Other Parts Of Decision And Control Flashcards
What can be done once the cost of producing a unit is calculated? (5)
1) Setting selling prices
2) Valuing items in inventory
3) Identifying ways to reduce costs
4) Setting cost targets for production staff and managers
5) Using the cost targets set to review and improve actual performance
What are the three ways to classify costs?
By nature
By function
By behaviour
What is classifying by nature?
This is categorising by direct or indirect costs.
What is classifying by function?
Categorising by production and non production.
What is classifying by behaviour?
Categorising by variable or fixed.
How do costs by nature and costs by function link?
Direct costs are always production cost
Indirect costs can be production costs e.g. factory rent
Indirect costs can be non production costs e.g. admin costs
What is a cost card?
Summary of costs involved in producing a unit. Direct and indirect, production and non production.
Helpful in setting the price of that product.
What is a cost unit?
Product or service for which costs are being allocated
Can be done in batches if individual units are to difficult to allocate.
What is a cost centre?
Division or department where costs can be allocated e.g. administration
What is a revenue centre?
Departments where managers only control revenues. E.g. selling departments
What is a profit centre?
Departments that control revenues and costs and so can be held accountable for profits
What is an investment centre?
Control costs, revenues and also capital invested. Could be judged on return on capital employed. E.g. selling and distribution
What does absorption costing include?
Both variable and shared fixed costs to give full production cost
Steps to absorption costing
1) Allocation of direct costs
2) Allocation and apportionment of indirect costs
3) reapportionment of service cost centres
4) absorption of indirect costs into cost units (overhead absorption rate)
What is marginal costing?
Only includes variable costs and variable overheads
What is contribution?
Selling price- variable costs
When inventory levels are rising absorption costing profit is ________ than marginal costing profit.
More
When inventory levels are decreasing absorption costing profit is ________ than marginal costing profit.
Less
Advantages of marginal costing
Simpler
Suitable for short term decisions
Treats fixed costs as they behave
Profit is influenced by sales not by production
Disadvantages of marginal costing
Does not comply with IAS 2 so can’t be used in financial statements
In long term fixed costs cannot be ignored
All costs have to be split between fixed and variable elements