Management Accounting and Sustainability

This assignment delves into the field of management accounting research, particularly examining its evolution in light of growing emphasis on sustainability. It analyzes various theoretical perspectives and practical applications, drawing upon seminal works by renowned researchers like Chenhall, Christian, Modell, Van der Stede, and Ward. The assignment emphasizes the role of management accounting in promoting sustainable business practices and fostering responsible corporate behavior.

UNIT 5 MNG ACC

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Management accounting and essentials requirement of management accounting in the
organisation............................................................................................................................1
P2 Methods of management accounting reporting in the company.......................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P3 Marginal and absorption costing and explaining differences............................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P4 Advantages and disadvantages of different types of planning tools.................................8
P5 How management accounting system adapts to respond to financial problems.............11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Management accounting plays a crucial role in as it assists the company in making
effective use of financial data and information for growth and development of business. The
report will evaluate the implementation of different management accounting system in Agmet
which is resource management business and it focused on establishing its global presence. The
firm deals in metals, edible oils, high temperature alloys etc., (Ramiah, Kuppusamy and
Gharleghi, 2018). Also, it will identify different methods of management accounting reporting
which helps in determining effective accounting management practices which are related with
growth and stakeholders of firm. Apart from this the report will outline difference between
Marginal and absorption costing which helps the enterprise in managing its income statement.
Thus, the report will identify management accounting tools which can helps Agmet in managing
financial problems such as, benchmarking, throughput accounting method etc.
TASK 1
P1 Management accounting and essentials requirement of management accounting in the
organisation
Management accounting is an important tool of managerial decision-making so that
organisation may be able to become internally strong so that customers may be provided quality
goods in the best possible way. Management accounting is an important branch of accounting
which summarises data obtained from financial accounting so that it may assess internal strength
of organisation in effective way (Zhang, Randhir and Zhang, 2018). The management is
benefited by such information as it is able to judge internal strength of the company and as such,
enhanced decisions are taken for the betterment of the organisation. Agmet Company which is
engaged in manufacturing sector provides chemical related products to customers. The company
also uses management accounting information in practice so that firm may perform well and
quality services to customers.
The main essence of such information is that managerial reports are prepared on timely
basis and as such, costs are ascertained quite easily. This provides clarity about the expenditures
incurred by the organisation to accomplish tasks. This help management to take measures to
reduce costs so that more production may be achieved with much ease. Financial information
provides management to take short-term as well as long term decisions in effectual way
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(Ahadiat, 2013). Agmet Company is benefited as through management accounting various trend
charts, variances are carried out which provides clarity to management to assess progress of the
organisation in the best possible way. However, external stakeholders are not provided this
information as it belongs for making decisions solely by the management. Thus, company is
benefited by such information and enhanced decisions are made for achieving common targets.
In addition to this, various types of management accounting are described below-
Price optimisation:
Price optimisation is useful analysis which is quite useful for organisation to set price of
the products in effective way. In simple words, it is a mathematical analysis which is used to
assess the consumer behaviour when certain price is quoted by the company. This technique help
management to analyse that whether customers are ready to buy products at that price which is
quoted by it or should modify price in accordance to the wish of customers in the best possible
way (Chenhall and Smith, 2011). This help management to successfully set price of a particular
product with reference to wish of customers and as such, they achieve satisfaction quite easily.
Agmet Company also uses this management accounting method so that adequate prices may be
quoted so that customers may be delighted and they are not attracted to rivals.
Cost accounting:
Cost accounting is another useful for management to ascertain costs and initiate measures
to reduce costs. This is essentially required mainly in manufacturing sector which involves lot of
indirect expenses, direct, fixed, variable and semi-variable expenditures in accomplishing tasks.
This accounting technique analyses each and every costs and as such, steps are taken to minimise
expenses in effective manner (Van der Stede, 2011). Various costs are ascertained and actual and
planned output is compared so that management may be able to take better and effective
decisions in the best possible way. This help management to take enhanced decisions so that
costs may be reduced and overall production may be achieved with much ease. The
ascertainment of various costs such as operating costs are also important as business has to
perform daily operational tasks and which incurs expenditures. Thus, cost accounting is effective
branch of management accounting which reduces cost of the concern to accomplish enhanced
production.
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Job costing:
Job costing is useful method of management accounting and is essentially required in the
business. Agmet Company which is engaged in the manufacturing sector is highly benefited by
this technique as manufacturing costs are easily ascertained. Job costing is beneficial for the
organisation as it analyses costs incurred on various jobs which are engaged in accomplishing
required production and as such, this technique help management to analyse jobs which are
producing required output and also analyses inefficient jobs (Ward, 2012). Thus, expenditures on
various jobs are easily evaluated and company is able to take enhanced decisions with much ease
regarding minimising costs on unproductive jobs so that overall production may be achieved
quite effectually. This help management to analyse which job is achieving required production
and which is not generating desired production. This help to ascertain costs on jobs and as such,
desired production is generated with much ease.
Inventory management:
Inventory is required in the organisation so that it may be able to provide goods to
customers. Large number of orders are received on daily basis and as such, it is required that
company may provide their orders on timely basis. Production department requires inventory to
be achieve desired production. In this scenario, inventory is required to be managed quite
effectively so that production may be done and customers may be provided with goods within
stipulated time. This is required to be done by the management as resources are scarce and
company cannot waste the same. If inventory is ordered in more than required quantity, then it
will lead to unnecessary wastage of money as it has to be maintained in the warehouse which
will incur additional cost of handling. Thus, it is required that management should analyse needs
of production department and as such, inventory must be ordered.
P2 Methods of management accounting reporting in the company
Segmental or departmental report:
Segment reporting is useful piece of information to management so that financial
condition of the company may be assessed. This report breaks financial data into various
segments or department of the company and the same information is listed into the financial
statements of firm (Management accounting, 2018). Top management is benefited by such
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information as it can easily evaluate income, expenditures and other aspect of various segments
so that profitability of each of segments may be easily evaluated. However, this report is required
for public companies and not the private ones.
Performance report:
Performance report is quite effective report which help management to assess
performance of something in the organisation. Mainly, these reports are prepared for assessing
the performance of employees so that overall efficiency may be evaluated in the best possible
way. This required so that management may analyse efficiency of employees so that in the event
of any deficient performances, measures may be taken effectively to accomplish desired
productivity in the best possible way (Vimpari, Kajander and Junnila, 2014). This help to
compare standard performance of employees with that of actual performance so that variances if
any can be easily ascertained and measures can be easily taken to remove the same. Weekly or
annual performance reports should be generated by Agmet Company so that deficiency may be
evaluated and performance may be enhanced to accomplish desired productivity.
Inventory management report:
Inventory management report is another essential report which is scrutinised by the
management to order desired inventory from suppliers. This is required so that adequate quantum
of inventory may be ordered so that production department may be able to achieve desired
production (Modell, 2010). Inventory management report is prepared by the production
department which is then forwarded to the management so that it may scrutinise the same and
order only required quantity of stock so that wastage may not occur and as such, production may
be easily achieved with adequate quantity of inventory which will lead to enhanced production
and that too with no spoilage of inventory.
Accounts receivables ageing report:
Customers are provided with facility to buy now and pay later. In simple words, they are
provided with credit facility so that they may pay for the purchased items afterwards. In order to
analyse, outstanding amount of payment from customers, a report known as accounts receivable
ageing report is prepared. This report is quite useful for Agmet Company so that it may be able
to analyse how much payment is pending from customers and as such, it can easily assess
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amount of each of them and then contact them to pay outstanding amount (Bennett, Schaltegger
and Zvezdov, 2013). Thus, it is required that customers may make timely payments as
organisation requires amount for carrying out daily operational tasks with much ease. If there are
many customers from whom payment is pending, then well-structured strategies should be
implemented so that timely amount may be recovered from unpaid customer invoices.
Job cost report:
Job cost report is prepared to manage costs incurred on job so that expenditures on
various jobs may be analysed in effective way. This help management to allocate each job to
particular division code so that expenditures incurred on various jobs may be easily evaluated
(Christian, 2018). This report is much essential to company so that it may be able to check on
various costs and as such, measures are taken to reduce expenses so that adequate production
may be achieved with much ease. This help management to bifurcate productive and
unproductive jobs so that deficiency may be removed and overall productivity may be easily
accomplished. Thus, job cost report is quite essential for Agmet Company to extract better
results.
Operational budget report:
Operational budget report is prepared to estimate income and expenditures that will be
incurred by various departments in the company. This report help management to assess budget
requirement of departments so that they all may be able to carry out tasks in the best possible
way (Rizza and Ruggeri, 2018). This report includes sales, production, direct materials and other
components which play an important role in the company so that budget may be prepared quite
easily. Operational budget report provides clarity about how many expenses will be incurred and
how much profit will be earned by departments and as such, it is essential report for the
management.
TASK 2
P3 Marginal and absorption costing and explaining differences
Marginal costing- The marginal cost is termed as the variable cost which is inclusive of
the various kind of the cost such are as labour, material and estimated portion of fixed cost. This
is inclusive of the overhead and selling expenses. This term mean increment or decrement in the
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total cost of the production can be termed as the breakeven point (Gan and Chin 2018). In
marginal costing the variable cost changed as it added to the cost but fixed cost will remain the
same at the all stage. This is the kind of the principle technique in relation to make the all kind of
the effective decision. There are the various kinds of the marginal costing such are as-
1. The effective classification of fixed cost and variable cost.
2. The impressive determination of price.
3. Increment in profitability of firm.
4. The good valuation of stock.
The marginal contribution can be calculated in the following manner are as-
Sales price – variable price is equal to marginal costing.
Absorption costing- In this the all manufacture cost is need to be absorbed as the unit
produced. This is inclusive of the all indirect expenses as well as direct expenses. This is related
to the income statement. This is one of the oldest and effective technique of calculating the
absorption cost (Richelle and et. al., 2018). The absorption costing can also be known as the full
costing method which will be helpful in order to do each thing in the effective and efficient
manner. In this kind of the technique the cost is made up of direct cost plus overhead costs. In
this there is no kind of inventory and overhead recovery date is available.
There are two differed methods in relation to find out method of absorption costing in the
following manner are as-
 Inventory value
 Unit cost.
This can be known with the help of it differentiation in the following manner are as-
1. The marginal cost is varying as per the change in the sales volume per unit due to this the
rate of profit also get fluctuated.
2. As per the SSAP 9 it has been stated that the Absorption cost is inclusive of the element
of fixed overheads I order to determining the inventory volume.
3. The over absorption is the one of the effective method in relation to identifying the
controlling cot of the organisation (Gan and Chin 2018). In the marginal costing there is
not any kind of under absorption overheads in the income statement.
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4. In the marginal costing the fixed cost is the kind of period cost which is charge in order to
the period under consideration. The absorption cost is very helpful in order to find out the
best ways in relation to knowing the estimating job cost and profit on jobs.
5. The marginal cost is very effective and it is the best way in relation to make the useful
decision.
6. This kind of the cost is very simple to operate.
7. In this it is need to be noted that the main drawback in relation to marginal costing is that
the closing stock is not valued as per the accounting standard and under this fixed
production overhead are not charged between the unit of production (Rizza and Ruggeri,
2018).
8. The main disadvantage in relation to the absorption costing is that it is very tough in
order to operate than marginal costing and it is not that much effective in relation to make
the effective decision making.
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TASK 3
P4 Advantages and disadvantages of different types of planning tools
There are different planning tools which can be used by Agmet Company to evaluate
effectiveness of the new project. Planning tools are discussed below-
Zero based Budgeting
Zero based budgeting is quite effective budgeting technique which help management to
prepare budget from zero base. This means that no previous year's figures are taken as a base to
formulate current year budget (Christian, 2018). Thus, it provides clarity about current
requirement of departments and then accordingly, budget is prepared.
Advantages
Main advantage of zero based budgeting is that it does not involve tedious calculations
for preparing budget and as such, it is easier to prepare and interpret results.
Another merit of this method is that budget inflation is not made and as such, resources are
wasted and optimum utilisation of the same is found.
Disadvantages
It involves lengthy process which consumes lot of time as complete new budget is
prepared which is the biggest disadvantage of such method.
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It requires more manpower and consumes enough time of employees and as such, daily activities
are not accomplished.
IRR (Internal Rate of Return)
IRR is effective technique which is used to evaluate attractiveness of new project. It
provides clarity about the rate of return that will be yield in the future by investing in same
(Bennett, Schaltegger and Zvezdov, 2013). This help management of Agmet Company whether
it should opt for investing in the project or not. More the rate of IRR, company should invest in
the project.
Advantages
Main advantage of IRR method is that it is easier to compute and does not involve
complex calculations which is helpful for interpreting results with much ease.
Another advantage of IRR method is that it considers time value of money and as such, it gives
effective results to opt for investing in the project or not.
Disadvantages
It is not effective planning tool for management as when two projects have different
durations, then results obtained are inaccurate.
Rate of return which is calculated is mere an estimate and as such, decisions made on this basis
may lead to poor results.
NPV (Net Present Value)
NPV is another effective way of evaluating effectiveness of new project in the best
possible way (Modell, 2010). The main essence of using this method as a planning tool is that
Agmet Company may assess profitability aspect of the project quite effectively. More the NPV,
company should invest in the project.
Advantages
NPV is a great planning tool as it considers time value of money while assessing effectiveness
and attractiveness of the project.
It is useful tool as it analyses present value of cash inflows and outflows which provides clarity
about the effectiveness of new project.
Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of this method is that it takes into consideration discounting factor which
is difficult aspect to assess profitability of project.
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NPV is not useful for making comparison between two mutually exclusive projects having
different sizes. This results into inaccurate results and wrong or poor investment decisions may
be made by the management.
Payback period
It is another useful tool for evaluating project. Agmet Company may be benefited by such
method as it provides clarity to management regarding project that how much time it will take to
yield better results. Less the time taken in order to have the higher amount of profitability on the
making of capital investment (Vimpari, Kajander and Junnila, 2014). The many kinds of the
enterprise are having the acceptable payback period and it is need to be consider in relation to
target the less number of years. The pay back method is totally depending on the time. The time
of money will be considered as the payback period and it is the time when money will be return.
This is one of the effective measurement in relation to identifying the risk of the investment.
Incremental Budgeting
It helps the Agmet in managing budget of company by comparing the current budget with
budget of past few years (Ramiah, Kuppusamy and Gharleghi, 2018). This helps in making
changes in present budget to managing incremental amount of present period.
Advantages
This method is beneficial as it is consistent and relevant. It helps in establishing
coordination between budgets of parts few years which is most common approach of managing
financial performance
Disadvantages
It leads to negligence of changes in present year.
Advantages
This is one of the popular method in relation to identifying the several reasons. In this the
first is the simplicity. The manager used this kind of the method in relation to have the effective
evaluation on the of the project in order to derive the small investment (Richelle and et.al.,
2018). This is inclusive with the group of employees in order to conduct the effective and
economic analysis.
Disadvantages
The payback period works in relation to ignore the time value of money. This is one of
the effective model which is helpful in relation to consider the cash flows. The pay back method
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is generally focussed towards the short term profitability of the business enterprise. They do not
consider the cash inflows.
P5 How management accounting system adapts to respond to financial problems
Managing finance is the major issue which comes with resource management company
Therefore it is important for an organisation to implement the use of different accounting system
to manage finance of Agmet. The finance accounting management system are as follows: Throughput accounting: It is the type of method which helps the management in
formulating decision which helps f all necessary information which is related to business
operations. In this the mangers focuses on managing information which is related to
monetary exchange (Van der Stede, 2011). In this the management recognises al the cost
function such as backhanded cost, work duration, processing units, machine working time
period etc. It is effective because it helps in making decision which are related to growth
of Agmet. Further, the accounting methods helps the manager in reporting functions time
which offers most effective approach of managing time as well as finance. Lean manufacturing: It is the method which helps the company in managing waste which
is the best strategy that helps in improving cost effectiveness of functions. This is used by
Resource management organisation to create value of its metals for consumers (Vimpari,
Kajander and Junnila, 2014). This helps in understanding consumer value which helps in
enhancing value of business products which is directly proportionate to management to
finance. The major advantage of implementing this system is it helps in enhancing value
of existing products and assist in minimizing waste. Apart from this Agment implements
the use of this method because it helps in serving customer satisfaction and increasing
profitability with zero waste. Key performance indicators: It helps in resolving financial problems as it is focused on
evaluating business performance on the basis of solvency, profitability and liquidity.
Agmet can implement this method to track performance of every unit that is sales,
marketing, development etc. It provides evaluation of business performance on the basis
of every activity organisation is engaged. This finance management helps in analysing
performance as well as loopholes which be uncertain and can lead to major financial
problems (Ward, 2012). On other hand the major advantage of this performance indicator
tool as it can assist resource management company in analysing task as per SMART
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objective which is specification, measurable, attainable, relevant with time management
(Modell, 2010). For instance, if in cases enterprise has taken one target of selling specific
metals in particular time frame and implementing the use of this indicator is the most
effective technique as it will aid in comparing actual performance with standard
performance. Moreover, it will clearly denote management if the task is not attainable. Benchmarking: It helps in measuring organisational performance on the basis of its
policies, products and procedures. The bench marketing technique ineffective for Agmet
because it focused on measuring performance and financial problems as per three
specified objectives which are, determining improvement measure, analysing
performance levels and determining ways of improving organisation functions
(Weißenberger and Angelkort, 2011). Following these three objectives of benchmarking
is the best way which can assist Agmet in managing. In this the firm is able to set target
as per rivalries which helps in managing business functions easily with appropriate time
management.
 Budgetary control: This technique can be used in Agmet the resource management
company as it helps in easy monitoring and controlling functions. IT is the strategy
which helps in managing business functions with the help of strategies and tactics
(Ferhan 2008). Budgetary control technique helps the manager in setting goals in order
to improve performance of business. In this the management enables comparison between
actual and standard performance which is the most effective approach to managing
financial problems in short time period (Lukka and Modell, 2010). Thus, it is an effective
approach of managing finance of firm as it is focused on profits maximization, strategies,
innovation, quality management and cost control measures.
CONCLUSION
The report summarized the management accounting methods which are used by Agmet,
the sustainable resource management company which is focused on supplying metals, edible oils,
high temperature alloys etc. It evaluated price optimization method, cost accounting system,
inventory management etc. which can help the firm in maintaining record of all cost functions in
order to improvise overall accounting management of company. Further, it outlined absorption
and marginal costing methods. Apart from this the report outlined advantages and disadvantages
of implementing different planning approaches for controlling budget such as Zero-based
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budgeting, Incremental Budgeting etc. which can help enterprise establishing a link between
business functions and financial activity. Thus, the report outlined management accounting
system which can assist in managing financial problems like key performance indicator will
assist the entity in managing performance of organisation on the basis of solvency, profitability
and liquidity while implementing use of Lean manufacturing system will help Agmet in making
optimum utilisation of resources and minimising waste.
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REFERENCES
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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.
Vimpari, J., Kajander, J. K. and Junnila, S., 2014. Valuing flexibility in a retrofit investment.
Journal of Corporate Real Estate. 16 (1) pp.3 – 21.
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Ward, K., 2012. Strategic management accounting. Routledge.
Zhang, C., Randhir, T.O. and Zhang, Y., 2018. Theory and practice of enterprise carbon asset
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Management accounting, 2018 [Online] Available Through:
<http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/management-accounting.html>
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