Material Accounting Material refers to any commodity or substance processed in a factory for conversion into a finished product. In cost accounting, material is classified as part of inventory. The terms “material” and “raw material” are often used interchangeably. Examples of Material Material Cost Material cost refers to the expense incurred for materials used as…
A progress payment is a partial payment made before a service or delivery is fully provided. These payments are typically issued to a contractor after completing a specific stage of work, allowing for a steady cash flow and cost recovery as the project advances. Progress payments are usually made in several installments. Retention money is…
Job costing is used for short-term, smaller-scale projects where costs are tracked individually for each job. It is commonly applied in manufacturing and service industries for custom or specialized orders. In contrast, contract costing applies to larger, long-term projects—typically in construction and engineering—where costs are tracked cumulatively over the contract’s duration. Key Differences between Job…
Batch costing is a type of specific order costing where articles are manufactured or processed simultaneously in predetermined lots, known as batches. Therefore, batch costing is also referred to as ‘lot costing.’ Each batch is treated as a separate cost unit, and costs are accumulated and ascertained for each batch. For example, if the total…
What Are Overheads? Overheads, also known as indirect costs, are expenses that cannot be directly attributed to the production of a specific product or service. These include rent, utilities, salaries of support staff, insurance, and administrative costs. Overheads are essential for business operations but do not directly contribute to a specific cost unit or activity.…
Job cost cards, also known as job cost sheets or job cost records, are documents that list all expenses incurred to complete a specific project. These expenses can be recorded both during and after the project, helping businesses monitor their financial performance and manage costs effectively. The primary purpose of job costing is to determine…
Unit or Output Costing Unit or output costing is a method used to determine the cost per unit of a standardized, homogeneous product in continuous manufacturing. This method is also known as single costing and is commonly applied in industries like cement, steel, and textiles where products are identical and mass-produced. Method of Calculation: The…
Cost accounting, financial accounting, and management accounting are three primary branches of accounting. These branches are interconnected yet serve distinct purposes. Cost accounting provides essential data for both financial and management accounting, which in turn supports financial management decisions for both internal and external stakeholders. Financial management utilizes these data points to make strategic decisions…
Management accounting is a vital branch of accounting that plays a crucial role in internal decision-making. Through management accounting, organizations can make informed business decisions that maximize long-term profitability. Management accounting employs various statistical methods and techniques to analyze financial data. These include graphs, tables, maps, regression analysis, time series analysis, and sampling methodologies, to…
Managerial accounting, also called management accounting, is a method of accounting that creates statements, reports, and documents to help management make better business decisions. It is primarily used for internal purposes. Evolution of Management Accounting Management accounting has evolved over centuries, transitioning from simple record-keeping to sophisticated systems that leverage data analytics. Initially, it was…