Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Accounting > Standard costing > Flashcards

Standard costing Flashcards

1
Q

What is a standard cost?

A

Planned or target cost of production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How are standard costs different rom budgeted costs?

A

Budgeted costs relate to business as a whole
Standard costs relate to individual cost units

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What do you compare when using standard costing?

A

Standard (planned costs) with actual costs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the difference between standard cost and actual costs called?

A

Variance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is variance analysis?

A

investigating any variances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does it mean for the business plans if actual costs are very different standard costs?

A

Production process is not going to plan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What does identifying variances allow managers to do?

A

Alerts managers to problems allowing corrective action to take place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the purposes of standard costing?

A

Anticipating production costs (help budgets or cost specific jobs)
Selling prices (for special orders)
Controlling costs (target that if missed is investigated)
Encourages efficiency (reduces waste maximises profitability)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is an example of the standard cost for purchasing?

A

Cost of goods/ materials

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is an example of the standard cost for marketing?

A

Selling price
Level of demand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is an example of the standard cost for human resources?

A

Cost of wages
Availability of labour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are some examples of what could be standard costed from operations?

A

Machine time
Reliability
Quality of materials

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the standard in the context of sales?

A

target price and volume set allowing sales revenue to be calculated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the standard in the context of costs?

A

target price and volume of materials is et then standard cost of materials can be calculated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What 3 main areas of the business can variances be calculated for? (standard costing)

A

Materials
Labour
Sales

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What 2 ways can can variances be expressed? (standard costing)

A

Favourable
Adverse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are favourable variances? (standard costing)

A

actual cost is better then the standard leading to better predicted profits (good for business)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are adverse variances? (standard costing)

A

actual cost worse then the standard leading to worse predicted profit (bad for business)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Why will business investigate variances?

A

Replicate favourable variances
Remove adverse variances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What could lead to variances when standard costing?

A

Errors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What could errors be caused by in standard costing?

A

Using incorrect data
Setting unrealistic targets
Managers deliberately setting low standards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the formula for calculating the direct variance for material, labour and sales?

A

(SQ x SP) - (AQ x AP)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What does A,Q, S and P stand for in variance equation?

A

A= actual
Q= quantity
S= standard
P= price

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is a materials variance?

A

Difference between standard cost of materials and the actual cost of materials for actual production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is a labour variance?
difference between standard cost of labour and the actual cost of labour for actual production
26
What is a sales variance?
difference between standard sales revenue and actual sales revenue
27
What are the 2 types of sub variance for materials?
Materials price variance Materials usage variance
28
What are the 2 types of sub variance for labour?
Labour rate variance Labour efficiency variance
29
What are the 2 types of sub variance for sales?
Sales price variance Sales volume variance
30
What is the formula for calculating: materials price variance, labour variance rate and sales price variance?
AQ x (SP-AP)
31
What is the formula for calculating: materials usage variance, labour efficiency variance and sales volume variance?
SP x (SQ-AQ)
32
What is the link for materials price variance and materials usage variance?
Cheaper materials may mean lower quality, favourable materials price variance but adverse materials usage variance as more may be needed or wasted
33
What is the link for labour rate variance and labour efficiency variance?
Lower wage rate or skill of employee may result in favourable labour rate but adverse labour efficiency (less skilled or de-motivated)
34
What is the link for sales price variance and sales volume variance?
Lower selling price may mean more sales resulting in adverse sales price but favourable sales volume
35
What are examples of favourable sub-variances for direct material price?
Deflation- general or specific to material purchased Supplier reducing price Use of lower quality materials or cheaper alternatives Increase in quantity purchased so better trade discount Increase in pound value against other currency (importing less expensive)
36
What are examples of favourable sub-variances for direct material usage?
Use of better quality materials Use of high skilled/ motivated workers Use off state of art capital equipment Increased training of workers
37
What are examples of adverse sub-variances for direct material price?
Inflation- general or specific to good purchased Supplier increasing price Use of better quality more expensive alternative Decrease in quantity purchased (loss of trade discount) Decrease in value of pound against other currency (importing more expensive)
38
What are examples of adverse sub-variances for direct material usage?
Use of poorer materials Use of less skilled/ poorly motivated workers Use of poor equipment Theft of materials Deterioration of materials Materials might be wasted due to machine malfunction
39
What are examples of favourable sub-variances for direct labour rate?
Use of lower- payed workers/ skilled workers Wage deflation Reduction in overtime or premium rates paid Workers receiving productivity bonus
40
What are examples of adverse sub-variances for direct labour rate?
Higher skill/ pay workers Wage inflation Increase in overtime or premium rates paid Workers receiving a pay rise or worker shortage (trade union action)
41
What are examples of favourable sub-variances for direct labour efficiency?
Use of workers with higher skills Workers using better machinery Good working conditions High staff morale/ motivation Good quality control Productivity bonus Increased training
42
What are examples of adverse sub-variances for direct labour efficiency?
Use of lower skill workers Using poor machinery Poor working conditions Poor moral/ motivation Poor quality control Reduced material quality
43
What is flexing? (Standard costing)
Flexing is when you use the actual production/ value to calculate standard costs
44
Calculate all material and labour sub-variances? (Flexing required)- calculator needed Standard= Direct materials 12m @3.45 per m Direct labour 3.5hr @£9.6 per hr Actual= Direct material 8240 £27604 Direct labour 2420 £23958 Production 680 units
Material price variance= 27604/ 8240= 3.35 (flexing); 8240x(3.45-3.35)= 824 favourable Material usage variance= 680x12= 8160 (flexing as using actual to find predicted); 3.45x(8160-8240)= 276 adverse Labour rate variance= 23958/2420=9.9 (flexing); 2420 x(9.6-9.9)= 726 adverse Labour efficiency variance= 680x3.5= 2380 (flexing); 9.6 x(2380-2420)= 384 adverse
45
Will you have to use flexing for sales variances?
No
46
Wha are the reasons for sales variances?
Competitors actions- new advertising campaign Sudden changes in consumer tastes - health scares Government policy - VAT change Changes in quality of product Changes in marketing technique
47
What might cause favourable sales price sub variances?
Increase in price to compensate for increased costs Increase in price after use of penetration (marginal costing) Rivals leaving the market allowing prices to be raised
48
What might cause adverse sales price sub variances?
Reduction in selling for bulk sales Reduction in price- attract new customers (marginal costing to penetrate new market and sell stock quickly) New competitors in the market causing prices to be lower
49
What is it important to remember when labelling sales variances as adverse or favourable?
With the other variances negative usually meant adverse but with the main sales variance a negative would mean sales have increased which is favourable
50
What might cause favourable sales volume sub-variances?
More aggressive marketing strategy Increased seasonal sales Favourable changes in state of economy (rise in consumer demand) Less competition in sector; fewer sales by competition, higher market share Change in consumer taste
51
What might cause adverse sales volume sub variances?
Less aggressive marketing strategy Decrease in seasonal sales Unfavourable changes in state of economy (fall in consumer demand) More competition in sector- More sales to competition, more aggressive marketing by competitor, Lower market share Change in consumer taste Defective product
52
What is the context for a reconciliation statement for standard costing?
Explain why actual results are different from the standard or budgeted figures
53
How do you do a cost reconciliation statement for standard costing?
F=Use flexing to find standard cost with actual production and then work out variances and take away favourable from adverse and this will be the difference in cost
54
What are the steps to creating a profit reconciliation statement? (standard costing)
1. calculate the budgeted profit for the budgeted number of goods sold 2. Calculate contribution lost on number of goods not sold 3. Subtract the lost contribution from budgeted profit 4. Calculate variances for labour and materials 5. Calculate sales price variance 6. Add up variances and work out if favourable or adverse 7. take away ADV or add FAV from forecast profit
55
What are the advantages of standard costing?
Management control Management by exception Staff motivation Business planning Setting prices
56
Why is management control an advantage of standard costing?
can identify areas of weakness and inefficient practice
57
Why is management by exception an advantage of standard costing?
investigating variances only if they are exceptional allows some tolerance in control system with variances being acceptable if they don't exceed certain limits
58
Why is staff motivation an advantage of standard costing?
staff are consulted and given responsibility for meeting their own cost, volume and price targets they may take more pride in their work and have increased job satisfaction where targets are met
59
Why is business planning an advantage of standard costing?
predetermined standards can be used to calculate the quantity of resources needed in next budget period with regular updates to improve accuracy
60
Why is setting prices an advantage of standard costing?
Standard cost represent best estimate of cost to make a product allowing orders to be more reliable
61
What are the limitations of standard costing?
Cost of implementation "modern" management Unforeseen consequences Service industries Inaccurate standards Volatile markets Management skill
62
Why is cost of implementation a limitation of standard costing?
Large amount of information needed which can be time consuming and expensive
62
Why is unforeseen consequences a limitation of standard costing?
likely to encourage staff to strive for favourable variances even if it harms businesses overall objectives
63
Why is service industries a limitation of standard costing?
In some service sector businesses staff performance indicators cannot be quantified and do not necessarily relate to cost
64
Why is inaccurate standard a limitation of standard costing?
if standard is poorly set it may result in a standard that is not realistic meaning prices may be set too high or low
65
Why is volatile markets a limitation of standard costing?
standards need regular reviews to ensure they are up to date if in a volatile market this will need to be done more regularly
66
Why is management skill a limitation of standard costing?
if there is a problem it is up to the skill of management to interpret and determine the most appropriate cause of action

Accounting (30 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions