Management Accounting Report: Cost Analysis & Planning Tools

This report provides a comprehensive overview of management accounting principles and their practical application within Prime Furniture, a London-based private limited company. The report delves into the core requirements of management accounting, differentiating it from financial accounting and highlighting the importance of various systems, including cost accounting, inventory management, job costing, and price optimization. It explores different methods for management accounting reporting, emphasizing the significance of understandable information. The report then proceeds to demonstrate cost calculations using absorption and marginal costing techniques, preparing income statements for both methods and providing reconciliation. Furthermore, it elaborates on planning tools utilized in management accounting, particularly budgeting, including capital and operating budgets. Finally, the report compares how organizations adapt management accounting systems to address financial problems, offering valuable insights for decision-making and financial strategy.

Management
Accounting

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1: Management Accounting with its essential Requirement and types:....................................1
P2. Methods for management accounting reporting....................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P3: Calculations of cost by utilising appropriates techniques for cost analysis for preparing
income statement by using absorption as well as marginal costs:...............................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4: Explanation of planning tools which is utilised in management accounting:.......................7
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................11
P5: Comparison of ways in which organizations adapt management accounting system as a
response to financial problems:.................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Management accounting can be elaborated as a procedure of identification, measurement,
analysis, interpretation and communication of financial information or data to managers of an
organization for the purpose of pursuing goals of business. Purpose of applying management
accounting is to assist internal users of a firm for making decisions that are well-informed.
Hence, it encompasses all financial information which is assessed by internal users of a company
(Agrawal, 2018). This report is based on analysis of management accounting in Prime Furniture.
Entity is based in London. It is a private limited company which was started in the year 2019.
This report covers demonstration of management accounting systems and reports.
Further, techniques of management accounting are applied. Apart from it, different planning
tools that are utilised in management accounting are applied. And lastly, comparative ways in
which business management accounting as a respond for financial problems.
TASK 1
P1: Management Accounting with its essential Requirement and types:
Management Accounting:
Management accounting is the process of measuring, assessing and communicating the
information to the manager. Prime furniture use management accounting for the purpose of
getting information about their organization, for better decision making and for planning,
controlling organizational activity (Aouni, McGillis and Abdulkarim, 2017).
Management Accounting System:
Management accounting system is the process of implementing management accounting
in organization is called Management Accounting. This helps the manger for the assessment of
organization purpose and help them to ensure better control over the financial activity. There are
different type of management accounting system which are used by Prime Furniture to carry out
operations for goal attainment.
Origin, role and principles of management accounting:
Management accounting was originated in early 1800s with the objective of use the
information in policy formulation and decision making. Role of management accounting in
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Prime furniture is to provide essential information to the manager that help the manager in
management of strategy and risk (Endenich, Trapp, and Brandau, 2017). Principle of
management accounting is as follows:
Principle of Causality: Principle of causality defines the relationship between input and
output resources contributed in the process of production. Strong causality relationship helps
business such as Prime Furniture to achieve its goals where weaker causality relationship
increase the cost of the firm.
Principle of Analogy: Principle of analogy states how the user of accounting information
apply the learning and knowledge to the operation to utilize the resources.
Distinction between management and financial accounting
Financial accounting Management accounting
Financial accounting is the practice of
recording, reporting transaction of business in
the financial statement like balance sheet, cash
flow etc.
Management accounting refers to identifying,
assessing and communicating financial
information to the company in order to attain
organizational goal.
In prime furniture, it is prepared for the
external users of the company like shareholder,
customer, regulatory authority etc.
It is prepared for the internal users like
manager of the company.
Financial accounting is mandatory for the
company.
It is optional for the company.
Essential requirements of management accounting systems
 Cost-accounting system: Cost accounting is a system used to approximate the cost of
product by evaluating fixed and variable cost to identify the profitability and cost control
of the firm (Guinea,2016). Company like Prime furniture require cost accounting to
estimate the cost of the product.
 Inventory Management System: Inventory management is the procedure to track the
goods of company start from purchase to the sale of the goods. Essential requirement of
the system in Prime Furniture is to guide managers in managing situations of over stock
and under stock.
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 Job-Costing System: Job costing is a process of estimating the cost of particular job in
the context of customer specification. Job Costing is essential for Prime furniture as it
track the cost of material, labour and overhead related to particular job.
 Price-Optimising System: The price optimising system is the process of estimating the
fluctuation of demand at different price level in order to recommand best price for the
product which provide profit to the business.
Benefits of Management Accounting System:
Cost-Accounting System Manager of Prime Furniture use this system to estimate the
cost of product in order to gain profit.
Inventory Management System This system helps manager of Prime furniture in tracking
inventory so that firm produce estimated inventory.
Job-Costing System It helps to provide estimation of cost of a particular job to
the manager of Prime furniture.
Price-Optimising System It help the management team of Prime furniture to set the
best price of the product.
P2. Methods for management accounting reporting
Importance of Information Presented in Understandable way:
Information presented in Management accounting should be in understandable way as it
helps the manager to understand each activity of organization and it also saves the time of
manager to understand the problem (Kumarasiri,2017). If the information is presented in
understandable way it will help the manager to timely identify the problem and make solution for
the same in order to attain organizational goals.
Types of Managerial Accounting Reports:
Budget Report: It include critical analysis of company's performance in order to cut the
overall cost of business. Prime furniture need budget report to guide manager to cut cost and
offer better incentive to the staff.
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Account Receivable Report: Account receivable reports help those company who
extend credit in order to manage their cash flows. It help managers of Prime furniture to find out
defaulter and also guide the company to change their collection policy.
Performance Report: Performance report helps to analyse the performance of the
company and its employees. Manager of Prime furniture use this report to make strategic
decision related to the company.
TASK 2
P3: Calculations of cost by utilising appropriates techniques for cost analysis for preparing
income statement by using absorption as well as marginal costs:
Cost refers to a monetary value that is spend by an organization for functioning its
operations (Libby and Salterio, 2019). Costs are of basically three types, i.e., fixed, variable and
semi-variable. These costs are further explained below:
 Fixed costs: This type of cost does not vary with variations in level of output produced in
a firm. Fixed cost of Prime Furniture involves rent, insurance, legal charges etc.
 Variable costs: It is depended on number of output produced in an enterprise. Hence, it
can be noted that variable cost is directly proportional to level of produced units.
Different types of variable costs that incurs in Prime Furniture are direct labour, raw
materials, etc.
 Semi variable costs: It refers to a mixture of fixed as well as variable components. An
example of semi-variable costs is payment of commissions (Ostaev and Khosiev, 2018).
Cost analysis can be defined as a measure of relationship between cost and output. In
other words, approach of cost analysis helps in defining optimum production level.
Absorption costing: This method of costing captures all costs which is associated with
manufacturing of a product. Absorption costing considers both variable as well as fixed cost for
each produced unit.
Marginal costing: This method of costing indicates charging of variable costs to units
produced and fixed cost that is attributable for specific period of time.
Statement of marginal costing for first quarter
(£) Amount
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Sales 66, 000
Cost of Sales:
Opening Inventory - - -
Variable cost (78,000 * 0.65) 50, 700
________
50, 700
Less: Closing
Inventory
( 12,000 * 0.65 ) 7800
________
-42, 900
________
Contribution 23, 100
Less: Fixed cost -16, 000
Less: Fixed selling and
administration cost
-5, 200
________
Actual net profit 1, 900
Statement of marginal costing for second quarter
Workings(£)
Sales 74, 000
Cost of Sales
Opening inventory 12,000 * 0.65 7, 800 -
Variable 66,000 * 0.65 42, 900
________
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50, 700
Less: Closing
inventory
4,000 * 0.65 -2, 600
________
-48, 100
________
Contribution 25, 900
Less: Fixed Cost -16, 000
Less: Fixed selling and
administration cost
-5, 200
________
Net Profit 4, 700
Statement of absorption costing for first quarter
(£) Amount
Sales 66, 000
Cost of Sales:
Opening inventory - - -
Finished goods 78,000 * 0.85 66, 300
Less: Closing
inventory
12,000 * 0.85 -10, 200
________
-56, 100
________
Actual Gross Profit 9, 900
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Less: Fixed selling and
administration cost
-5, 200
________
Net profit 4, 700
Statement of absorption costing for second quarter
(£) Amount
Sales 74, 000
Cost of Sales
Opening Inventory 12000 * 0.85 10, 200 -
Finished Goods 66000 * 0.85 56, 100
Less: Closing
Inventory
4000 * 0.85 -3, 400
________
-62, 900
________
Actual Gross Profit 11, 100
Less: Fixed Selling and
Administration Cost
-5, 200
________
Net Profit 5, 900
Reconciliation statement
First Quarter (£) Second Quarter (£)
Profit by utilizing Absorption Costing 4, 700 5, 900
Less: Closing inventory * Fixed overhead rate
Add: Opening inventory * Fixed overhead rate -
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________ ________
Profit by utilizing marginal costing 1, 900 4, 700
Inventory costs: It showcase expenses that is related with storing and managing of stock
in an organization. It involves costs associated with intangibles, such as, depreciation, lost
opportunity cost and warehousing cost of Prime Furniture. Different types of inventory costs is
stated below:
 Ordering cost: It represents costs associated with replenishing of inventory. In other
words, ordering costs of Prime Furniture indicates expense which incurs in the process of
ordering (Prowle and Lucas, 2016).
 Carrying cost: It involves capital cost, i.e., financing charges of stock, storage space
cost, inventory service cost as well as inventory risk cost.
 Stock out cost: It indicates costs which by Prime Furniture bears in case of stock out.
TASK 3
P4: Explanation of planning tools which is utilised in management accounting:
Budget can be described as a an estimation for revenues and expenditures for a specific
period of time. It is usually re-evaluated or compiled on periodic basis (Renz, 2016). In context
to Prime Furniture, application of budgeting techniques ensures control and monitoring of
financial transactions. It facilitates achievement of organizational objectives by formulation of
effective strategies.
Different types of budget: Budgets are of various types which are stated below:
Capital budget: It is a tool of financial management which is utilised for the purpose of
measuring potential risk of a project and for analysing expected return on investment.
Implementation of planning tool of capital budgeting ensures well-informed decision making by
managers in relation to investments or projects which are pursued by an organization. In other
words, this budget facilitates analysis and measurement of value associated with a capital
investment.
Advantages: While considering advantages that is associated with preparation of capital
budget, it can be stated that capital budgeting enables understanding of risk which is involved
with an investment (Saeidi and Othman, 2017). Apart from it, this budgetary planning tool
evaluates affect of such risk on returns of an organization. In relevance to Prime Furniture,
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application of this tool enhances strategic investments of an enterprise for long term. It facilitates
adequate monitoring and management of investments and minimises the risk associated with it.
Disadvantages: Capital budget is irreversible in nature and it is based on future
estimations which do not remain certain. Hence, business cannot depend highly on this technique
of budgeting as it is not necessary that capital budget provides adequate interpretations for future
activities.
Operating budget: It showcase projected revenue as well as associated expenditures for
future period of time. This budgetary tools outlines funds that is required in a business for the
purpose of performing operational activities of an organization in a smooth and effective manner
(Taschner and Charifzadeh, 2016). In case of Prime furniture, preparation of operating budget
facilitates monitoring of revenues which are generated and expenses that are incurred in daily
operational activities of a firm.
Advantages: Operating budget facilitates management of operational expenses that incurs
in an organization. Hence, it enables reduction or elimination of unnecessary expenditures of
Prime Furniture which leads to enhancement of profitability of business. Further, computation of
operating budget ensures alignment of business activities with actual requirements of an
enterprise that fosters achievement of organizational goals.
Disadvantages: On consideration of disadvantages associated with operating budget, it is
noted that computation of this budget is a time-consuming activity. Apart from it, operating
budget is focused on allocation of fund for specific activities of an enterprise but, subjective
issues such as, quality of service which is provided to customers of Prime Furniture.
Alternative methods of budgeting:
Budgeting refers to a technique of estimating financial consequences as well as its
implementations on business (Tucker and Lawson, 2016). Computation of budgeting is crucial
for effective management of financial resources of Prime Furniture. Zero-based budgeting,
incremental budgeting, and activity based budgeting are some alternative methods of budgeting.
Zero based budgeting refers to an approach of formulating budget from the scratch, i.e., no prior
information is used for preparing this budget. Further, incremental budgeting involves utilization
of data of last year for estimating current year's information. Hence, while preparing incremental
budgeting, financial information of last year of Prime Furniture is added or subtracted. Activity
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based budgeting signifies an approach of top-down budgeting which determines the amount of
input for supporting targets and outputs of Prime Furniture.
Behavioural implications of budget: Budgeting pertains positive behavioural
implications as it assists managers in planning as well as controlling of organizational resources
by providing appropriate financial information. In case of Prime Furniture, budgeting fosters
alignment of targets of management team with objectives of business.
Pricing strategies: It is an effective technique which is utilised for enhancing market
share of a company and expanding its profit margin. Competition based pricing strategy is used
by Prime Furniture which indicates that price of products offered by an organization is based on
price of its competitors. Application of this strategy of pricing enables firm to gain advantage
over its competitors which enhances sustainability and success of business in longer run. Further,
application of competitive pricing helps ion improving demand of customers as product is
supplied at reasonable rate as compared to competitors which provides competitive edge to an
enterprise.
Common costing system: It refers to a system which is designed for the purpose of
monitoring costs which incurs in a business. Costing system comprises set of processes, controls
as well as reports which management of revenue, costs as well as profitability. Actual costing,
normal costing and standard costing are three costing systems which is applied for deriving cost
of business products (Tucker and Leach, 2017). Job costing can be described as a specific
method of costing that is utilised when production work of Prime Furniture is carried in
accordance to customer requirements. Further, batch costing indicates production of products of
business in batches. It is applied in case of mass production. Process costing traces direct costs as
well as allocates all indirect costs that incurs in the process of manufacturing. Lastly, facilitates
tracking of expenses which is associated with specific contract.
Strategic Planning:
PEST analysis: It is a framework which is utilised for scanning of environmental
component in relevance to strategic management and its impact or influence on firm. Pest
analysis for Prime Furniture is computed below:
 Political: This factor involves political stability, government policies, trade restrictions
etc. Political instability of a country pertains negative influence on Prime Furniture as its
hinders policy formulation for future period of time due to uncertainty.
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 Economical: It involves economic growth, exchange rate etc. Decreasing interest rate in
United Kingdom enhances growth and expansion opportunities of Prime Furniture.
 Social: Economic growth, age distribution, etc. includes in social factor. Current trends
and demands of customers are taken into consideration by Prime Furniture which leads to
enhancement of profit earned by an enterprise. Hence, pertains positive implications on
business. Technological: Increasing automations and technological advancements helps Prime
Furniture in improving its productivity and efficiency.
SWOT analysis:
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
 Adaptability serves as a biggest
strength of Prime Furniture as company
align with recent trends of market.
 Entity pertains skilled professionals
which enhances its efficiency.
 Firm is required to improve its quality
control measures.
 High expenditure of an organization
reduces its profitability.
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
 Growth of automation and online sales
is an opportunity for Prime Furniture
for further expanding its customer base.
 Increasing competition in the market
comes up as a threat for Prime
Furniture.
 Prime Furniture faces challenge
regarding articulation of environmental
concern.
TASK 4
P5: Comparison of ways in which organizations adapt management accounting system as a
response to financial problems:
Financial problems: It refers to issues which arise in daily operations of a business. It
can be defined as a condition which leads to arrival of insufficiency in availability of cash in a
company (Wu and Wang, 2020). Emergence of financial problem serves as a reason for
decrement in profitability and productivity of Prime Furniture and hence, negatively hampers
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sustainability as well as success of business in longer run. Financial problems which are faced by
Prime Furniture are discussed below:
 Unexpected expenses: High amount of expenditure leads to decrement is profitability of
an organization. Reason for incorporation of high amount of expenses in Prime Furniture
is unnecessary as well as sudden expenditures that incurs in a firm. Unexpected expenses
pertains negative impact on efficiency of business. Improper management of cash flow: Inadequate management of cash flow hinders
functioning of business activities. Poor flow of cash in Prime Furniture pertains
insufficiency meeting daily requirements of an organization. Inefficiency in
accomplishment of normal operations of an enterprise serves as a hindrance is attaining
objectives of a firm.
Monitoring tools or techniques:
 Benchmarking: It can be described as a procedure of measuring performance of an
enterprise. It facilitates identification of improvement which ensures enhancement of its
productivity. Overall, benchmarking indicates comparison of processes as well as
performance metric of an organization with other entities. Utilization of this monitoring
tool in Prime Furniture enables company to focus on best practices that can be applied for
improvising efficiency of an organization. It helps entity in maintaining competitive
edge. Key performance indicator: This technique of monitoring of financial problems
signifies a measurement which demonstrates efficiency of a company for achieving key
objectives of business. Hence, KPI enables evaluation of success of business in context to
achievement of target. In other words, it can be stated that KPI is a performance indicator
which helps in analysing progress of a business towards its strategic goals. Key
performance indicators are of two types, that is, financial and non-financial.
Incorporation of this monitoring tool facilitates measurement and evaluation of
performance of Prime Furniture.
Comparison of organizations in ways of adapting systems of management accounting as a
response to financial performance:
PRIME FURNITURE CASE FURNITURE
Prime furniture faces financial issue related to Financial problem that is faced by Case
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improper management of cash. This leads to
increment in expenses and earning of business.
Further, unavailability of sufficient cash
hinders smooth functioning of business
operations. This issue can be resolved by
application of cost accounting system. This
systems enables tracking of costs associated in
daily operations of business which facilitates
effective management and monitoring of cash
in a firm.
furniture is that firm receives late payment by
customers. This issue can be resolved by
implementation of inventory management
system. This system, enables tracking of
position of stock in an organization. It allows
identification and elimination of issue related
to overstocking and under stocking. As,
overstocking increases expense of business in
relation to management and storing of stock,
while, under stocking hinders functioning of
business.
High amount of unexpected or unforeseen
expenses in an enterprise decrease its profit
earning capacity. Job costing system is an
effective platform for solving this financial
problem of Prime Furniture. Job costing
system facilitates accumulation of information
related to costs which is associated with each
job or process.
Another financial issue which is faced by Case
furniture is related to mispricing. It states that
price of products which is offered by company
does not align with expectations of customers.
For the purpose of solving this issue price
optimisation system is best suitable. This
system ensures calculation for variations of
demand at different levels of price. It helps in
determining best suitable prices for products or
services of an organization.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that management accounting is a process of
analysing financial data of an enterprise. This approach helps in formulation of effective
strategies for business which enhances its growth and success. Systems of management
accounting facilitates tracking of financial information of company. Management accounting
systems are of different types, such as, inventory management system, price optimisation system,
job costing system and cost accounting system. While, budget report, accounting receivable
report and performance report are different types of management accounting system. Apart from
it, various types of planning tools facilitates budgetary control in a form. Capital budgeting and
13

operational budgeting are some of these planning tools. Further, alternative methods of
budgeting are activity based, incremental and zero-based. In addition to it, marginal and
absorption are two techniques of costing.
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