Management Accounting Systems and Reports: A Case Study of IKEA

This assignment focuses on the management accounting systems and reports used by IKEA. It discusses the different systems such as cost accounting, inventory management, price optimization, and job costing. It also evaluates the benefits of these systems and how they are integrated within the organizational processes.

MANAGEMENT
ACCOUNTING
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Management Accounting Systems:........................................................................................3
P2 Management Accounting Reports:.........................................................................................5
M1 Evaluating benefits of discussed MA systems:.....................................................................6
D1 Evaluating how MA-systems and MA-reporting are integrated within organisational
processes:....................................................................................................................................7
P3. Computing costs through applying suitable methods of cost-analysis to formulatye income
statements:...................................................................................................................................7
M2. Accurately apply the range of management accounting techniques and produce
appropriate financial report.......................................................................................................13
D2. Produce financial report which accurately apply and interpret the business activities ...13
P4: Explaining major advantages & disadvantages of different types of planning tools used for
budgetary control:.....................................................................................................................13
M3: Analysing uses of different planning tools/methods and their application for preparing
and forecasting budgets:............................................................................................................15
P5 Comparing as to how corporations are effectively adapting MA systems for responding to
multiple financial problems:.....................................................................................................15
M4 Analysing about how as to respond financial problems, MA can lead entities towards
sustainable successes:................................................................................................................17
D3 Evaluating as to how discussed planning tools can respond effectively to resolving such
financial problems to lead organisations to sustainable success:..............................................17
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18
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INTRODUCTION
Management accounting simply corresponds to process of identifying, analyzing,
evaluating, interpreting and expressing information to company's upper managers for the purpose
of achieving the objectives. This is also referred to cost accounting as well as information that
helps to make better company-related decisions. Management accounting framework is distinct
from any other method of accounting framework as it provides in-depth information concerning
financial and non-financial transactions (Monden, 2019).
The assignment is focused on IKEA. The corporation is big multinational corporation of
Swedish origin, have headquarters in Netherlands, founded in year 1943, which designs and sells
entirely designed and furnished furniture. It also deals in kitchen appliances, household
furniture items and other customized furniture as per client requirements. The report will analyse
the different forms of managerial accounting systems. The different approaches used for
handling accounting reporting also will be discussed here. Along with the benefits and
drawbacks of the planning mechanism being used budgetary controlling. The final cost should be
determined using the correct method for readying income statements considering both marginal
and absorption methods.
TASK 1
P1 Management Accounting Systems:
According to CIMA, MA is "the practise of defining, assessing, storing, examining,
planning, presenting and transmitting the critical information that management personnel uses to
plan, analyse and coordinate within an organisation and to ensure that organisation's all
key resources are properly deployed and accountable. In this regard following are certain key
roles of management accounting, as follows:
1. Effective planning: MA plays a critical role in creating efficient plan that ensures that
includes the details required. Management accountants offer details for drawing up plans
for capital budget, revenue schedule, cost-volumes-profit review.
2. Increasing Business Operations Efficiency: MA also performs a considerable role in
raising business operations performance by financial planning, ratio analysis, process
costing etc.
3. Effective Controlling: Through JIT theory and absolute quality management framework,
MA holds pan inefficient controlling.
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4. Improve labour productivity: MA aims to increase labour production by connecting
bonus to competitiveness and budgeting by standard wage costs.
5. Achieve management performance: MA leads a great deal to improving the organisation's
management quality by supplying the right knowledge to management.
6. Help managerial functions: All know that arranging, coordinating, directing and
managing are key roles of MA that help management staff to execute the tasks correctly,
including the required accounting details.
Difference between MA and Financial Accounting:
There are 2 key distinctions among FA and MA. The first distinction is that MA is being
presented to internal stakeholders of a corporation, whereas financial accounting is being done
for external stakeholders. Although FA is of considerable interest to existing and prospective
owners, MA is important for management personnel to render their business' existing and
prospective financial decisions. The secondary distinction is that FA is reliable and must conform
to accounting standards and guidelines, whereas MA can be dependent on a assumption or
estimation as most managing officials don't have enough time to collect precise figures as soon
as decision is taken.
Management accounting systems are presenting of accounting information for development
of strategies implemented by mangers and also for the support of day-to-day operations. Simply
put, it allows management to conduct all tasks, along with planning, scheduling, hiring,
managing and regulating. Management accounting includes a particular form of accounting
method that plays a significant role in various types of business establishments (Meidell and
Kaarbøe, 2017). There are also several key accounting systems that can be used by IKEA are
explained below:
 Cost accounting system – This form of MA system is often referred to as costing system
for products. This is the method used by businesses to measure cost of their goods for
inventory/stock valuation, cost benefit analysis and cost management purposes. The cost
accounting method helps to measure the cost of goods that are essential to the
organization of sustainable operations. This allow businesses like IKEA to monitor their
cost of manufacturing activities. The said system require detailed, proper and
comprehensive details of all the costs and expenses along with adequate explanation
about the classification of different costs within entity. The cost
accounting system implemented in a specific company must balance the scope and scale
of the enterprise and information requirements of the company. This system should be
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cost-effective for the company and the system's advantages should be greater than its
implementation and maintenance costs. IKEA should incorporate this accounting method
in their practice as it helps to track the expense of manufacturing operations.
 Inventory management system – This is the form of accounting framework that relates
to the effective management of company's inventories or stocks, like raw materials,
finished products and so forth within the organisation. With assistance of inventory
management systems, the organization will take decisions concerning the procurement of
raw materials and production capacity. Since it helps to recognize the quality of inventory
in stores (Liff and Wahlstrom, 2018). The correct accounting system will assist the
company in determining the supply of raw materials, finished products and other
inventories decisions. As in IKEA company, inventory accounting system could be used
in their function to determine the quality of materials and also finished products within
the organization. This system generally require preparation of inventories sheet and
register which cleanly shows the place, nature and value of inventories. This system also
require a proper basis for classification of different kind of inventories and proper
physical handling as well as storage.
 Price optimisation system – It is kind of accounting mechanism that helps to assess the
price of goods and services at an efficient level. The price management method can help
to assess consumer responses at various price rates (Dyckman and Zeff, 2015). In fact,
because there is no price management program inside IKEA, this is hard to determine the
correct prices of the products. The corresponding accounting method is therefore
essential for the company to find the correct price for its products and services. Thus,
IKEA 's implementation of the price optimization system helps to allocate effective
products' prices within the corporation. Effective analysis and evaluation of price and
demand relationship and other related factors are key requirement of this system.
 Job costing system – It is the form of MA system that helps to assess separate job costs
for various operations. job costing framework is useful in providing accurate details on
the costs of jobs, and also in the capacity of business companies to make sensible
decisions about different jobs. Generally, this accounting system plays an important role
in controlling job costs. Simply put, the method of labour costing uses within the business
sector and it uses to evaluate that the productions cost surpasses the overheads and the
price of materials in order to offer profits for the entire process. In general, therefore, the
method of costing jobs is implemented by IKEA Ltd for purpose of determining costs of
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jobs assigned to various business operations (Kure, Nørreklit and Raffnsøe-Møller,
2017). This system require proper categorisation of different jobs and allocation basis of
various costs to such defined jobs.
P2 Management Accounting Reports:
There are many approaches used to prepare a management accounting reporting for a
company to monitor both its financial and non-financial results. IKEA will also prepare its
various accounting reports with the support of distinct-distinct accounting systems. The summary
of the different reports or reporting methods are given below: -
 Performance report - This form of report depicts actual performance of various aspects
that occur within the company or in some kind of research carried out by the employee.
The report contains the effects of the outcomes resulting from a comparison of the real
with budgeted/standard. This could serve to assess the difference between the two
statistics and between outputs of employees, along with justification and further that can
be used by management of the company for the implementation of strategies that will
eventually help to resolve these differences and assist to achieve the goals set. IKEA
is small company selling furniture (Kerr, Rouse and de Villiers, 2015). This
is manufacturing organization that utilizes such report for 2 main reasons, like monitoring
of performance of employees and quality assurance of the products. The overall benefit
of this study is seen in manner with which it works, which enables employees to make
effective use of terms that contribute to the production of better products.
 Inventory report – It is the method for collecting information and report it which
provides information on the quantities of raw materials as well as the finished products
located in the IKEA warehouses. With the aid of inventories report business organization
obtain information about how much inventories are currently available so about if there is
a need to buy IKEA can buy. The respective organization shall therefore make
preparations of an inventory reports for the management of its raw materials and product.
In addition, implementation of inventories reports provides assistance in obtaining data
on a range of types of overheads in inventory storage procedure. This same as in IKEA
may also compile a report on the management of raw materials and also ready furniture.
 Account receivable ageing report – It is the form of MA report which relates to the
provision of detailed information, and to the organization's data on overall market debts
including defaulted debtors. In fact, most businesses are provided with information
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about dates on which payments has been made. The main purpose of the respective study
is therefore to assist the company in the recovery of the sum from the debtors. Business
company shall prepare an account receivable aging report to collect details on the overall
amount owed on the market from specific debtors (Kenyon and Kenyon, 2016).
 Cost accounting report - This report covers costs of all activities carried out by the
corporation in the production of a particular product. etIn the scenario of
IKEA, management team of this corporation utilizes this accounting report to capture
all costs incurred in production of its furniture items. This study assists an enterprise to
evaluate its potential costs and profits. The cost accounting reports can be formed
applying two methods, i.e. job-orders costing and process-costing.
In the context of costs of a specific job orders, all costs charged while performing a job
shall be regarded. For instance, Management personnel in IKEA utilizes such report to record all
costs accrued while conducting a specific job of manufacturing of furniture for a specific type of
customer. In process costing, IKEA must transfer all the costs incurred when performing a
process that can be used to manufacture a specific portion of furniture. The main objective
behind the development of such reports is assist organizations recognize the overall costs
recouped so that they can be even farther monitored and assessed (Hoque, Parker, Covaleski and
Haynes, 2017).
M1 Evaluating benefits of discussed MA systems:
As described above, there's certain different types of accounting systems within MA.
These accounting system have several benefits of as described below:-
Type of management
accounting system
Benefits of management accounting system
Cost accounting system It is useful accounting system that helps to provide extensive
information on the costs of different operations. An organization can
therefore manage the costs of its various activities or
operations through cost accounting system.
Inventory management
system
Such management accounting framework is advantageous to the
management of the stocks and by helping the company to take
decisions on both the purchase and manufacturing of finished goods.
This also help to effectively optimizing inventory costs like storing
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and handling of stocks.
Price optimisation system It is an accounting system that helps IKEA to set an accurate
prices for furniture. In addition to this, the price optimization system
helps to recognise customer behaviours at the differential level
offered by the respective organization (Harrison and Lock, 2017).
Job costing system job costing framework is advantageous to the organization in the
calculation of job costs on its own. In addition, the costing system
help to records costs in a more acceptable way and enables cost
containment by contrasting actual costs and forecasts costs.
D1 Evaluating how MA-systems and MA-reporting are integrated within organisational
processes:
The managerial accounting systems as well as managerial accounting reports are blended
together because, with assistance of such integration firms, they can compile management
accounting reports Thus, IKEA can form accounting reports such as stock and cost reports with
the aid of costs and inventory system. This also demonstrates that both the management
accounting frameworks and the reporting systems are linked to the corporation's processes (Gray,
2015).
P3. Computing costs through applying suitable methods of cost-analysis to formulate income
statements:
Marginal Costing: Under marginal method contribution is assessed as in this method costs all are
classified separately as variable costs and fixed costs.
Absorption Costing: Under absorption costing productions overheads whether fixed or variable
are regarded as absorption costs to derive gross profit figure.
Marwa Limited:
Income statement for Year 1
Using Marginal Costing Approach
ITEM Number of
units £ P.U. AMOUNT £ AMOUNT
£
SALES 3,000 92.00 2,76,000.00
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MARGINAL COST OF SALES .. .. .. ..
OPENING STOCK 0 0.00
ADD: VARIABLE PRODUCTION
COST: .. .. ..
Direct Material 3,600 17.00 61,200.00
Direct Labour 3,600 11.00 39,600.00
Variable Expenses 3,600 7.00 25,200.00
Total Variable Cost A 1,26,000.00
Less: Closing stock at end of year 1.
[Opening stock units+units produced -
units sold] find £ value. B
600 35.00 21,000.00
Marginal Cost of SALES A-B 1,05,000.00
Fixed indirect production cost 84,000.00
Gross Profit: sales - MCOS -FIXED
PRODUCTION COST 87,000.00
Selling and Distribution Overheads 5,700.00
Admin Overheads 10,500.00
Profit Before Interest & Tax (PBIT) 70,800.00
Interest Expenses 1,200.00
Profit Before Tax [PBIT-interest] 69,600.00
Tax @19% 13,224.00
Net Profit: profit before tax - tax 56,376.00
Income statement for Year 2
Using Marginal Costing Approach
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ITEM Number of
units £ P.U. AMOUNT £ AMOUNT
£
SALES 4,000 92.00 3,68,000.00
MARGINAL COST OF SALES .. .. .. ..
OPENING STOCK 600 21,000.00
ADD: VARIABLE PRODUCTION
COST: .. .. ..
Direct Material 4,100 17.00 69,700.00
Direct Labour 4,100 11.00 45,100.00
Variable Expenses 4,100 7.00 28,700.00
Total Variable Cost A 1,64,500.00
Less: Closing stock at end of year 2.
[Opening stock units+units produced -
units sold] B
700 35.00 24,500.00
Marginal Cost of SALES A-B 1,40,000.00
Fixed indirect production cost 84,000.00
Gross Profit: sales - MCOS -FIXED
PRODUCTION COST 1,44,000.00
Selling and Distribution Overheads 7,500.00
Admin Overheads 10,500.00
Profit Before Interest & Tax (PBIT) 1,26,000.00
Interest Expenses 1,450.00
Profit Before Tax [PBIT-interest] 1,24,550.00
Tax @19% 23,664.50
Net Profit : profit before tax - tax 1,00,885.50
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Income statement for Year 3
Using Marginal Costing Approach
ITEM Number of
units £ P.U. AMOUNT £ AMOUNT £
SALES 3,500 92.00 3,22,000.00
MARGINAL COST OF SALES .. .. .. ..
OPENING STOCK 700 24,500.00
ADD: VARIABLE PRODUCTION
COST: .. .. ..
Direct Material 3,400 17.00 57,800.00
Direct Labour 3,400 11.00 37,400.00
Variable Expenses 3,400 7.00 23,800.00
Total Variable Cost A 1,43,500.00
Less: Closing stock at end of year 2.
[Opening stock units+units produced -
units sold] B
600 35.00 21,000.00
Marginal Cost of SALES A-B 1,22,500.00
Fixed indirect production cost 84,000.00
Gross Profit: sales - MCOS -FIXED
PRODUCTION COST 1,15,500.00
Selling and Distribution Overheads 7,100.00
Admin Overheads 10,500.00
Profit Before Interest & Tax (PBIT) 97,900.00
Interest Expenses 1,700.00
Profit Before Tax [PBIT-interest] 96,200.00
Tax @19% 18,278.00
Net Profit : profit before tax - tax 77,922.00
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Total fixed indirect production cost 84,000.00 84,000.00 84,000.00 [£]
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Direct labour costs per unit 11.00 11.00 11.00 [£]
Direct material costs per unit 17.00 17.00 17.00 [£]
Variable expenses which vary in direct ratio to
production per unit 7.00 7.00 7.00 [£]
Sale 3,000 4,000 3,500 [units]
Selling Price per unit 92.00 92.00 92.00 [£]
Production rate 3,600 4,100 3,400 [units]
Selling and Distribution 5,700.00 7,500.00 7,100.00 [£]
Administrative overheads 10,500.00 10,500.00 10,500.00 [£]
Interest expense 1,200.00 1,450.00 1,700.00 [£]
Aarwa Limited:
Income statement for Year 1
Using Absorption Costing Approach
ITEM Number
of units £ P.U. AMOUNT £ AMOUNT £
SALES 3,000 92.00 2,76,000.00
MARGINAL COST OF SALES .. .. .. ..
OPENING STOCK 0 0.00
ADD: VARIABLE PRODUCTION
COST: .. .. ..
Direct Material 3,600 17.00 61,200.00
Direct Labour 3,600 11.00 39,600.00
Variable Expenses 3,600 7.00 25,200.00
Fixed indirect production cost 3,600 23.33 84,000.00
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Total Production Cost A 2,10,000.00
Less: Closing stock at end of year 1.
[Opening stock units+units produced -
units sold] find £ value. B
600 58.33 35,000.00
Absorption Cost of SALES A-B 1,75,000.00
Gross Profit: sales – COGS 1,01,000.00
Selling and Distribution Overheads 5,700.00
Admin Overheads 10,500.00
Profit Before Interest & Tax (PBIT) 84,800.00
Interest Expenses 1,200.00
Profit Before Tax [PBIT-interest] 83,600.00
Tax @19% 15,884.00
Net Profit: profit before tax - tax 67,716.00
Income statement for Year 2
Using Absorption Costing Approach
ITEM Number
of units £ P.U. AMOUNT £ AMOUNT £
SALES 4,000 92.00 3,68,000.00
MARGINAL COST OF SALES .. .. .. ..
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OPENING STOCK 600 35,000.00
ADD: VARIABLE PRODUCTION
COST: .. .. ..
Direct Material 4,100 17.00 69,700.00
Direct Labour 4,100 11.00 45,100.00
Variable Expenses 4,100 7.00 28,700.00
Fixed indirect production cost 4,100 20.49 84,000.00
Total Production Cost A 2,62,500.00
Less: Closing stock at end of year 2.
[Opening stock units+units produced -
units sold] B
700 55.49 38,841.46
Absorption Cost of SALES A-B 2,23,658.54
Gross Profit: sales – COGS 1,44,341.46
Selling and Distribution Overheads 7,500.00
Admin Overheads 10,500.00
Profit Before Interest & Tax (PBIT) 1,26,341.46
Interest Expenses 1,450.00
Profit Before Tax [PBIT-interest] 1,24,891.46
Tax @19% 23,729.38
Net Profit : profit before tax - tax 1,01,162.09
Income statement for Year 3
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Using Absorption Costing Approach
ITEM Number
of units £ P.U. AMOUNT £ AMOUNT £
SALES 3,500 92.00 3,22,000.00
MARGINAL COST OF SALES .. .. .. ..
OPENING STOCK 700 24,500.00
ADD: VARIABLE PRODUCTION
COST: .. .. ..
Direct Material 3,400 17.00 57,800.00
Direct Labour 3,400 11.00 37,400.00
Variable Expenses 3,400 7.00 23,800.00
Fixed indirect production cost 3,400 24.71 84,000.00
Total Production Cost A 1,43,500.00
Less: Closing stock at end of year 2.
[Opening stock units+units produced -
units sold] B
600 59.71 35,823.53
Absorption Cost of SALES A-B 1,07,676.47
Gross Profit: sales – COGS 2,14,323.53
Selling and Distribution Overheads 7,100.00
Admin Overheads 10,500.00
Profit Before Interest & Tax (PBIT) 1,96,723.53
Interest Expenses 1,700.00
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Profit Before Tax [PBIT-interest] 1,95,023.53
Tax @19% 37,054.47
Net Profit : profit before tax - tax 1,57,969.06
M2. Accurately apply the range of management accounting techniques and produce appropriate
financial report
Through applying a marginal and absorption costing methods, the profits for both
companies is computed for period of three years. This is stated that here, Marwa Limited 's profit
from the use of marginal costs during three years are £ 56376, £ 100885.5 and £ 77922
separately. But at the other hand, profits of Aarwa Limited applying the absorption costing
method are £67716, £101162.09 and £ 157969.06 respectively. Here differences in profit figures
are due to over and under absorption of fixed overheads.
D2. Produce financial report which accurately apply and interpret the business activities
It's been construed from above computations that higher profits for first year is of the
Aarwa Ltd and for second year as well. On the other hand, Marwa Limited 's profits have
increased in the last year. Changes in profit are due to higher operational or production costs, that
also make differences in profit figures of both companies.
P4: Explaining major advantages & disadvantages of different types of planning tools used for
budgetary control:
Budgetary control: This can be recognized as a process of method that used establish financial
targets and to compare actual performance outcomes/results with expected outcomes. This is
focused on various forms of planning tools/methods that are defined in this way below, in
context of IKEA:
Pricing Strategies: Pricing strategy relates to a manner to identify fair price for
products or services . It is paired with several other marketing pricing techniques, which
are economic trends of 4P strategy (product lines, size, position and advertising),
competitiveness, consumer demands and ultimately the feature of the company.
• Advantages: These are beneficial for company like IKEA to set most effective price for
its wide range of products which allow them to gain competitive advantages. Further it
offer a base for longer term organisational strategy.
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• Disadvantages: Effectiveness of it is based on detailed analysis and thorough research
which is biggest drawback as a minor mistake in analysis or obtaining data through
research can lead to erroneous results and ultimately affects corporation's performance
adversely.
Rolling budget: It can be described as financial plan drawn up on a comparable scale that has
been used in previous years. This is only carried out after previous year 's budgets has been
finished in the beginning phase of accounting cycle. This is a useful budget as it encompasses all
financial aspects by attempting to make a proper estimate (Fleischman and Parker, 2017). In
IKEA Limited, they are using such a budget in an efficient way with a view to the efficient
oversight of their economic resources. This budget has certain benefits and drawbacks, described
below:
• Advantages: It's beneficial for companies as it's less complicated and expensive. They do
not require to schedule for preparation tasks of such budget since it is being rolled out
in same way as in previous years.
• Disadvantages- The major downside of such a budget statement is that, this kind of
budget is not appropriate for corporations to make crucial decisions. The same is true of
the failure of such a budget whenever there is a massive shift in entire accounting cycle.
Flexible Budget: This budgeting approach is also referred to as variable budgeting. As for its
title, such budget is acting in the same way. It could be described as a form of budget
statement in which financial transactions can be modified according to the needs of user groups.
This is formulated by all those corporations wherein significant adjustments are implemented to
their functions and processes. In IKEA, such budget is drawn up for all those business activities
that are anticipated to change in near future or coming years.
• Advantages: The key feature or benefit of such budget is that it makes it possible users to
create changes according to their appropriateness. For example, in a specific financial
year, if there is any error or miss-recording of several transactions then this budget allow
to make subsequent modifications in accounts.
• Disadvantages: The biggest issue in that same budget statement is that this can become
difficult to comprehend because of daily impact on financial data. Just as such budget
empowers fraud and forgery, since staff members can hide or cover up their actual
performance and makes changes as needed (Smith, 2015).
Fixed budget: This generally recognised as major form of budgeting which is most rigid budget
by nature and do not allow any subsequent modifications. This kind of budgets are commonly
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formed by those corporations which have strict controlling over the entire accounting and
financial mechanism and generally not expect subsequent changes in accounts. In IKEA limited,
managers follow this budget in some segment where ordinarily no subsequent changes requires.
• Advantages- As here no further changes can be made in fixed budget this is not complex
and provide more definitive goals for employees. There is less chances of manipulation in
this budget as it not allow additional changes.
• Disadvantages- Here rigidity of this budget is major disadvantage of this budget as it is
very complicated task to modify a fixed budget in case of relevant and significant
changes required due to some exceptional circumstances.
Cash Budget: Cash budget presents in depth budgeted cash collections (commonly on month-
basis) and expenditures of both natures’ capital as well as revenue. Additionally, cash budget
often dictates the organisation's projected fund cash flow at various periods and
ensures availability of adequate cash-fund within corporation.
 Advantages: Cash budget at the simplest form is a comprehensive schedule outlining all
of the planned cash streams and uses. This act as budgeting tool that businesses
frequently use to track their inflows as well as outflows of cash-fund. this is
advantageous in effective monitoring of usage of cash.
 Disadvantages: Nonfinancial considerations are excluded by using cash budget to assess
the liquidity requirements and funding choices. Ulterior inspired managers distort budget
figures to rely on themselves effectively. A manager who makes decisions
concerning cash budget can underestimate her expenditures for budget period.
Capital budget: This comprises of capital proceeds (such as disinvestment, lending, public
or government loans etc.) as well as capital expenditures (such as spending on
machinery purchase, new plant etc.). Capital receipts apply to the cash flows will coming in.
They may be non-debt receipts as well as debt receipts. Loans from general public, international
governments, including banks make up a substantial proportion of capital proceeds.
 Advantages: It lets company make strategic longer-term investments. This benefits to
making an educated investment decision and takes into account all potential alternatives.
It lets a firm pick its assets strategically in a dynamic environment. This aim to maximise
shareholder equity and give business a market advantage.
 Capital budget stays introspective, as risk factor stays relative to manager's interpretation
and discounting factor. An incorrect decision based on capital budget will
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impact company's longer-term longevity and therefore experts who consider project well
have to do this appropriately.
M3: Analysing uses of different planning tools/methods and their application for preparing and
forecasting budgets:
Budget preparation requires the use of the planning tool referred to the above to improve
the efficiency and effectiveness of core business operations through improving the working
theme of employees. Above all, the planning tool plays an integral role in the defined
processes of budget. It also involves master budget, cash budgets, flexible budge and several
other key budgets. With the help of the use of this planning tools, managers can make an
effective estimate of the likely performance of corporation and take decisions accordingly. These
also provide an effective basis for formulation of effective strategies and policies (Gullberg,
2016).
P5 Comparing as to how corporations are effectively adapting MA systems for responding to
multiple financial problems:
Financial Problems: These can be classified as a form of issues that may arise in any form of
company or business organisation because of lack of effective supervision of the
financial resources available or financial activities. Owing to such financial difficulties,
companies are faced with several other issues, including the failure to perform various types of
business operations. Following are several kind of financial issues/problems that IKEA are
continuously facing, as follows:
Increasing storage cost and handling costs of Inventories: IKEA is continuously facing issue
regarding increased costs of inventory handling and storage. Managers of company are not able
to determine the root cause of this problem and due to this company's overall gross profitability
level is decreasing. This also increases the cost of goods sold as this directly impacts the cost of
inventories.
Declining sales figures: In company sales figures are continuously declining due to this firm's net
profitability level is also decreasing. Managers of IKEA are unable to deal with such issue. This
continue decline in overall sales also impacting market share of corporation. In long run this
issue can put question on survival of enterprise (Cooper, 2017).
Along with planning tools there are several significant techniques which may assist
managers of IKEA to handle these issues. Thus, managers have to focus of these techniques to
allocate the areas which are causing such discussed issues, as follows:
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Key performance indicators: This could be described as technique under which important
components are outlined. In simple words, it emphasizes those aspects that lead to significant
underperformance or impressive performance. These may be financial or non-financial by nature
as financial KPIs involve GP margin, NP margin and other key fiscal ratios while on other hand
non-financial KPIs involve client relationships, brand value etc. KPIs are critical for business
goals since they hold priorities at forefront of decision-making. It is important that business aims
are well represented in a company, because when individuals know about and are accountable for
their KPIs, it makes sure that general objectives of business are front of mind.
Benchmarking: It is regarded as a set of elements which are linked to a contrast of financial and
non - finance elements of company with some other similar company within industry. As a result,
the corporation can become aware of the areas that require to be improved in an efficient manner.
Benchmarking helps to continuously develop and incorporate improvements in company
products, processes/services. Benchmarking activities therefore offer a clear knowledge of the
desires and preferences of the customers. That's because at any point of compare clients are most
significant data source (Brustbauer, 2016).
Financial Governance: It is regarded as a mechanism by which financial information for a
given time timespan is tracked in a uniform way that could be used to help
in addressing financial problems. This mechanism acts as effective tracking strategy for
organizations to allocate all those components that lead to lower or reduced performance. It
combines all the governing policies which can help to put strict controlling over organisation's
performance. Financial governance helps companies to better recognise threats. Finance may
recognise what financial information shows market risks, with regular reporting and controls
placed in place.
In this regard following table consists of effective comparison entities Antique Furniture
UK and IKEA. Antique Furniture offers higher quality furniture for customers who are only
searching for things a little unique at reasonable prices. Company mainly using cost accounting
system. While IKEA is a Swedish-born large corporate group designing and selling fully
prepared-to-assemble furniture and home accoutrements, as well as other worthwhile products.
IKEA generally adopts inventory management system to respond to financial issues. Both such
entities are manufacturer and designer of furniture.
IKEA Antique Furniture UK
Financial Issue IKEA is facing issue of rising Here Antique Furniture UK is
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Inventories storage costs and
handling costs as well as
declining sales. Due to theses
issues company's net
profitability level is declining.
facing problem of increasing
operational costs because of
this issue company's operating
profits are declining.
MA Techniques Adopted Here corporation can apply
KPIs as well as Benchmarking
technique to identify which
areas are responsible for such
issue.
As in case of Antique
Furniture, company should use
financial governance to
allocate the main reason of
increasing operational costs.
MA systems Adopted Inventories management
system and price
optimisation system could be
applied here to resolve and
appropriately responding of
these problems.
Cost accounting system
should be applied here to
catch the root cause of this
issue and minimise the
overall operational costs
(Brewer, Garrison and
Noreen, 2015).
M4 Analysing about how as to respond financial problems, MA can lead entities towards
sustainable successes:
Financial issues that organisations generally face are key obstacle for corporation's
success. Every corporation try to minimise these issue and respond them within reasonable
manner. As if IKEA respond these issue within sort time-frame then it can achieve its
predetermined goals and objects. Management should focus of adapting MA systems and
techniques to resolve such issues and move towards accomplishment of set goals and targets.
D3 Evaluating as to how discussed planning tools can respond effectively to resolving such
financial problems to lead organisations to sustainable success:
For management personnel, the panning tools are like an effective support system as it
responds smoothly to the organizational issue related to finance. For example, a fundamental
master budget could be used by IKEA to evaluate its organizational conditions, which provides
management accountants with aid in taking sensible (measured) decisions. Those very planning
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tools offer comprehensive foundations so that the critical elements of financial problems can be
assessed and resolved. Providing solutions to financial problems will lead in an organization's
role being raised in the short term (Arnaboldi, Lapsley and Steccolini, 2015).
CONCLUSION
From above study it has been articulated that MA and its different methods as well as
systems are key to the success of every organisation if properly adapted within organisation.
Along with systems, management should apply planning tools respond to financial issues as
planning tools offer protective frameworks against financial issues. Also these tools recognise the
main reason of different financial issues to assure sustainable success. Therefore, managers
should apply MA systems together with planning tools to optimise the effect of financial issues
and respond to issues.
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