Cost Accounting Flashcards
Name three areas impacted by different approaches to identifying costs.
- Inventory valuation
- Financial and profit reporting
- Decision-making
What does the AICPA define accounting as?
The art of recording, classifying, and summarizing transactions and events of financial character.
Who are the primary users of accounting information?
- Internal stakeholders (mainly managers)
- External parties (shareholders, creditors, regulatory agencies)
What is management accounting primarily concerned with?
Provision of information to people within the organization to help them plan, control activities, and make better decisions.
What is financial accounting primarily focused on?
Provision of information to external parties and preparation of financial statements.
True or False: Management accounting is subject to legal requirements.
False
What is the main difference in focus between financial accounting and management accounting?
Financial accounting reports the entire organization, whereas management accounting can focus on segments or parts of the organization.
What type of information does financial accounting provide?
Historical information on past performance.
Fill in the blank: Management accounting can report on various activities at _______ intervals.
[timely]
What is cost accounting?
Conducted within management accounting; involves establishing costs associated with manufacturing a product or delivering a service.
What do financial accounting standards state about cost of goods sold?
It should include all costs incurred in getting goods to their present location and condition.
What are considered ‘relevant costs’ in management accounting?
- Manufacturing costs
- Non-manufacturing costs
How does management accounting treat fixed costs when making short-term decisions?
Fixed costs may be considered irrelevant.
What can affect reported profit within a given reporting period?
The decision to use different methods to value inventory.
What happens to manufacturing fixed costs when included in cost-per-unit valuation?
They affect costs charged in subsequent periods.
What is a plant-wide manufacturing overhead rate?
Dividing total manufacturing overheads by a time measure like direct labour hours to get a rate per hour.
What is the impact of using a plant-wide overhead rate for diverse products?
It may not provide an accurate basis for costing and could mislead decision-making.
What should be considered when deciding to terminate production of a product?
- Future costs and benefits
- Relevant future costs that change as a result of the decision
What is the relevance of scrap value when considering terminating production?
It is a benefit derived directly from the decision.
What should a company consider when making a decision regarding production termination?
Only future costs and benefits that change as a result of the decision
What is a relevant future cost associated with terminating detergent production?
10% reduction in direct labour
What benefit can be derived from terminating detergent production?
Scrap value for specialist machinery
What type of cost is the cost of raw materials already purchased?
Sunk cost
Is the depreciation cost for specialist machinery relevant to the decision to terminate production?
No, it is a sunk cost