Management Accounting Research Themes

This assignment delves into the field of management accounting research, analyzing recent trends and identifying promising avenues for future exploration. It examines various subfields within management accounting, such as environmental management accounting and performance outcomes, drawing upon a diverse range of scholarly sources including journal articles and books. The goal is to synthesize current knowledge and provide a critical perspective on the evolving landscape of management accounting research.

MANAGEMENT
ACCOUNTING

REPORT
From:- Management Accounting officer
To:- General Manager of company
Subject:- It is required to produce the report for the general manager that include management
accounting with different methods which is available for the costing and it helps in creating
report which will be useful for business.

INTRODUCTION
Management accounting helps a company to take effective decisions related to
organisation and it records like financial and non-financial that assists in making investment in a
perfect way. Moreover, companies try to have a research of market and receive information
about where to invest the amount so that maximum revenues can be collected. Hence, nowadays,
technology is helping company to bring effectiveness in their accounting system so that they can
maintain their records at one place only (Ward, 2012). Although, few issues are also faced by
organisation likewise not making proper decision and making changes in policy and procedure of
firm and bring efficiency in working by reducing wastage of resources and utilising such in
maximum mannerism so that higher profit and income can be attained. The report is based on
CARWOW which sells new cars to customers and working at a small scale. Although, company
is looking forward to increase their business and use new technology to improve their working
criteria as well. Financial management is such which uses different methods and uses of it in the
report. Apart from this, planning tools and comparison in between two firms and such thing help
in solving financial problems of company in better manner.
TASK 1
P1. Different types of management accounting and its essential requirements
Management and accounting such which help company to collect information and
somewhere this also relate with their various operation like sales data, raw materials and changes
in stock as well, although all criteria is being used and transformed into a useful data and it will
be used for analysing the data. Therefore, this is something which also gathers data like
operational and cost which somewhere help in compare budget expenses with real scenario.
Moreover, management accounting department is that which also helps top executive of
CARWOW with their information which will help in making proper decision for organisation
(Vasile and Man, 2012). Hence, it has been seen that financial and management accounting is
different from each other as MA includes the internal system of company and this also executes
various steps of management and on the other side, they also provide information and data to the
industry. Although with information, CARWOW can make an effective decision and strategy
which will allow them to fight and make themselves stable in market. Management accounting
and their different types is as follows:
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Inventory management system: It has been seen that various types of plans and policies
which help in making a control over the inventories in better manner. Although this is something
which is being a continuous process and CARWOW is that which help company to take effective
decision related to their money and investment. Normally, the common issues faced by company
is over stock of different things and under stock as well. If company is suffering from under
stock then CARWOW is not being able to provide the cars to their customer on time and this
lead to affect in their relation as well (Vasile and Man, 2012). If, company is having an over
stock and this is also an issue for company as this leads to wastage of resources as many people
is not aware about CARWOW so selling and using the service of firm is at lower level only.
For all such, the inventory control software is there which can track the orders and
deliveries of cars. Implementing and executing such on time will help the firm to reduce the
criteria of under stock and over stock as well. Entity is having another method that is Bar code
reader, although, this can help business to track the cars that it is being taken out from showroom
or not and is it delivered to customer in better way or not. Moreover there is another method is
there like EOQ which help entity to reduce the wastage in entity and somewhere this help them
to perform in perfect way as well. All such scenario help CARWOW to make an proper
accounting and produce effective policy to reduce all such criteria in company.
Job Costing System: In an organisation, there are many jobs which can help business to
earn higher income and profit as well as well as somewhere they are increasing the cost of
company. Therefore, this costing system has the responsibility to identify such job which can
help to earn higher revenues and attainment of goals and objectives can also be there. Although
with all such, CARWOW is having a prime motto of providing efficient services to customers so
that they can make them satisfied and in the future, can take corrective measures (Van der Stede,
2011).
Profit Optimization System: Pricing is that factor in market which has to be set
according to the customers so that they can buy cars in an easy manner. If the price does not set
at reasonable way then the consumer move towards different companies as because millions of
people are there who does not have such income as they can spend on car. Prices also should not
be set lower because having such situation make customer to think that quality product would
not be there. This will bring down side in sell of cars and will not be able to earn higher profit as
well.
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Cost accounting System: This helps the business to calculate real cost gained in
performing every function of company so that profitability, inventory and control on cost can be
seen. Although, it helps in reducing expenses and can take corrective actions to minimise the
wastage of resources. This also makes organisation to reduce the labour and material cost with
such expenses can be minimised as well (Van der Meer-Kooistra and Vosselman, 2012).
P2 Various methods which help in accounting report.
Accounting is such which is needed concept in the organisation like CARWOW. This
report of accounting is such which help senior manager of firm to make an effective decision and
strategy in company so that higher profit with controlling and monitoring can be attained in
proper scenario. This is something which can help them to complete their task on time and even
in better way as well. Although some of the method of accounting system is like:
Inventory Control Reporting: This is something which is being used by company to
check the stock in warehouses. This concept help business to know that their warehouses is being
managed in right manner or not. If it is not section then the warehouses is such which needs
improvement required in better manner (Vakalfotis, Ballantine and Wall, 2013). This also help in
minimising the chances of over and under stocking in perfect way.
Application:- Therefore the application of such is very effective on CARWOW as they can help
this method to analyse their warehouses anytime. With this they can manage their accounts and
reporting can be done in corrective measure and such thing bring improvement in warehouses as
well. Although such thing can help in making customer happy by providing them services on
time and with this they can earn higher profitability as well. Chances of problem and issues is
that which can reduce the wastage and can make report in effective way.
Account Receivable Reporting: This concept is such which help to manage the cask
flow of company. Moreover, this make firm to have an account as from which party or customer
the money has to receive and how much. In this report information about party and date, time
and amount is included and such help in minimising the consequences in cash flow as well
(Suomala, Lyly-Yrjänäinen and Lukka, 2014).
Application:- This scenario is also helpful for the company CARWOW as this can make them to
know that from which party the amount is remaining and how much to receive from them and
within which time period as well. This is something which also help in weekly, monthly and
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quarterly as well. Effective policy and procedure does also help to have a better working scenario
in company.
Account Payable reporting: This method is somewhere opposite of receivable reporting
as in this the method help company to know that to whom the amount has to be paid and this also
help them to make an effective relation in between the supplier and firm (Parker, 2012). This
also make them to have and bring a positive image in the eyes of supplier and customer as well
Application:- The firm CARWOW uses various methods and this is something which help in
payable reporting which somewhere bring business in smoother manner. Availability of
resources is such thing which help employees to perform in better manner and thus such scenario
is that which also bring better goodwill of company. Paying payment and amount on time make
supplier to provide healthy relation among most important trust in between both the parties.
Performance Reporting: This is something which is being used by every company not
only CARWOW as such concept help to identify the performance of employees and staff in
organisation and to make effective measure to improve the performance and productivity of
company and this will help firm to attain their goal and objective in right manner as well.
Identify help business to know that where the pitfalls and consequences are there (Otley and
Emmanuel, 2013).
Application:- This method is Applicable in CARWOW as with such thing company can identify
performance of employees and can find out where the issues and problems are faced by them and
bringing proper policy and procedure for them. This will help them to perform in right contrast
as well.
Budget Reporting: Budget is that which company to know that which department or
division is taking most the amount in company. Although this kind of thing is known as expense
in performing, it also help in making compare estimated amount and this is equal to budget or
not in proper manner or not. Moreover, the fund has to be used in effective manner and it will
make to reduce the expenses as well, so that proper decision can be taken in right prospect.
Application:- The CARWOW is that company who uses their fund in better manner and this is
something which has to be done in right prospect and utilisation can be done where required.
Available funds help company to make effective decision and bring strength in their minds as
they can work in right manner as well.
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TASK 2
P3 Marginal cost and abnormal cost in CARWOW.
In accounting system there is a income statement which helps and thus it includes the
document of the company and it also help to manage the accounting and it does report to needed
concept of small business like CARWOW. Moreover, it is the summary of various thing like
revenues and expenses which has been taken into various course and business also and thus it
also include operating and non-operating activities, although this also help to calculate the net
profit and or the loss in such a particular year (Macintosh and Quattrone, 2010). Various
methods which somewhere help in making statement as well and some of those are as follows:
Absorption cost: This method is such which is being used with the selling and
administration expenses which also requires and it also include the income statement as well.
Although this is that which also include the cost of finished stock and somewhere this is such
which is consist of the direct labour and material, variable and fixed cost overhead. Therefore,
this is something which also include the costing criteria which is being very much significant for
firms and this is used for adequate decision as well and can be made with the minimisation of
wastage of the resources in efficient manner. Hence, this method was earlier used at the time of
traditional accounting. As this also assisted in reducing wastage and this somewhere resulted into
the traditional cost as well.
Marginal Costing: This is something which is normally include the cost which occurred
due to additional production made in and somewhere because of their fixed cost get affected as
well (Lukka and Vinnari, 2014). This is the thing which is being included as extra production
and manufacturing of product and service make out into variable cost and it has to be considered
as the income statement. Although the cost is such which is being related to labour and raw
material which is being used to manufacture additional part of product.
The difference among the marginal and absorption cost is discussed as below:
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Basis of difference Marginal Cost Absorption Cost
Meaning It the technique of decision
making by organisation as this
somewhere help firm to make
to discover the total cost of
production made is called as
marginal cost.
This include the total cost
which allocate the cost centre
and it is being used to
determine the total cost of
manufacturing which is known
as absorption cost of company.
Overheads Marginal cost are the variable
and fixed cost as well
Administration, distribution
and selling is such which is
included in this only.
Highlights Although in this the
contribution was done on basis
of per unit.
Therefore, in this the net profit
is such which is being used on
per unit basis.
Cost Data Moreover, this is being
presented with the total
contribution which is made on
every product.
This is used to present the
conventional thing in perfect
way as well.
Profitability This is something which is
being measured to have a
profit volume ratio in such
concept only.
Although in this the fixed cost
is included and it also gets
affected and this can be done
in bad manner as well.
Cost reduction Variable cost is that in which
the product cost is considered
and in this the fixed cost is
also known with the period
cost.
Although this is that cost
which is totally different from
the marginal cost and variable
and fixed cost both are
considered in this as product
cost.
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There is a calculation ad this is being done on the basis of absorption cost and although
this help company to make an effective decision related to budget as well.
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Absorption costing
Working 1: Calculate full production cost
Direct material £6
Direct labour £5
Variable cost £2
Fixed cost £3
Total £16
Working 2: Calculate value of inventory and production
Opening inventory Production amount Closing inventory
0 700*19 = £13300 100*16 = £1600
Working 3: Under/ Over absorbed fixed production overhead
Actual fixed production: £2100
Fixed overhead: £2000
Total £100(over absorbed)
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Administration cost: In this budget cost the £800 and Actual cost is £700
Selling cost: In this budgeted cost is £400 and Actual cost is £600
Net profit using Absorption costing £ £
Sales
(-) Cost of Sales:
Initial stock
Manufacturing (Production)
End stock
(Under)/ Over absorbed fixed prod.
O/h
Gross Profit
Less Expenses
Variable sales expenditure
Fixed administration expenses
Fixed selling expenditure
Over absorption
Net Profit
0
11200
(1600)
600
700
600
(100)
21000
(9600)
11400
(1800)
9600
Working 1: Calculate variable production cost £
Direct material 6
Direct labour 5
Variable production O/h 3
Variable production cost 14
Working 2: Calculate value of inventory and production
Opening Stock Production End inventory
0 700*14 = 9800 100*14 = 1400
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Net profit using Marginal costing £ £
Sales value
Less: Variable costs
Opening stock
Manufacturing
Closing stock
Contribution
Less Fixed costs
Variable Production expenses
Administration cost expenditure
Selling cost
Net Profit
0
9100
(1300)
2000
1300
600
21000
(7800)
13200
3900
9300
From the above statement, it has been concluded that absorption method is quite effective
then marginal costing and the CARWOW can use the absorption method as this is showing
better result for company. In this criteria and Box it is like, profit of firm is approx. £9600 and
from marginal cost it was around £9300. Moreover, it can be seen that there is a gap of £300 this
is because it is considered as fixed cost in the company (Kotas, 2014). Although, in the marginal
costing the profit is being showed on after having reduction after the fixed cost. Fixed cost
amount is being different in the every method of using such in effective manner.
Sometimes this result into the profit marginal and somewhere it is not appropriate
according to company. Moreover, it is required that firm is adapting the marginal technique in
better manner and thus it is because this help them to earn higher profit in entity. Normally it is
quite interesting to know that this is being used in internation accounting standard.
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TASK 3
P4 Advantages and Disadvantages of planning tool.
Budget: Budget is that which has to be impressive document which consist of detailed
information within the specific time period by considering actual facts and figures of research.
Normally, it is being used to identify the various cost and expenses and company is somewhere
investing while working on qualitative product and services. It is a comprehensive criteria of
operational department and it also produce a plan for the capital investment. Normally it is being
produced for a single year and this has to be followed by CARWOW and their shareholder as
well and although this can be changed and desired result and thing are not achieved (Kihn,
2010). Generally the planned sales and income is thus engaged in producing the product and
cost, expenses etc. are all involved in producing the goods and services in better manner.
Budget control: This is the most indispensable method which is being used for
management to carry out the other operation of business like: (planning, cooperation and
assessment as well.) moreover, this is being linked with the number of business parts which is
being classified into the various sections like budget centre. The appropriate process for such
thing is as follows:
 Suggestion for concern managers:- It is essential for managing head and having
information in an appropriate manner and either that particular data which is being
required to handle the cost.
 Implement Effective suggestion:- gathering feedback is like managerial and somewhere
they are responsible which is being design and an accurate for preventing firm from the
instant losses.
 Planning tools:- It helps to determine the aim of company for its future direction in
which order can make it attained in firms goal and objective.
◦ Forecasting tool:- It is based on practical assumption and it is encouraged by
management skills, learning with effective decision making process.
▪ Advantages: Moreover it is require to identify the goals, as it also support the
managerial team which is being predicting the actual amount of costs and sales
which is being taken in coming time period.
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▪ Disadvantages: Absence of estimation of different expense and this is being used
to incurred and it in upcoming time period. If expense is more then total cost then
it will affect the company goals.
◦ Scenario tools: This method says that CARWOW use their close substitutes
according to situational demand. Generally, during planning, functional and
somewhere operational as well.
▪ Advantages:- with help of this needed ideas for selection, opportunity and
implementation is done.
▪ Disadvantage:- Lack of accuracy and not being good for the selected firm and the
consumer time period is required to be done.
TASK 4
P5 How company is opting management accounting system.
Moreover, it is like business market and this is being changing the time in great way and
it is having a great impact on organisation. Although it has seen that the firm is facing many
issues like financial and non0-financial accounting activities. This is something which is also
affecting altogether in great manner and profitability and the productivity, it also gets affected in
better way (Herzig and et. al. 2012). Management accounting also help the company identifying
the issues and problems and also help in overcoming everything in effective manner and this
somewhere also provide the solution to those and every activity can be resolved in firm and
efficiently working can be seen. Moreover the, CARWOW also adapting changes in environment
and thus operation does also gets an older one ad it being used by them somewhere in actual.
CARWOW AUTOEBID
This is being the most trusted company and
moreover the customer do also buy from such
organisation only as because high priced cars
also gets available with them at lower prices as
well or can say at reasonable prices
This company also being a trusted one but not
more then the CARWOW as they work under
the opposition in effective way.
CARWOW is such which does not take much
more time in making delivery of their product
AUTOEBID does also take lee time period in
making delivery but not less then the
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and services although around they take 6 to 7
weeks in making delivery.
CARWOW and even this company is also
known for its better services.
CARWOW is the firm who is having their tie
up with the large entities who deal in cars only
and they provide the quality service to
customer in effective manner as well.
This is the firm which is having tie ups with
large company and provide almost better
services but it has seen that firm is having less
tie ups then CARWOW.
CARWOW satisfy their customer in effective
way and thus they deal with great business and
provide effective product and services to
customers.
It is something which deals in every kind of
cars and provides the product at reasonable
prices as well but somewhere more then the
CARWOW. s
Even though the CARWOW is using a better technology then AUTOEBID as because
the company AUTOEBID is using a traditional methodology and technology for their working as
well. Moreover this is among the common issues which is being faced by companies and some
of them are as follows:
Profitability: This is the [rime motto of any company and try hard to achieve this in any
how manner in the change market. Moreover, if the cost of production increases in firm then the
profitability also decreases in great manner and thus it also make them to earn less productivity
as well (Harris and Durden, 2012). Overcoming this problem of increase in cost can help
company to earn higher profit in better way and this become the strength of entity. This also
make them to have balanced structure and this make to have a over and under stock.
Price: It is required by companies to set the prices at the lower level as because this thing
help customer to buy their product (CARS) at reasonable prices and it should of quality as well,
as with they become satisfied and try to use their service for the next time. Rich prices of their
service will make customer to ignore to use the services of CARWOW and will move towards
other company and lower prices also make them to think that quality is not perfect as well.
Performance appraisal: Moreover, the employees of CARWOW is working in effective
manner and with competition they increase their performance as well and this thing convert
company to provide rewards to their employee and workers as well, as this has to make that firm
has to provide great appraisal in efficient manner as well (DRURY, 2013).
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Benchmarking: CARWOW although also set benchmark for their employees as
according to such they have to perform in correct manner and thus it also make them to have
increase in their performance as well. Benchmark is hence also made for organisation itself they
in such time period they have to attain this thing in such manner bring motivation in them to
perform more effectively.
Key Performance Indicators: It is something which help and make company t know
that in which criteria and ways they choose to attain their goal and objective in effective manner
(Boyns and Edwards, 2013). For such scenario there are two KPI which help to know that best
one and both describe as, high level KPI is that in which the focus of performance is on overall
enterprise and lower KPI says that activities of various department and section will be taken as
sales and marketing etc.
CONCLUSION
From the report conclusion may be like, management accounting is an important tool
which supports the small and large companies in managing their daily basis working of
operation. Along with this project also used different budgetary tools which help company to
control expenses and various number of tools is being used for their financial problems and in
order to gain better maximum profit and for the company productivity as well. Moreover,
CARWOW is using the process management accounting in proper way which is helping them to
have a great working.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Albelda, E., 2011. The role of management accounting practices as facilitators of the
environmental management: Evidence from EMAS organisations. Sustainability
Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 2(1). pp.76-100.
Arroyo, P., 2012. Management accounting change and sustainability: an institutional approach.
Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change. 8(3). pp.286-309.
Becker, S.D., Messner, M. and Schäffer, U., 2010. The evolution of a management accounting
idea: the case of beyond budgeting.
Bennett, M.D., Schaltegger, S. and Zvezdov, D., 2013. Exploring corporate practices in
management accounting for sustainability (pp. 1-56). London: ICAEW.
Bodie, Z., 2013. Investments. McGraw-Hill.
Boyns, T. and Edwards, J.R., 2013. A history of management accounting: The British
experience(Vol. 12). Routledge.
DRURY, C. M., 2013. Management and cost accounting. Springer.
Harris, J. and Durden, C., 2012. Management accounting research: An analysis of recent themes
and directions for the future. Journal of Applied Management Accounting Research.
10(2). p.21.
Herzig and et. al. 2012. Environmental management accounting: case studies of South-East
Asian Companies. Routledge.
Kihn, L.A., 2010. Performance outcomes in empirical management accounting research: Recent
developments and implications for future research. International Journal of
Productivity and Performance Management. 59(5). pp.468-492.
Kotas, R., 2014. Management accounting for hotels and restaurants. Routledge.
Lukka, K. and Vinnari, E., 2014. Domain theory and method theory in management accounting
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Macintosh, N. B and Quattrone, P., 2010. Management accounting and control systems: An
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Otley, D and Emmanuel, K. M. C., 2013. Readings in accounting for management control.
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Parker, L.D., 2012. Qualitative management accounting research: Assessing deliverables and
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reflective analysis of conducting interventionist research in management accounting.
Management Accounting Research. 25(4). pp.304-314.
Vakalfotis, N., Ballantine, J. and Wall, A.P., 2013. A literature review on the impact of
Enterprise Systems on management accounting.
Van der Meer-Kooistra, J. and Vosselman, E., 2012. Research paradigms, theoretical pluralism
and the practical relevance of management accounting knowledge. Qualitative Research
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Van der Stede, W.A., 2011. Management accounting research in the wake of the crisis: some
reflections. European Accounting Review. 20(4). pp.605-623.
Vasile, E. and Man, M., 2012. Current dimension of environmental management accounting.
Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 62. pp.566-570.
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