Chapter 1 (WEEK 1) Flashcards
Management Accounting
measures, analyses and reports financial and non financial information which assists managers in fulfilling the goals of an organization
To which part of management according to CIMA does this belong to?
Integral part of Management
For what reasons do professional management accountants apply the principles of accounting and financial management?
To create, protect, preserve, increase value for shareholders.
Is it only for private and profit sectors?
No for private, public, for-profit and not-for-profit
Management accountants engage with identification, interpretation and use relevant info to..
make strategic decisions, formulate business strategy, plan long, medium and short term, determine capital structure, design strategies, operational decisions, control, efficient use, measure and report to stakeholders, implement corporate governance procedures, risk management, internal controls, potential and value creation.
Does management accounting info and reports have to follow set principles or rules?
No
What are the key questions (3) of management accounting info and reports?
- How will this info help managers do their jobs better?
- Do the benefits of producing this info exceed costs?
- Does the info recognize what is specific about the organizational context?
Financial accounting
Focuses on external reporting directed by authoritative guidelines. They’re required to follow these guidelines to outside parties.
Management accounting VS Financial accounting: REGULATIONS
MA: generally prepared for internal use and no external regulations govern their preparation.
FA: reports need to abide by accounting regulations and guidelines imposed by the law and the accounting profession.
Management accounting VS Financial accounting: RANGE AND DETAIL OF INFORMATION
MA: very detailed or highly aggregated (= lot of different pieces put together).
FA: broad-based, not very detailed
Management accounting VS Financial accounting: REPORTING INTERVAL
MA: may be produced frequently
FA: (semi-)annually
Management accounting VS Financial accounting: TIME PERIOD
MA: include historical and current information but also expected future performance and activities.
FA: past
MA or FA: focus on what you own
FA
MA or FA: focuses on what you do
MA
MA or FA: financial and non financial
MA
MA or FA: internal use
MA
MA or FA: external use
FA
Cost accounting
Measures and reports financial and non financial information related to the organization’s acquisition or consumption of resources.
Does cost accounting provides info for MA or FA?
Both
Is there a clear-cut distinction between cost accounting and management accounting?
No
Cost management
Central task of managers, describes the actions managers undertake in the short-run and long-run planning and control of costs that increase value for customers and lower the costs of products and services.
Key idea in cost management
Decisions made by management in the past can lead to future costs for the organization.