaluating
the budgeted scenario, labour rate per hour is Pound 8 but Jeffrey and Son's pay only Pound 7.8
to its labour. However, in relation to this it has been seen that the overhead expenses presents
negative variance i.e. Pound 100. Hence, it showcases that Jeffrey and Son's has undertaken the
high level of expenditure on selling and distribution of products and services.
Recommended actions-
Further, in regard to overcome different issues that have been faced by Jeffery and Son's
to make efforts and assess following recommendations. These are as follows-
 It is essential for Jeffrey and Son's to encourage its employees that they should perform in
an effective manner and thus contribute to the best towards operations of firm.
 Also, Jeffrey and Son's are required to make crucial effort in order to enhance the cost of
production. Further, in regard to this firm should also try to minimize the expenses and
thus try to enhance the selling cost. Thus, through doing this Jeffrey and Son's should be
able to minimize the cost of sales variance (Walker, 2009). At the end, through evaluating the above suggestions Jeffrey and Son's are need to focus
on developing different strategies and policies. Hence, it helps firm to minimize its
selling cost and distribute the products and goods in an effective manner.
Hence, after evaluating all the suggestion provided above Jeffrey and Son's should attain
success in business.
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4.2Preparation of operating statements which reconcile both budgeted and actual results
Operating budget is prepared by the company in order to compare its actual performance
with that of budgeted performance.
Operating statement for the month of May
£ £ £
Favourable Adverse Net
Sales volume variance 1120
Sales price variance 180
Material price variance 0
Material usage variance 60
Labour rate variance 70
Labour efficiency
variance
40
Fixed overhead
expenditure variance
100
Total variances 110 F 1460 A
Total net variance 1350
Budgeted operating
profit
4160
(-) Total net variance -1350
Actual operating profit 2810
As per twee above calculation it can be concluded that unit cost of the product increase
which result into negative variance. In contrary to this it is seen that labour hour decreases which
proves significant for the company. Therefore, from the following calculation it is seen that
actual cost is 2.96 and budgeted cost is 3.14. Thus, it is suggested that company should control
its expenses and offer cost effective products to the customers.
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4.3 Finding to management in accordance with identified responsibility centres
From the following findings two responsibility centres has been identified (i.e.
responsibility cost centres and profitability centre). Responsibility cost centre will consider all
the responsibility related to the expenses that are incurred by the company during an accounting
year. Responsibility profitability centre manage all the financial related activities that are
performed by the company.
CONCLUSION
From this project report it has been concluded that manager of an organization needs to
undertake different types of cost. Through this, Jeffery and sons is able to calculate appropriate
cost for the product or services. Besides this, budgeting process helps organization in assessing
the deviations which occur in the performance of an organization. Through this, company is able
to achieve success in the competitive business arena.
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REFERENCES
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