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Essay: Understanding Variance Analysis: Types, Limitations | Unfavorable & Favorable Changes

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  • Published: 1 April 2019*
  • Last Modified: 11 September 2025
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  • Words: 1,500 (approx)
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Assignment: 03

Q3:

Variance analysis, in accounting (or management accounting in general), is a tool of financial control by assessment of performance by means of changes among budgeted amount, calculated amount or standard amount and the real amount incurred/sold. Variance study can be carried out for both expenses and revenues.

1: Direct Material Variance

Direct material change shows the difference among the actual cost of material of actual elements and standard cost of material of normal units. It is also the over-all of material price variance, material amount variance. If there is favorable material quantity change and unfavourable material cost variance or vise-versa, straight material cost may be any favourable or unfavourable because it is over-all of material price and material amount variance.

2: Labor Variance

Labor variance demonstrates the variance of employment cost. It is the variance between standard cost of labor for real production and the actual cost of employment for actual production.

3: Overhead Variance

Overhead Variance displays the variance of all indirect expenditure. It is the difference among standard cost of overhead for genuine output and actual cost of overhead for real output.

4: Sales Variance

Sales variance is that kind of variance which indicates the difference among actual sales and standard sales. But in unfavorable sales variance, our normal sale is less than real sale. Sales variance is respectable way to calculate the duty of sales department.

Other derived variances:

5. Purchase price variance. The actual price funded for materials used in the manufacture process, minus the actual cost, multiplied by the sum of units used.

6. Variable overhead efficiency variance. Subtract the budgeted components of activity on which the variable overhead is charged from the genuine units of activity, multiplied by the normal variable overhead cost per element.

7. Material yield variance. Subtract the total standard amount of materials that are thought to be used from the normal level of use and multiply the balance by the standard price per unit.

8. Labor efficiency variance. Subtract the standard amount of labor expended from the actual quantity and multiply the remainder by the normal labor rate per hour.

Limitations of variance analysis:

Time delay. The accounting staff accumulates the variances at the completion of the month before issuing the outcomes to the management team.

Variance source information. Several of the reasons for variances are not situated in the accounting records, so the accounting team has to sort through such data as bills of material, labor direction-finding, and overtime records to govern the causes of difficulties. The extra work is just cost-effective when administration can actively accurate problems based on this info.

Reporting Delay

Variance analysis is typically conducted as portion of the annual budgeting workout. The worth of variance inquiry as a control mechanism declines as the time of reporting period rises because the delay in the delivery of such data reduces its relevancy for the conclusion making needs of management.

ASSIGNMENT: 04

Q3:

Variance Analysis, in administrative accounting, states to the investigation of deviations in financial presentation from the standards well-defined in organizational funds. Variance analysis typically includes the isolation of various causes for the difference in revenue and expenses over a provided period from the budgeted values.

Derived variances:

Sales Capacity Variance is the measure of variation in turnover or input as a result of the variance between actual and cost sales quantity.

Purchase price variance. The actual price funded for materials used in the making process, minus the average cost, multiplied by the number of elements used.

Labor rate variance. The definite price paid for the direct effort used in the manufacture procedure, minus its usual cost, multiplied by the sum of components used.

Variable overhead spending variance. Deduct the standard variable overhead price per unit from the real cost incurred and multiply the rest by the total element quantity of output.

Fixed overhead spending variance. The total sum by which fixed overhead costs surpass their total standard rate for the reporting period.

Fixed Overhead Volume Variance is the change among the fixed production rate budgeted and the fixed production cost noticed during the period. The change arises due to a modification in the level of output achieved in a period matched to the budget.

Material yield variance. Subtract the entire standard quantity of resources that are supposed to be used from the genuine level of use and multiply the balance by the standard price each unit.

Labor efficiency variance. Subtract the average quantity of work consumed from the definite amount and multiply the residue by the standard workforce rate per hour.

Variable overhead efficiency variance. Subtract the planned units of action on which the flexible overhead is charged from the definite units of action, multiplied by the normal variable overhead rate each unit.

Limitations of Variance Analysis

Time delay. The accounting employees collects the alterations at the end of the month in advance of delivering the consequences to the management group. In a fast-paced atmosphere, management wants feedback much quicker than once a month, and so inclines to rely upon other dimensions or warning flags that are created on the spot (especially in the production area).

Assigning Responsibilities

Responsibility accounting is a main function of variance inquiry. Variances could rise for a number of causes ranging from impractical standards (e.g. failing to take into reason an expected growth in wage rates) to operational causes (e.g. increase in uninterrupted material procedure due to hiring of poorer skilled labor). Planning inadequacies that may have affected large variances because of the setting of faulty values could be dealt with by calculating planning and active variances retrospectively.

Reporting Delay

Variance analysis is commonly led as part of the annual costing exercise. The usefulness of variance study as a control tool declines as the period of reporting duration increases because the postponement in the setting up of such information decreases its relevancy for the conclusion making requirements of management.

ASSIGNMENT: 05

Q3:

Variance analysis is typically associated with explanation of the change (or variance) among actual expenses and the standard costs permitted for the good production. Variance analysis helps administration to know the current costs and then to regulate future costs.

Types:

Flexible-budget cost changes for variable expenses are divided into two constituents: price variances and efficiency variances.

Price variances, also called rate variances (especially in the case of labour), capture the variation in profit resulting from changes among the standard value for a unit of material or labour and the real price paid.

Efficiency variances, also called usage or quantity variances, measure the variation in profit resulting from variances among the definite amount of resources or labour used and the quantity that should have been used created on the standard amount allowed for the real output.

Variable overhead price changes are generally referred to as expenditure variances. In exercise, variable overhead variances are determined by section and by rate pools so that administration can inspect each element that is out of line.

The variable overhead productivity variance formula accepts that there is a strong-cut proportional association among the underlying rate driver (e.g. direct labour hours, number of units produced, machine hours) and variable overhead expenditures.

The fixed overhead expenditure variance, or budget variance, is alike the variable overhead spending variance. It is the dissimilarity among the amount really spent and the quantity budgeted to be expended. Since fixed expenses are often beyond direct managerial control, the spending variance doesn’t measure administrative performance in utmost cases.

Sales-price variances (or selling-price variances) accounts the change in revenue resulting from genuine selling values being dissimilar than budgeted prices.

The sales-volume variance measures the variation in income resulting from real sales volume being dissimilar than budgeted sales capacity.

VVVV Imp:

http://www.cmaontario.org/portals/6/Media/CaseExam/Standard%20Cost%20And%20Variance%20Analysis.pdf

Limitations

Variance source information. Numerous causes for variances are not situated in the accounting records, so the accounting control has to sort through such data as bills of material, labor direction-finding, and overtime accounts to govern the causes of difficulties. The extra work is only profitable when management can aggressively correct problems founded on this information.

Standard setting. Variance study is basically a comparison of actual consequences to a random standard that may have been resulting from political trading. Consequently, the subsequent variance may not return any useful data.

Assigning Responsibilities

Responsibility accounting is a main purpose of variance analysis. Variances might arise for a number of causes ranging from unrealistic values (for example weakening to take into account an estimated increase in wage rates) to operational reasons (e.g. increase in straight material usage due to signing of lower skilled labor). Planning incompetence that may have produced large variances because of the setting of damaged values could be dealt with by calculating planning and operational variances all together.

Behavioral Issues

Variance analysis might inspire short-termism due to its intrinsic tendency to short-term, quantified purposes and results. A negative awareness of an organization’s change analysis procedure can also inspire other sub-optimal performance among staffs such as attempts to join budget slacks.

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