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Accounting Notes For As and Alevel

The document provides comprehensive notes on A-Level Accounting (9706), covering key topics such as financial accounting, cost and management accounting, and the accounting cycle. It explains essential concepts like double-entry bookkeeping, capital versus revenue expenditures, and various methods of calculating depreciation. Additionally, it outlines the purpose and limitations of books of prime entry and highlights the importance of applying accounting principles in financial reporting.

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80 views72 pages

Accounting Notes For As and Alevel

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ACCOUNTING AS
LEVEL NOTES 9706

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Page 0 of 37

Contents
1 Financial Accounting .................................................................................... .............................................................. 2
1.1 The accounting cycle .......................................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Accounting for NCA .......................................................................................................... ................................... 4
1.3 Reconciliation & verification ............................................................................................... ................................. 6
1.4 Preparation of financial statements ......................................................................................... ............................ 9
1.4.1 Adjustments to financial statements ......................................................................................... .................... 9
1.4.2 Sole traders ................................................................................................................................................ 12
1.4.3 Partnerships ............................................................................................................................................... 13
1.4.4 Limited companies ...................................................................................................................................... 18
1.5 Analysis & communication of accounting information to stakeholders ............................................................. 22
2 Cost & Management accounting.............................................................................................................................. 25
2.1 Costing for materials & labour ........................................................................................................................... 25
2.2 Traditional costing methods .............................................................................................................................. 27
2.2.1 Absorption costing ...................................................................................................................................... 27
2.2.2 Marginal costing ......................................................................................................................................... 29
2.2.3 Cost–volume–profit analysis ...................................................................................................................... 33
2.3 The application of accounting to business planning ......................................................................................... 35

K ey ..................................................................... .................................................... .................. ...................................

36
Credits ......................................................................................................................................................................... 37

Page 1 of 37

1 Financial Accounting
1.1 The accounting cycle
❖ explain & apply the principles of the double entry system to record
business transactions
- Accounting system: a system of collecting, storing & processing financial information & accounting
data used by managers.
- Double-entry bookkeeping: a system of recording accounting transactions that recognises that there
are two sides / aspects to every transaction.
• All transactions have a dual aspect.
• Every debit entry in an acc. in the ledger must have a corresponding credit entry.
• Every credit entry in an acc. in the ledger must have a corresponding debit entry.

❖ apply the accounting equation

- Assets =+

- Assets: something which is owned by / owed to a business

- Capital: initially the amount of money invested in the business by the owner. After the first trading period,
it is adjusted by the profit for the year less any drawings plus any additional capital contributed. It is the net
amount which the business owes to the owner
- Liabilities – the amount of money owing to people outside the business for the use of their resources

❖ describe the functions of the books of prime entry

- Book of prime entry: a book used to list all transactions of a similar nature before they are posted to the
ledger. There are six books of prime entry:
• Purchases journal – used to enter amounts owed to creditors of stock upon the receival of an invoice
(credit purchases). Factors that business should consider before changing its supplier:
▪
Quality – will the product quality be the same?
▪
Price – is the new supplier likely to offer a lower price?
▪
Credit terms – will the new supplier offer the same credit terms?
▪
Reliability – is the supplier reliable?
▪
Delivery – will the supplier offer delivery?
• Purchases returns journal – used to enter all returns back out of the firm to creditors of stock upon
the receival of a credit note
* Debit Note is issued by the purchaser, at the time of returning the goods to the vendor, & the vendor
issues a Credit Note to inform that he/she has received the returned goods.
• Sales journal – used to enter amounts owed by debtors of stock upon the issue of an invoice (credit
sales)
• Sales returns journal – used to enter all returns into the firm back by debtors of stock upon the issue
of a credit note
• General journal – used when we cannot comfortably find another book of prime entry to use. It used
to record:
▪
Purchase of NCA on credit
▪
Sale of NCA on credit
▪
Entries necessary to open ledger acc. when a business first comes into existence
▪
Entries required to record the closing of ledger acc. when a business finally ceases to trade
▪
Correction of errors
• Cash book – used to record all transactions concerning money (cash, cheques, debit & credit card
transactions); it also acts as a ledger.
- All transactions must be entered in one of the books of prime entry before they can be entered in
the ledger.
- They are used as convenient way of entering transactions into the double-entry system
- It is less efficient (time consuming & costly) to make entries into the ledgers as they arise.
- It is better to collect the entries & categorise them into bundles of similar types & then post them from
these books in bulk.
- They are not part of double-entry bookkeeping except cash book.

Page 2 of 37

❖ describe the limitations & benefits of the books of prime entry

Benefits Limitations
Helps guard against errors / fraud bulky & voluminous
It enables checking transactions through the use of a TB &
information in scattered form (not according to acc.)
control acc.
It shows the amount due to individual customers & suppliers thus
time consuming, each entry has to be posted to individual ledger
avoiding overpayment
It enables the production of the IS & SOFP to be compiled more may involve repetitive work as business may have similar
easily. transactions

❖ prepare ledger acc. & TB

- Ledger acc.: a history of all transactions of a similar nature
- Ledger: a book containing acc.
- Debit side: left-hand side of an acc.
- Credit side: right-hand side of an acc.
- Golden rule: for every debit entry in a ledger acc. there must be an equal credit entry in another
ledger acc.

Dr An acc. / ******* acc. Cr

Receives Gives
/ /
Gains Loses

- Six types of error are not revealed by extracting the TB:

• Commission – the correct amount is entered on the correct side of an incorrect acc. of the same class:
e.g., rent debited to the local taxes acc.
• Reversal of entries – entries are made on the wrong side of both acc.: e.g., cash sales debited to sales
acc. & cash credited to cash acc.
• Omission – there is no record of a transaction in the system: e.g., goods are purchased & the supplier’s
invoice is mistakenly destroyed before the transaction has been entered in the purchases book.
• Principle – a transaction is entered in the wrong class of acc.: e.g., vehicle repairs are entered as capital
expenditure in a vehicles acc.
• Original entry – an incorrect amount is entered in the book of prime entry: e.g., a purchase invoice for
$345 is entered in the purchases journal as $435.
• Compensating – errors cancel each other out: e.g., the debit side of one (/ more) acc.(s) is overcast by
$1000; other totally unrelated acc. have credits that are also overcast by $1000.

❖ apply the accounting concepts underpinning the preparation of acc.

- Accounting principles: basic rules that are applied in recording transactions & preparing
financial statements. They are also known as concepts.
• Business entity – every business is regarded as having an existence separate from that of its owner, thus
only the transactions of the business should be recorded & not the owner’s private transactions.
• Historic cost: transactions are recorded at their cost to the business.
• Money measurement – only transaction that can be expressed in monetary terms are recorded in ledger
• Going concern: when there is no intention to discontinue a business in the foreseeable future. Unless stated
to the contrary, it is assumed that the acc. of the business are prepared on a going concern basis
• Consistency: transactions of a similar nature should be recorded in the same way (that is,
consistently) in the same accounting period & the future accounting periods.
• Prudence/conservation: profits & assets should not be overstated & losses should be provided for as
soon as they are recognised.
• Realisation: revenue is recognised / accounted for by the seller when it is earned whether cash has been
received from the transaction / not.
• Duality: this recognises that there are two aspects for each transaction – represented by debit &
credit entries in acc.
• Materiality – recognises that some types of expenditure are less important in a business context than others
& the business should not waste time recording transactions that involve small amounts of money

Page 3 of 37

• Matching/Accrual – the IS should only include the income earned & expenses incurred for the
current financial year.
• Substance over form: the economic substance of the transaction must be recorded in the financial
statements rather than its legal form in order to represent a true & fair view of the affairs of the business.

1.2 Accounting for NCA

❖ distinction between & treatment of capital & revenue incomes & expenditures
- Capital expenditure: money spent on acquiring NCA; expenditure on NCA w/ an expected life of
more than 12 months
- Revenue expenditure: the day-to-day expenditure incurred in the day-to-day running of a business
- Capital income: money earned from the sale of NCA
- Revenue income: the day-to-day income earned from the sale of inventories / the provision of a service

❖ purpose of accounting for depreciation & the application of relevant

accounting concepts in respect of NCA.
- Depreciation: the apportioning of the cost of a NCA over its useful economic life
: the systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an asset over its useful life
- The total cost of a NCA is never charged to the IS for the year in which it was purchased. The cost is
spread all over the years that it is used in order to reflect the IS cost of using the asset in that
particular financial year.
- Matching concept – the cost of using NCA to earn revenue should be matched in the IS to the
revenue earned in the same period.
- Prudence concept – if the cost of using NCA was not included in the IS, profit would be overstated, &
so w/ NCAs in the SOFP
- Consistency concept – same depreciation method should be used in future years once adopted to
allow valid comparisons.

❖ causes of depreciation
- Wear & tear – assets become worn out through use
- Obsolescence – assets have to be replaced because new, more efficient technology has been developed
/ machines which were acquired for the production of particular goods are of no further use because
the goods are no longer produced.
- Technological advance
- Passage of time – an asset required for a limited period of time, i.e. the lease of premises for a
given number of years, loses value as time passes.
- Depletion/using up/exhaustion – e.g. mines, quarries & oil wells depreciate as the
minerals/resources are extracted from them.
- Economic reasons

❖ calculate depreciation using the reducing balance, straight-line &

revaluation methods
- Net book value / written-down value/ carrying amount: the cost of a NCA minus the
accumulated depreciation
• Net book value = ℎ −

- Straight-line depreciation: when the total depreciation is spread evenly over the useful life of the
non-current asset
/ %×ℎ
−

• Straight line depreciation =

- Reducing-balance depreciation: depreciation is calculated as a fixed percentage of the net book value
of the asset each year.
• Reducing balance depreciation = %×

- Revaluation method of depreciation: used to calculate the cost of consumption in the accounting
period of small NCA i.e. power tools

Page 4 of 37
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❖ evaluate the most appropriate method of calculating depreciation

- The straight-line method should be used for assets that are expected to earn revenue evenly over their
useful working lives, / those whose value will decline gradually over their useful lives. It is also generally
used where the pattern of an asset’s earning power is uncertain. It should always be used to write off the
costs of assets w/ fixed lives, i.e. leases.
- The reducing-balance method should be used when it is considered that an asset’s earning power will
diminish as the asset gets older / when the asset loses more of its value in the early years of its life (e.g.
a car / delivery vehicle)
• Provides a more realistic charge against profits (1) as some assets lose more value in their first years
(1)/as the asset reduces in value so the depreciation charge reduces (1).
• Is more complicated to calculate (1) as the charge changes each year because it is based on the
decreasing net book value at the beginning of each year (1) rather than the more straightforward
equal charge per year when using the straight-line method (1).
- Why is reducing balance method more appropriate for assets i.e. computer equipment?
• Computer equipment tends to fall in value more in the early years. (1) They lose value very quickly due
to obsolescence/ technological changes. (1) The reducing balance method depreciates the assets more
in the earlier years & less in later years (1) which matches the fall in value of computer equipment (1).
• The straight-line method of depreciation depreciates assets at the same amount each year (1)
which does not match the rapid loss in value. (1)
- The revaluation method should be used for NCA that are difficult to keep track of, e.g. loose tools.
- Why is the revaluation method of depreciation appropriate for assets i.e. loose tools?
• It is not worthwhile keeping individual records of loose tools (1) as they are usually many small
value items (1) & are difficult to keep track of. (1) They are easily broken, damaged / lost & have to
be regularly replaced. (1)
• The individual tools may not cost enough to treat them as separate assets
• Each tool may have a different useful life.
• However, their total value may be quite large.

❖ prepare ledger acc. & journal entries for NCA, depreciation & disposal
(including entries for part exchange)

Page 5 of 37

❖ record the effect of providing for depreciation in financial statements

❖ calculate the P/L on disposal of a non-current asset

1.3 Reconciliation & verification

❖ understand the need to reconcile & verify ledger acc. using documentation
- Bank reconciliation statement: a statement prepared periodically to ensure that the bank acc. in
the business cash book matches the business bank acc. shown on the bank statement.
- Timing difference: the delay between items recorded in the cash book & their appearance on the bank
statement

Page 6 of 37

- There are a number of uses of a bank reconciliation statement:

• To identify errors in the cash book (1)
• To identify errors on the bank statement (1)
• To identify uncleared lodgements (1)
• To identify unpresented cheques (1)
• To verify accuracy of accounting records (1)
• To update the cash book w/ transactions only on the bank statement (1)
• To identify out of date cheques (1)
• They reveal the correct amount of the cash at bank. W/out reconciliation, the cash book & bank statement
balances may be misleading.
• They ensure that the correct bank balance is shown in the SOFP.
• They are an important system of control:
▪
Unintended overdrawing on the bank acc. can be avoided
▪
A surplus of cash as bank can be highlighted & invested to earn interest
▪
If reconciliations are prepared regularly, errors are discovered early.

❖ prepare a bank reconciliation statement from relevant information

- Step 1: Compare the entries in the cash book w/ the bank statements – tick the items that appear
in both the cash book & the bank statement, be sure to tick them in both the places.
- Step 2: enter in the cash book any items that remain unticked in the bank statement – then tick
those items in both places & calculate the new cash book balance.
- Step 3: prepare the reconciliation statement – begin w/ the final balance shown on the bank
statement & adjust it for any items that remain unticked in the cash book, the result should then equal the
balance in the cash book.

❖ prepare ledger acc. & journal entries to correct errors using a suspense acc.
& record the effects of these in the financial statements
- Suspense acc.: an acc. opened to record a difference between the debit & credit totals of the TB.
• A temporary acc. used to balance the TB
• Used to help correct errors when TB does not balance

Page 7 of 37

❖ prepare sales & purchase ledger control acc.

- Control acc.: contains the totals of all postings made to the acc. in a particular ledger.
- The totals are the periodic totals of the books of prime entry from which postings are made to the ledger.
- The balance on a control acc. should equal the total of the balances in the ledger it controls

Purchase ledger control acc.

Debit Credit
Balance b/d (if any) Balance b/d (usually here)
Purchases returns / returns outwards (purchase returns journal) Credit purchases (purchases journal)
Cash paid (cash book) Cash refunds (cash book)
Discount received (cash book) Interest expense (purchases journal)
Contra-entry (general journal) Balance c/d (if any)
Balance c/d (usually here)

Sales ledger control acc.

Debit Credit
Balance b/d (usually here) Balance b/d (if any)
Credit sales (sales journal) Sales returns / returns inwards (sales returns journal)
Cash refunds (cash book) Cash received (cash book)
Dishonoured cheques (cash book) Discount allowed (cash book)
Interest income (sales journal / cash book) Bad debts (general journal)
Recovered bad debts (general journal) Cash from recovered bad debts (cash book)
Balance c/d (if any) Contra-entry (general journal)
Balance c/d (usually here)

❖ cash transactions for sales & purchases

Advantages Disadvantages
- Maybe a reduction in number of customers (1)
- Will improve overall cash flow (1)
Sales - May have to reduce selling price to attract new
- Reduces the possibility of irrecoverable debts (1)
customers (1)

- May improve the relationships w/ the suppliers (1) - Overall cash flow will decrease (1)
Purchases
- May be able to negotiate a better purchase price (1) - Not making use of available credit terms (1)

❖ reconcile control acc. & ledgers

- Control accounts are prepared using totals from books of prime entry.
- Provision for doubtful debts & are not included in a sales ledger control acc. as these accounts are kept in
a general ledger.
- Transfers between personal accounts that appear in both the ledgers are known as contra items.
- Individual ledger accounts in the sales ledger are used to send out statements & reminders to credit
customers.
- Reasons for credit balance:
• The customer may have overpaid the invoice
• The customer may pay in advance, / may pay a deposit before the delivery of the goods, & thus before
the sales invoice has been raised
• The customer may have paid in full, but returned some / all of the goods. The seller has raised a credit
note & posted it to the customer’s acc. & also to the sales ledger control acc.

Page 8 of 37

Effect of not updating the:

Sales Ledger Purchases Ledger
Business may not be collecting the right amount from credit Incorrect purchase ledger balances could mean possible
customers. disputes w/ suppliers affecting deliveries
It may also risk resulting in irrecoverable debts May result in credit facilities being w/drawn.
Non-collection of debts would negatively impact cash balances May lead to overpaying suppliers
May lead to incorrect financial statements May result in loss of opportunities of settlement discount.

❖ outline the uses & limitations of control acc.

Uses Limitations
Find errors if the balances do not agree Control acc. may contain errors as well
Prevents fraud as control acc. are prepared by someone who is They do not guarantee the accuracy of individual acc.
not involved in maintaining the ledgers (compensating errors)
Important procedure if business does not maintain double-entry May add to business costs as a specialist is required to verify
system accuracy
May identify the acc. in which the errors have been made
Provide totals of TR & TP for the TB

1.4 Preparation of financial statements

❖ understand the need for & purpose of financial statements
- For management purposes – the financial statements are used by management to highlight areas
of good practise & to find areas w/in the business that could benefit from improvement
- For stewardship purposes – the financial statements show the providers of finance how the funds
that they provided are being used. Are the funds being used wisely / is the finance being wasted?
- Benefits of preparing annual financial statements:
• Helps future planning/targets/goals
• Decision making
• Able to assess performance/comparisons
• Valuation of assets, liabilities & capital
• For tax purposes
• To present to bank for additional finance
- Four characteristics of financial statements
• Understandability – info. should be capable of being understood by users w/ reasonable knowledge.
• Relevance – must be relevant & contain information that is able to influence the decisions of users.
• Reliability – must contain information that is a faithful representation of what has taken place.
• Comparability – users must be confident that they can compare data from one time period to another.

1.4.1 Adjustments to financial statements

❖ adjustments needed for accruals & prepayments
- Accrual: an expense which is due w/in the accounting period but has not been paid. When preparing
the SOFP these are known collectively as other payables.
- Prepayment: payments made by a business in advance of the benefits to be derived from them. When
preparing the statement of financial statement these are collectively known as other receivables.

Item Treatment in IS Treatment in SOFP

Add to expense amount in the TB
Accrued expense Shows as other payable under current liabilities
It has the effect of increasing the total expense
Deduct from expense amount in the TB
Prepaid expense Shows as other receivable under current assets
It has the effect of reducing the total expense
Accrued income Add to the income amount in the TB Show as other receivables under current assets

Prepaid income Deduct from the income amount in the TB Show as other payable under current liabilities

Page 9 of 37

❖ adjustments needed for irrecoverable debts & doubtful debts:

- Irrecoverable debt: a debt due from a customer which it is expected will never be paid by them
- Doubtful debt: a debt due from a customer where it is uncertain whether / not it will be repaid by them.
- Why is a provision for doubtful debts created?
• Application of concept of prudence (1)
• Application of matching concept (1)
• Profit may be overstated in the event of irrecoverable debts (1)
• TR / current assets may be overstated (1)
- Factors to consider when setting rate for provision of doubtful debts
• The business’s past experience of irrecoverable debts (1)
• The usual rate applied for businesses of this type (1)
• Analysis of the existing debts & how long they have been
• outstanding/based on ageing schedule of TR (1)
- When the provision is first created, debit the IS & credit a provision for doubtful debts acc. w/ the full
amount of the provision. In the years that follow, the entries in the acc. will only be increased / decreased
in the amounts required for the provision:
• Debit the IS & credit the provision for doubtful debts w/ any increases in the provision
• Credit the IS & debit the provision for doubtful debts w/ any decreases in the provision

Page 10 of 37

❖ adjustments needed for depreciation

Page 11 of 37

❖ adjustments needed for inventory (net realisable value)

- Cost of inventory =
ℎ
ℎ +

- NRV= −−

- Consequences of holding too much inventory:

• Theft (1)
• Storage costs (1)
• Insurance (1)
• Obsolescence (1)
• Damage (1)
• Opportunity cost (1)

1.4.2 Sole traders

❖ Introduction
- Sole trader: the owner of a business who runs a business on their own.

Benefits Drawbacks
Entitled to all profits Unlimited liability / no separate legal entity
Quicker decision making All the risk / responsibilities
Full control of business operations Limited opportunities for new ideas

Page 12 of 37
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❖ prepare an ISs & SOFP from full / incomplete records

1.4.3 Partnerships
❖ prepare an ISs & SOFP from full / incomplete records

Page 13 of 37

❖ Partnership acc.
- Appropriation acc.: an acc. prepared after the IS. it is used to show how the profits of the year is
divided between each partner. The following have to be considered:
• Partner’s salaries
• Interest on partner’s drawings
• Interest on partner’s capital
• Share of the residual profit
- Interest on capital: a share of the profit for the year (usually) based on a percentage of the amount
of fixed capital each partner has contributed to the partnership.
- Interest on drawings: a charge made on the annual drawings made by each partner, usually calculated
as a percentage of the drawings made.
- Capital acc.: an acc. to record the sum of money which a partner introduces into a partnership. It is
only adjusted for any further capital introduced, any capital w/drawn, any share of goodwill / any profit
on the revaluation of partnership assets.
- Current acc.: an acc. which records a partner’s share of profits & any drawings made by them.
- Why may a partner have an overdrawn account?
• They may have drawn more than profit earned
• Partnership may have sustained losses

❖ Advantages & disadvantages of a partnership

- Partnership: two / more people carrying on a business together w/ a view to making profit

Advantages Disadvantages
The capital invested by partners us often more than can be A partner does not have a same freedom to act independently as
raised by a sole trader a sole trader has.
A greater fund of knowledge, experience & expertise in running A partner may be frustrated by the other partner(s) in their plans
business is available to a partnership for direction & development of the business
A partnership may be able to offer a greater range of services to
Profits have to be shared by all partners
its customers
Losses are shared by all the partners A partner may be legally liable for the acts of the other partner(s)
The business does not need to close down, / be run by an
inexperienced staff, in the absence of one of the partners; the
other partner(s) will provide cover.

❖ Interest on drawing & capital

- Advantages of interest on capital
• To the partners – reward the partners for their investment in the business
• To the partnership – encourage partners to invest in the business not elsewhere
- Advantages of interest on drawings
• To the partners – reduce the drawings
• To the partnership – deter partners from drawing cash out of the business, causing cash flow problems

❖ Partnership agreement
- Partnership agreement: an agreement, usually in writing, setting out the terms of a formal partnership
- Partnership Act 1890: The rules which govern a partnership in the absence of a formal
partnership agreement
• All partners are entitled to contribute equally to the capital of the partnership
• Partners are not entitled to interest on the capital they have contributed
• Partners are not entitled to salaries
• Partners are not to be charged interest on their drawings
• Partners will share profits & losses equally
• Partners are entitled to interest at 5% per annum in loans they make to the partnership
- Why should partners have written agreement?
• Avoidance of disputes (1).
• The deed usually states management responsibilities (1)
• Agreed limits on drawings & agreed amounts of fixed capital (1).

Page 14 of 37

• Ensure partners are properly rewarded (/ penalised) for their contributions (1).
• The deed may include rewards for partners who have undertaken more management
responsibilities/provided more capital/& penalised partners whose drawings have been the most (1)

❖ prepare capital & current acc.

- Fluctuating capital acc.:

- Fixed capital acc. & current acc.:

❖ reasons to maintain separate capital acc. for each partner

- They will need to keep their investments separate to distinguish between individual partners.
- To calculate interest on capital
- To keep capital invested separate from profit & drawings
- To help avoid the possibility of partners overdrawing
- To reward the partner who has invested more capital w/ interest on the amount invested
- To identify partners’ drawings in order to calculate interest on drawings

❖ what is a partnership change?

- A change in partnership occurs:
• When partners agree to change the way in which profits & losses are to be shared
• When a new partner joins a firm, / an existing partner leaves - disagreements between partners
• On the death / retirement of a partner
• Bankruptcy
- Goodwill: the amount by which the value of the partnership as a going concern exceeds the net value
of its assets if they were sold separately. Factors that affect goodwill:
• Reputation
• Customer base/monopoly
• Location
• Quality of product
• Skilled workforce

Page 15 of 37

- Why may partners value goodwill and revalue assets when a partner retires?
• Fair value of assets may be greater than book value
• Partners are rewarded for their efforts in building up the business
• It is only fair that the retiring partner is compensated this way
- Revaluation of assets: adjustment made to the value of the partnerships assets to reflect their market
value. It may result in some assets increasing in value, i.e. land, whilst others decrease, i.e. machinery
- Why are assets revalued on the change of a partnership?
• To give the benefit of the change in value of the business to the existing partners & any partner who
may be retiring.
• So that the SOFP on the entry of the new partner shows a true & fair view.
- Realisation acc.: an acc. prepared when a partnership is ceasing to trade, to record the book value of
the assets & liabilities & how much is received for them if sold, / paid out in respect of liabilities. The result
will be a P/L on realisation.

❖ realisation acc.

❖ revaluation acc.

Page 16 of 37

❖ changes in profit sharing ratio

Page 17 of 37

1.4.4 Limited companies

❖ prepare an ISs & SOFP from full / incomplete records

❖ introduction to limited companies

- Limited company: a separate legal entity whose existence is separate from its owners; the liabilities of
the members are limited to the amount paid (/ to be paid) on shares issued to them.

Partnership Private limited company (Ltd)

2 to 20 partners At least one member, no maximum
Unlimited liability of partners Limited liability of shareholders
Profits credited to partners’ current acc. according to partnership
Profits distributed by dividends
agreement
No tax on business profits – individual partners pay tax on their
Corporation tax charged on company profits
earnings as partners
Partners run the business Shareholders delegate running of the business to directors

Private limited company Public limited company

‘Ltd’ appears after company name ‘plc’ appears after company name
Minimum of one shareholder to the limit of authorised share Minimum of two shareholders to the limit of authorised share
capital & at least one director capital & at least two directors
Share trading is restricted No restriction to share trading
No stock market listing Usually listed on recognised stock market

❖ describe the distinction between capital & revenue reserves

- Revenue reserves: the profits made by a company which have not been distributed to shareholders
- Capital reserves: gains which (usually) arise from non-trading activities, i.e. revaluation of a company’s
NCA
Capital reserve Revenue reserve
Capital reserves are not normally created by transfer from They may be created simply to strengthen the financial position
profits of the company
They usually represent gains that have not been realised Revenue reserves are created by transfer from profits
Capital reserves cannot be used to pay dividends They may be created for a specific purpose
Can be used for bonus shares Revenue reserves may be used to pay dividends
Share premium acc., revaluation reserve, capital redemption
Retained earnings, general reserve, NCA replacement reserve
reserve

Helps protect creditors

Page 18 of 37

- Why capital reserves may be used instead of revenue reserves to fund a bonus issue of shares?
• To retain reserves in the most distributable / flexible form
• Revenue reserves are needed to fund the payment of dividends
- What is meant by ‘reserves were maintained in their most flexible form’?
• Using capital reserves before revenue reserves
• To facilitate future payments of dividends
- Share premium: the excess over the nominal / par value of a share when it is issued. A share
premium acc. is to write off expenses relating to:
• company formation
• the issue of debentures
• the issue of shares
• redemption of debentures
- Revaluation reserve – created when NCA are revalued in order to reflect an increase in the value.
It ensures that the SOFP shows the permanent increase in value
- E.g. NCA is purchased at $200,000, has accumulated depreciation of $120,000. It is revalued to
$350,000
Double entry: $ $
Dr Bank 150 000
Provision for doubtful debts 120 000
Cr Revaluation Reserve 270 000

❖ explain the different types of shares a company may issue

- Share capital: the capital raised by a business by the issue of shares (usually) for cash, but may also
be for consideration for other than cash, i.e. non-current / current assets.
- Share: the smallest division of the total share of capital of the company which can be issued in order
to raise funds for the company
- Nominal (/ par) value: the face value of a share
• Issued capital – total of the shares which have been issued to the shareholders
• Called-up capital – money required to be paid by shareholders immediately
• Uncalled capital – any amount of the share capital not yet called up (asked for) by the company
• Paid-up capital – money received from shareholders on the called-up capital
• Calls in advance – money received from shareholders who have paid calls before they are due
• Calls in arrear – money due from shareholders who are late in paying their calls
• Forfeited shares – shares which shareholders have lost because they have failed to pay their calls
- Classes of shares:
• Preference share: a share which does not give the owner any ownership rights in the company. The
holder will receive (usually) dividends at a fixed rate, payable before (in preference to) dividends to the
ordinary shareholder. Types of preference shares:
▪
Non-cumulative preference shares – shares not entitled to have any arrears of dividend carried
forward to future years if the profit of any year is insufficient to pay the dividend in full.
▪
Cumulative preference shares – shares entitled to have arrears of dividend carried forward to future
years when sufficient profits may become available to pay the arrears
▪
Redeemable preference shares – the company can approach the shareholders & buy back the
shares from them. These will appear under NCLs in the statement of financial statement
▪
Non-redeemable preference shares – the company will not buy them back in the future. They
appear in the equity section of the statement, together w/ the other items.
• Ordinary share: a share which represents equity ownership in a limited company. It entitles the owner
to vote in matters put before them by the directors. It also entitles the holder to dividends at a varying
amount as determined by the directors & depending on the profits made by the company & supposing all
other liabilities can be satisfied.

Differences between ordinary shares, preference shares & debentures

Ordinary shares Preference shares Debentures
Shares Shares Long-term loans (payables)
Part owner of company Not owners Not owners
Voting rights (Usually) no voting rights No voting rights

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Paid out before ordinary shareholders in Paid out before preference shareholders in
Paid out last in case of liquidation
case of liquidation case of liquidation
Dividends Dividends Interest
Variable dividend Fixed dividend Fixed rate of interest
Part of equity capital (unless they are
Part of equity capital Not part of equity capital (NCL)
redeemable)

• Bonus share issue: an issue of free shares to existing shareholders from the accumulated reserves of
the company. The issue is usually in proportion to the existing ordinary shares (e.g. one bonus share
for every four held). A company may make a bonus share issue because:
▪
Improves the perception of the company size (1) by increasing the issued share capital of the
company (1)
▪
To capitalise non-distributable reserves (1) but overall, total equity will remain the same (1)
▪
To reward the company’s investors (1) when profits are not sufficient to pay dividends (1)
▪
Can be used to keep existing shareholders happy (1) & may be attractive to potential investors (1)

• Rights issue of shares: an issue of shares made for cash. The shares offered to existing
shareholders usually in proportion to the shares held by them.

Benefits Limitations
Quicker & cheaper than a new share issue Can lead to a fall in the share price
More likely to be fully subscribed than a new share issue
Results in a cash inflow
Does not have to be repaid
Would avoid any dilution of ownership

Differences between bonus issue of shares & a rights issue of shares

Bonus Shares Rights Issue
Bonus shares are not paid for Rights issue are paid for
Bonus shares do not change the net assets Rights issue increases net assets
Bonus shares are issued to all shareholders Shareholders have a choice whether to take up rights issue
Rights issue may be made at a discount to market value/at a
Bonus shares are issued at par value
premium
Bonus shares do not give additional capital/equity Rights issue gives additional capital/equity

Differences between debentures & a rights issue of shares

Debentures Rights Issue
Loan capital – repayable Permanent capital – not repayable
Interest expense Dividend payments are discretionary
No voting rights Voting rights
Increases external borrowings – risky for shareholders Increases equity holding
Security required No security required

❖ prepare ledger acc. to record the issue of the different types of shares,
including bonus & rights issues

- Shares issued at par: - Shares issued at discount:

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- Shares issued at premium: - Bonus Issue:

- Rights Issue:

❖ prepare a statement of changes in equity.

- Statement of changes in equity: a statement prepared to show changes in a company’s shares capital,
reserves & retained earnings over a reporting period

❖ company financing
Internalsou

Short-term financing Long-term financing

offinance
rces

Cash management
Credit control Retained earnings
Inventory management
Externalsourc

finance

Share capital
esof

Bank overdrafts
Sale of unused NCA
Loan capital – debentures
Short-term bank loans Convertible loan stock
Factoring & invoice discounting Long-term bank loans
Leasing
Sale & leaseback

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1.5 Analysis & communication of accounting information

to stakeholders
❖ understand the need for the analysis of financial data to aid decision making
by stakeholders
- Ways to compare financial data:
• Compare the results of the business over time
• Compare the performance of businesses of different sizes
• Compare the performance of the business w/ the market leader
• Compare the performance of the business against industry averages

❖ identify & discuss the differing requirements for information of user groups
Internal Users
- To assess the overall performance of the business
Owners
- To identify problematic areas where corrective action can be taken to improve future performance
- To assess the overall performance of the business
- To consider the security of their investment
Shareholders
- To assess the return they receive from the investment
- To decide whether to sell their shares
- To aid in decision making
Managers & - Maybe assess how much bonus they may receive based on performance
directors - For future wage & salary negotiations.
- To gauge continuity of employment & job security.
- For future wage & salary negotiations.
Workers
- To gauge continuity of employment & job security
External Users
- They would assess whether a bank loan / overdraft should be granted to the business
Banks
- If one already exists, then they will be interested to see if the business can maintain the repayments
Future Shareholders - To compare the returns from several business to decide which business to invest in
- To assess whether to supply a business
Suppliers
- To check for the settlement of payment by the business if already supplying
Customers - To see if the business will be able to supply them in the future
- To determine the level of tax which will be charged on profits of the business.
Government
- To decide whether / not to give a grant to the business
- May be seeking employment thus may be interested in seeing if the business will continue to operate
Local Community in the future
- To ensure minimum environmental impacts of the business in the neighbourhood
- They will look at profitability to see about future pay increases for its members
Trade Unions - The job security for its members
- To ensure fair treatment of members
Public - They will be interested to see whether / not the business is operating ethically

❖ calculate key accounting ratios to measure profitability, liquidity & efficiency:

- Profitability ratios
• Gross profit margin % = × 100

• Return on capital employed %= × 100

•
ℎ

Capital employed = ℎ + + −
• Mark up % = × 100

•
Profit margin % = ℎ ( ) × 100

Expense to revenue ratio % = × 100

• Operating expenses to revenue ratio % = × 100

Page 22 of 37

- Liquidity ratios
• Current ratio =
• Liquid ratio/Acid test ratio/Quick ratio = −

- Efficiency ratios
• NCA turnover in times = − /

• TR turnover / Average collection period = × 365

• TP turnover / Average payment period = × 365

• Inventory turnover = × 365

• Rate of inventory turnover in times =

❖ use ratios to evaluate & comment on the profitability, liquidity & efficiency of
an organisation
Gross Profit Margin Net Profit Margin
Increase in selling price Increased gross profit
Cheaper suppliers Good control on overhead expenses
Increase Change in proportions of different goods Lower costs
Increase in other incomes
Change in type of expenses
Decrease in selling price Decreased gross profit
More expensive suppliers Bad control of overhead expenses
Decrease
Not passing increase of costs to customers Increased costs
Decrease in other incomes
Measure the success in selling goods Indicates how well a business controls its expenses
Importance Shows the gross profit earned per $100 sales Ratio shows net profit earned per $100 sales
Can be compared w/ other businesses and previous years Comparisons

- Current ratio – should fall between 1.5:1 & 2:1

• Measures the funds available in the short-term to pay current liabilities
• It does not show liquid assets available because it includes inventory
• It provides judgement on liquidity by comparing CA w/ CL
- Liquid ratio – usually around 1:1 but may depend on the business
• The liquid ratio tests the ability of the business to cover current liabilities w/ current assets other than
inventories.
- Return on capital employed – has been worse than the industry average for the last year (1), indicating
a less efficient use of capital employed than other similar businesses/a poorer profit than other similar
businesses (1).
- Importance of ROCE:
• Measures profitability of investment in the business
• Shows net profit earned per$100 capital employed
• Ratios show how efficiently capital is employed
• Comparisons

Increased profit
Increase Decreased capital employed
Resources used more effectively
Decreased profit
Decrease Increased capital employed
Resources used less efficiently

- TR turnover – the longer a debt is outstanding, the more likely it is that the debt will prove to be
irrecoverable. It is advised to have a shorter debt collection period than the TP turnover. Note that the
answer is always rounded to the next full day. Thirty days is a reasonable amount, more than that may be
a little too long.

Page 23 of 37

- How to improve TR collection period?

• Offer cash discount for prompt payment
• Improve credit control
• Charge interest on overdue accounts
• Refuse further supplies for outstanding debts
- TP turnover – it must be ensured that suppliers are not made upset by being paid too slowly
- Inventory turnover – in every ‘bundle’ of inventory held by a business there is an element of profit & there is
cash tied up in the goods. It is essential that this cash is released & that profits are earned as quickly as
possible, so the more often inventory can be ‘turned over’ (sold), the better it is for the business.

Sells more inventory

Increase
Decrease in closing inventory
Business is selling less inventory
Decrease
Increase in closing inventory

- NCA turnover – the ratio is a measure of the efficient use of NCA. It indicates how much $1 investment
in NCA is able to generate in terms of sales. The higher the ratio, the greater is the recovery of the
investment in those NCA.an increase in ratio year on year indicates a more efficient use of NCA.
• NCA to turnover ratio: has remained better than the industry average (1) indicating a more efficient use
of NCA than other similar businesses/a larger turnover than other similar businesses (1).
- A fall in the ratio might indicate:
• Less efficient use of assets
• Purchase of more NCA
• Revaluation of assets

❖ identify & discuss the limitations of accounting information & ratios

- Results are based on historic cost – may be misleading if results are compared over a long period
- Emphasis is placed on past results – they are not a totally reliable indicator of future results
- Published acc. only give an overview – perhaps disguising inefficient sections / departments
- Financial statements only show the monetary aspects of a business – they do not show the
strengths & weaknesses of individual managers / staff, staff welfare, ethical aspects, etc.
- It is difficult to compare two businesses – they have different sites, management teams,
staff, customers, etc.
- External environment of the business may change – e.g. devaluation of currency may cause
imported materials to rise in price.
- Every business may operate differently – different structures, methods of finance, expense &
revenue patters, accounting policies, techniques, methods of measuring, conventions, etc.
- Financial statements are prepared on a particular date – that date may be unrepresentative of
the usual position of the business.
- Ratios only show the results of business activity – they do not indicate the causes of good / bad results
- Reasons why it may be difficult to compare financial ratio between businesses
• Companies may use different accounting policies
• Historical cost is used to prepare acc. therefore may be misleading
• There may be different year-ends/seasonal factors
• There may be non-monetary factors to consider
• Relative size of each business
• The effect of window dressing
- How to improve liquidity ratios? - How to improve working capital?
• Introduce cash as capital • Introduce cash as capital
• Obtain long-term loans • Obtain long-term loans
• Surplus from disposal of NCA • Surplus from disposal of NCA
• Reduce drawings • Reduce drawings
• Reduce inventory level (Acid test ratio)

Page 24 of 37

2 Cost & Management accounting

2.1 Costing for materials & labour
❖ understand the need to acc. for material & labour costs.
- Cost accounting: a method of accounting where all the costs associated w/ a particular activity /
product are collected together, classified & recorded.
- Management accounting: the process of preparing reports & acc. which can be used by managers as
a basis for making decisions on the future performance of the business.
- Management accounting provides management w/ information which is not obtainable from the
financial acc. of a business
- W/ cost accounting & management accounting the organisation is looking forward. It is gathering &
analysing information which will be used as a basis for future decisions affecting the performance
& profitability of the firm.

❖ identify & calculate fixed costs, variable costs, semi-variable costs & stepped costs
- Fixed cost: a cost that remains unchanged w/in a certain level of
activity / output
- Variable cost: a cost which varies in direct proportion to changes in
the level of output
- Semi-variable cost – costs that cannot be classified as either fixed
costs / variable costs because they contain an element of both
- Stepped costs – remain fixed until a certain level of business activity
is reached.

❖ identify the elements of direct & indirect materials & labour

- Direct costs – include direct materials, direct labour & direct expenses
• Direct materials – materials from which goods are made, & carriage inwards paid on the materials
• Direct labour – the wages of workers who actually make goods
• Direct expenses – royalties, licence fees, & so on
- Indirect costs – indirect materials, indirect wages & other overhead costs.
• Indirect materials – purchased for the factory, e.g. cleaning materials, / lubricating oil for any machinery
• Indirect wages – the wages of all factory workers who do not actually make the finished goods,
e.g. factory managers, supervisors, store staff, cleaners & so on.
• Overhead costs – rent, heating & lighting, depreciation & so on.

❖ calculate the value of closing inventory using the FIFO & AVCO methods
(perpetual & periodic)
- First in, first out (FIFO) – assumes that the first items to be bought will be the first to be used,
although this may not be the physical distribution of the goods. Thus, remaining inventory valuation will
always be the value of the most recently purchased items.

Page 25 of 37

- Average cost (AVCO) – a new average value (usually the weighted average using the number of
items bought) is calculated each time a new delivery of inventory is acquired.

- Perpetual inventory – maintains a running balance of inventory-on-hand after each transaction. FIFO &
AVCO are typical perpetual inventory
- Periodic inventory – shows the balance of inventory only at intervals (e.g. at the end of each month). The total
of items used in the period is deducted from the total of items received to give the balance of items

❖ calculate labour costs using different methods of remuneration including

bonus schemes
- Hourly rate – divide the hourly rate by the amount the worker can produce in an hour to work out the
direct labour cost per unit
- Piece rate – by how much the worker produces, calculated on the number of units of output / pieces
the worker makes
- Annual salary – used for paying office staff / managers, this would be regarded as an indirect labour cost
- Bonus Schemes:
• Overtime payment: an amount paid to an employee for working longer than the time they are
contracted to work
• Bonus payment: the additional amount paid to an employee for producing goods in a time less then
allowed

❖ understand the different characteristics, & the appropriateness, of using FIFO,

AVCO & LIFO
Advantages Disadvantages
FIFO
- Manufacturing businesses usually prefer to charge
materials to production at current purchase prices / selling
- It is a relatively simple system to use
prices, but use FIFO to value inventories for their financial
acc.
- Identical items of inventory from batches bought at
- It is generally realistic as materials are generally used in
different times may be used for similar jobs, w/ result that
FIFO order, especially if perishable
job A may be charged for the item at a different price from
job B. The customer for job B may be unfairly treated as a
- Prices used are those that actually have been paid for
result. Quotations for jobs when materials are based on
goods
FIFO may be unreliable.

Page 26 of 37

- Closing inventory is valued on current price levels - In times of rising prices, the closing inventory in the
financial acc. will be priced at the latest (high) prices. This
- Acceptable method of inventory valuation for the purposes results in lowering cost of sales & increasing gross profit. It
of the Companies Act 2006 & accounting standards (IAS may be considered that this is not consistent w/ the
2) concept of prudence. However, as stated above, the
method is acceptable under IAS 2.
AVCO

- The use of average prices avoids the inequality of identical

items being charges to different jobs at different prices
- The average price must be recalculated after every
- ACVO recognises that identical items purchased at purchase of inventory
different times & prices have identical values. Averaged
prices are truer to this concept than the actual prices used
for AVCO
- Averaging costs may smooth variations in production
costs, & comparisons between the results of different
periods may be more meaningful.
- The average price does not represent any price actually
- Averaged prices used to value closing inventory may be
paid for inventory.
fairly close to the latest prices
- AVCO is acceptable for the purposed of the Companies
Act 2006 & IAS 2
LIFO
- The value of closing inventory is based on prices actually - The most recent prices are not used for inventory
paid for the goods valuation purposes
- In times of rising prices, LIFO values inventory at lower - LIFO is not accepted by international accounting
prices than other methods standards IAS 2
- Issues from stores are valued at most recent prices - LIFO is less realistic than FIFO since it assumes that most
- Valuations of closing inventory is easy to calculate recently acquired goods will be issued before older goods

❖ demonstrate the effect of different methods of valuing inventory of material

on profit.

2.2 Traditional costing methods

❖ candidates should understand the application of traditional costing methods.

2.2.1 Absorption costing

❖ allocate & apportion overhead expenditure between production &
service departments

Page 27 of 37

❖ calculate overhead absorption rates

- On the basis of Direct Labour Hours (if production is labour intensive)
ℎ
= $x per direct labour hour
- On the basis of Machine Hours (if production is capital intensive)
= $x per machine hour
ℎ ℎ

❖ calculate & explain the causes of under absorption & over absorption of overheads
- Overhead recovered = ×ℎ

- Under-absorption = < ℎ

- Over-absorption = > ℎ

- The effect of over absorption & under absorption of overheads on profits:

• Over absorption of overheads will mean that too much overhead is charged to the product (1). This
means that a higher price is charged to the customer (1) leading to increased profits (1).
• Over absorption of overheads could also lead to a higher selling price (1) leading to lower demand (1)
& lower profits (1).
• Under absorption of overheads could lead to insufficient overhead being charged to a product (1). This
means a lower price is charged to the customer (1) which fails to cover costs & reduces profit (1).
• Under absorption of overheads could also lead to a lower selling price (1) leading to higher demand (1)
& higher profits (1).

Under-absorption occurs when: Over-absorption occurs when:

- Actual expenditure is more than budgeted expenditure -Actual expenditure is less than budgeted expenditure

- Production is less than the planned level. In this case not -Actual production is more than the planned level. In this
enough overhead has been charged to production case too much overhead has been charged to production

- Departmental overhead absorption rates to one factory-wide rate?

• Easier to calculate
• Cheaper to calculate
• Some products may require more labour hour/machine hours
• Less accurate
• Different products may spend different time in each department.
• The overhead absorption rate should be chosen to reflect the activity of that department (1).
• If the department is machine-intensive then machine hours should be chosen / If the department is labour
intensive then labour hours should be chosen (1)
• This should lead to a more accurate absorption of overheads (1) which in turn leads to a more accurate
cost figure / selling price (1)

❖ identify & explain the uses & limitations of absorption costing.

- Limitations of absorption costing:
• It is more time consuming to calculate the overhead absorption rate & adjust for over / under absorption.
• It is more complicated to calculate & managers may need training.
• It is irrelevant in short term decision making as fixed costs don’t change.

Page 28 of 37

• Fixed costs relate to a period in time & so can be misleading to charge to production units.
• The basis used to apportion & absorb overheads may be subjective.
- Uses of absorption costing:
• Often used to determine inventory values in accordance w/ International Financial Reporting Standards
• It is also used to determine a profitable selling price that covers all costs of making each unit.
• Recognises the fact that each unit produced must cover (“absorb”) its share of fixed overheads
• Adheres to the matching principle by making sure that revenue is matched to expenditure incurrent in
making that revenue instead of treating fixed overhead costs as period costs.
• Recognises the fact that fixed overheads are essential for production.
• Is more consistent w/ external reporting rules & regulations i.e. company laws & IFRSs
• Produces profit amounts that fluctuate less when production is constant but sales fluctuate e.g.
in businesses that have seasonal sales.
- Advantages of absorption costing:
• Takes acc. of fixed costs when determining product cost (1); as a result, is useful in setting a selling
price for a product (1).
• Avoids separating fixed costs from variable costs (1) which can be difficult & so lead to inaccuracies (1)
• As it takes acc. of all costs it conforms to the matching principle (1) which requires costs to be matched
to revenues for a period (1)
• As it takes acc. of all costs (1) it is the recognised method for inventory valuation (1)
- Drawbacks of using a budgeted overhead absorption rate
• Estimated figures used may be inaccurate (1) leading to under / over absorption of overheads (1)
• Over absorption of overheads may lead to prices being set too high (1) which may lead to loss of
customers (1)
• Under absorption of overheads may lead to prices being set too low (1) which would result in lower profits
(1)

2.2.2 Marginal costing

❖ understand the application of marginal costing.
- Marginal cost: the cost of making an extra unit of output.
- It is based on the principle that an additional unit of production will only result in an increase in the
variable costs & that the fixed costs will not be affected.
- Marginal cost of production is, therefore, the total of the variable costs of production

❖ calculate the contribution of a product

- Contribution: the difference between the selling price & the variable cost per unit of output. In total, it
is also the difference between the total revenue & total variable costs
- Contribution = −

Page 29 of 37

❖ prepare a break-even chart

❖ calculate the break-even point, contribution to sales ratio & margin of safety
- Units to be sold to reach target profit = +

- Contribution to sales (c/s) ratio =

- Break-even point =
- Margin of safety = / −−

❖ explain the use & limitations of break-even charts

- The uses of break-even charts:
• To determine breakeven point.
• To show impact on profits of selling product at different prices.
• To forecast costs & profits resulting from changes in sales volume.
• To show the deviations of actual profit from anticipated profit relative profitability under conditions of high /
low demand.
• Identifies margin of safety (1)
• Helps cost control by showing relative importance of fixed costs & variable costs (1)
• Provides information in a concise/straightforward/easy to understand format (1)
- The limitations of break-even charts:
• Some costs are not easily classified as fixed / variable.
• Some costs are semi-variable.
• It assumes fixed costs stay the same.
• Straight lines can be misleading – discounts can cause curved lines.
• A chart can be time consuming to prepare.
• It assumes the selling price is constant at all levels of output.
• It can be misleading for those w/ limited accounting knowledge.
• Can only be applied to one product at a time

Page 30 of 37

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❖ Prepare a statement reconciling the reported profit using marginal costing

& absorption costing

❖ identify the uses & limitations of marginal costing

- The uses of marginal costing:
• Costing ‘special’ / ‘one off’ opportunities
• Deciding whether to make / buy a product
• Choosing between competing alternative actions
• Employing a penetration / destroyer pricing strategy
• Calculating the break-even level of output
- The limitations of marginal costing
• It is only useful for short-term decision making
• Not all costs can be easily split into fixed costs & variable costs
• Under marginal costing, the fixed costs remain constant & variable costs vary according to the level of
output. In reality, the fixed costs do not remain constant & the variable costs do not vary according to the
level of output. In the long run all costs are variable.
• In the case of loss by fire, if inventory is valued using marginal costing, the full amount of loss cannot
be recovered from the insurance company since no element of factory fixed overheads is included.
• The management should not base decisions using contribution alone. The contribution may vary if
new techniques are followed in the production process.
• The technique assumes that production methods will remain constant. In practise, this is not the case.
Investment in new machinery at the expense of reducing labour will change the cost structure completely.
• It is really only useful for a business which makes a single product. A company making several
products will have difficulty in allocating fixed cost to each product w/ any degree of accuracy. This will
make it difficult to calculate the break-even point for either a single product / the business as a whole.

❖ should businesses cater to special orders for a lower selling price?

Pros Cons
Additional profit Other customers may object on lower price being offered to this
Utilisation of spare capacity customer
Less reliant only on one customer Competitors may lower price & start price war
Small increase in fixed costs
Positive contribution

Page 31 of 37

❖ calculate the effect of limiting factors on production.

Page 32 of 37

2.2.3 Cost–volume–profit analysis

❖ identify & explain the advantages & limitations of cost–volume–profit analysis
- Advantages of cost-volume-profit analysis:
• Aids short-term decision making.
• Identifies break-even point/margin of safety/project profit.
- Limitations of cost-volume-profit analysis:
• It assumes that total fixed costs are constant.
• It assumes variable costs per unit are the same.
• It assumes the selling price per unit remains the same.
• It assumes sales & production levels are the same.
• It assumes product mix remains constant.
• It ignores uncertainty in estimates of fixed costs & variable costs.
• Some costs are difficult to classify as fixed / variable.

❖ evaluate & interpret cost–volume–profit data & its value as a support

for management decision making
- CPV analysis:
• It is a useful tool in short-term decision making
• Examines the relationship that exists between sales volume, sales revenue, costs & profits
• Shows how cost behaves at varying levels of output
• Can be used in ‘what if’ analysis
• Can help to provide answers to question on the likely outcome when a particular course of action is
followed by the management, e.g. the effect on profit if more goods were sold at a reduced price.
- Cost-volume-profit graphs:
• Depict CPV in a form that helps most people understand the information shown quickly & more effectively
(but do remember that for decision-making purposes the use of calculations is much more accurate)
• Show clearly the break-even point
• Identify margin of safety
• Show visually & clearly the impact that changes in sales volume has on profits.

- Assumptions of cost-volume-profit analysis:

• Sales price per unit is constant
• Total fixed costs are constant
• Variable cost per unit is constant
• All production is sold
• If the company sells more than one product, the product mix remains constant
• Costs are only affected as a result of changes in activity

Page 33 of 37

❖ prepare costing statements using unit, job & batch costing principles
- Unit costing: the costing procedure to find the cost of a single unit of output (cost unit)
- Job costing: costing methods that calculates the cost of meeting a specific customer order / job.
- Batch costing: the costing procedure to find the cost of a batch of items produced

❖ apply costing concepts to make business decisions & recommendations

using supporting data.
- Why profit calculated using marginal costing would be different to that calculated using
absorption costing?
• Fixed overheads are treated as period costs under marginal costing (lower closing inventory value) but
as a part of cost of production under absorption (higher closing inventory value)
• Fixed overheads are written off in the period’s ISs, fixed overheads carried forward as a part of
inventory in absorption costing
- Reasons to accept/reject order below quoted price (discounted price)
• The offer still provides a positive contribution/generates profit
• This will result in increased overall profits for the business
• The order will make use of existing spare capacity
• Spare capacity could be used to manufacture goods w/ a better mark-up
• Is this a one-off order / will the customer expect future orders at the same price?
• Other customers could also want to buy at a reduced price
• It could cause ill feeling w/ other customers
• Will there be an increase in the fixed cost?
• Will the temporary labour be available immediately/ existing workforce be willing to work overtime?
• Will the product quality remain the same if temporary labour is used / do they have the necessary skills?
• Will the morale of the existing workforce go down if temporary labour is employed?
- Reasons for discontinuing a particular model

Financial Non-financial
All models make a positive contribution. Discontinuing any model may result in loss of customers/sales.
If any model was discontinued fixed costs would be reallocated Would the workforce be fully employed on the remaining
to the remaining models. models?
Method of allocating fixed costs may be inappropriate. Would employees need training to produce alternative models?
Possible redundancies.
Demotivated workforce.
Adverse publicity.
Discontinuing any model may result in loss of customers/sales.

Page 34 of 37

- Reasons for not changing variables in the break-even

• Although budgeted contribution is higher, the profit after the changes is lower (1), due to allocated
fixed costs increasing – advertising & sales bonus. (1)
• The margin of safety is lower (1) which means there is less of a buffer / comfort zone before product
starts to make a loss. (1)
• The break-even point is higher (1) which increases the risk (1) of product not making enough sales
to cover fixed costs. (1)
- Reasons for producing a quantity above the factory capacity

Accept the offer Not accept the offer

The company will have to reduce its usual output (1) which could
The company will make more profit in month/year than had been mean that some regular customers’ orders are not fulfilled (1)
forecast (1). leading to a possible long-term loss of their custom (1) & a loss
of profit if the special offer is not repeated (1).

The company will be in full production (1) avoiding cancellation The directors need to consider whether the order can be
of orders for materials which might cause a deterioration in produced to the quality expected (1), whether the labour force
relationships w/ suppliers (1), avoiding laying off staff which have the appropriate skills for the products if they vary from the
could affect morale (1), avoiding machinery lying idle which normal output (1) & whether the machinery is capable of
could affect their efficiency (1) producing the products if they vary from the normal output (1).

- Optimum production plan – limited resources

Reasons for agreeing Reasons for disagreeing

The plan will ensure the factory makes the optimum profit The company risks losing regular customers for Product A
This is because Product B has the higher contribution per $1 of As a result, in the longer term the profits of the company may be
direct labour reduced if regular customers cannot be won back.
Regular customers for Product A may also cancel their orders for
Product B
The directors need to consider how the suppliers of direct
materials for Product A will react to a reduction in orders
Will it be possible to continue to make usual orders w/ these
suppliers when the problem is overcome?
Trade discounts for ordering in bulk may be lost causing a
decrease in the profitability of this unit

2.3 The application of accounting to business planning

❖ understand the benefit to business planning by the use of accounting data.
- Price products competitively
- Avoid ‘firefighting’ / avoid potential problems in the future
- Assess any competition / markets for products
- Estimate the likely future position of business − short term & long term
- Identify areas of responsibility of managers

❖ explain the need for a business to plan for the future

- Map the future
- Support growth
- Manage cash flow

Page 35 of 37

❖ explain why organisations prepare budgets & the benefits to the planning process
- Budget: a plan of a future activity, usually expressed in financial terms

The business
prepares its plans for
the next year - its
BUDGET

It implements those
Corrective action is
plans (the year
taken (CONTROL)
begins & work starts)

Actual data is
collected &
compared with the
budget (CONTROL)

- Uses & benefits of budgeting:

• Formalize management’s plans
• Ensures that all departments of the business are co-ordinated
• Future shortages of materials &// cash can be indicated giving time to prepare plans for these shortages
• Commitment by management in all areas of the business is improved
• Ensures responsibility by the managers who prepared the budgets
• Improves control of business activities

❖ explain the advantages & disadvantages of budgetary control

- The impact of the introduction of a system of budgetary control on the departmental managers
• Managers could be involved in setting targets/budgets for their areas of responsibility (1)
• resulting in possible increase in motivation (1)
• If managers are not involved in setting targets/budgets motivation could be reduced (1)
• especially if targets are seen to be unachievable/unrealistic (1)
• Managers’ efficiency could be improved (1) as a result of having clear objectives/targets (1)
• However, budgetary control might prove to be restrictive (1)
• resulting in otherwise beneficial opportunities being rejected by managers (1)

Advantages Disadvantages
Assists w/ planning for the future Budgets are an estimate & could be inaccurate
Compares budget & actual, identifying, variances enabling
Budget are time consuming &// expensive to create & monitor
corrective action to be taken
Helps to monitor performance Could lead to conflict between departments
Enables delegation to departments Could demotivate employees
Assists w/ decision making May have to employ specialist staff
May motivate staff Budget may be set an unrealistic level
Helps w/ responsibility accounting / enables assessment of Does not take acc. of unforeseen circumstances
managers Can restrict staff innovation

Key
- SOFT: Statement of Financial Position - Acc.: Account
- IS: Income Statement - TP: Trade Payables
- CA: Current Asset - TR: Trade Receivables
- CL: Current Liability - TB: Trial Balance
- NCA: Non-Current Asset - P/L: Profit or Loss
- NCL: Non-Current Liability

Page 36 of 37

Credits
- Cambridge International AS and A Level Accounting:
Publisher: Hodder Education Group
Author: Ian Harrison
ISBN: 9781444181432
nd
- Cambridge International AS and A Level Accounting Revision Guide 2
Edition Publisher: Hodder Education Group
Author: Ian Harrison
ISBN: 9781471847677
nd
- Cambridge International AS and A Level Accounting Coursebook 2
Edition Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Author: David Hopkins, Harold Randall
ISBN: 9781316611227
- A Level Accounts: http://alevelaccounts.weebly.com
- 9706_TSG_IAS_v2
International Accounting Standards
Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting 9706
Guidance for Teachers
- Compiled by: Vishakha Mirchandani ([email protected])

www.openclass.co.zw is your ultimate source for free educational resources including 'O' & 'A' level notes, scholarships, teacher
swops and tutors. You can contribute and help others by visiting www.openclass.co.zw/contribute
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