Budgets are crucial for planning and control in cost accounting. Static budgets set fixed plans, while flexible budgets adjust for actual output. Flexible budgets offer better cost predictions, performance evaluation, and decision support, allowing for more accurate cost comparisons and improved resource allocation.
digs deeper into budget differences. It examines sales and variable cost variances, breaking them down into price and volume components. This analysis helps managers understand the reasons behind budget deviations and identify areas for improvement in pricing, efficiency, and sales volume.
Budget Types and Analysis
Define static and flexible budgets
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5.1 Cost Behavior Vs. Cost Estimation | Principles of Accounting II View original
establishes fixed plan based on one activity level remains unchanged regardless of actual output used for planning and performance evaluation
adjusts based on actual output levels accounts for changing with activity provides more accurate cost comparisons
Explain the purpose and benefits of flexible budgets
Purposes of flexible budgets provide more accurate cost predictions facilitate performance evaluation support decision-making for various scenarios (expansion, contraction)
Benefits include better cost control more meaningful variance analysis improved planning for various activity levels enhanced resource allocation
Distinguish between a static budget variance and a flexible budget variance
Static budget variance compares actual results to original static budget includes both volume and price/efficiency differences useful for overall performance evaluation
Flexible budget variance compares actual results to flexible budget at actual output isolates price and efficiency differences eliminates impact of volume differences provides more accurate cost control insights
Prepare a flexible budget performance report
Components of a flexible budget performance report include actual results column flexible budget column variance column highlights deviations from expected costs
Calculation steps involve determining actual output level adjusting budgeted amounts for actual output calculating variances between actual and flexible budget identifies areas for improvement
Variance Analysis
Compute and interpret sales and variable cost variances
Sales variance calculations:
Price variance: (ActualPrice−BudgetedPrice)×ActualQuantity measures impact of price changes
Volume variance: (ActualQuantity−BudgetedQuantity)×BudgetedPrice measures impact of quantity changes
Variable cost variances calculations:
Price variance: (ActualPrice−StandardPrice)×ActualQuantity measures impact of input price changes
Efficiency variance: (ActualQuantity−StandardQuantity)×StandardPrice measures impact of input quantity changes
Explain the relationship between static budget, flexible budget, and sales volume variances
Static budget variance equals sum of flexible budget variance and provides overall performance measure
Flexible budget variance represents difference between actual results and flexible budget isolates price and efficiency impacts
Sales volume variance shows difference between flexible budget and static budget represents impact of changes in sales volume on profits helps assess market performance