What is Managerial Accounting?Managerial accounting, variously known as management accounting and cost accounting, is a branch of accounting that involves the creation of reports and other necessary documents that aid a manager in the decision-making processes of running his/her company and taking steps to improve its operations. Show
Managerial accounting typically consists of various processes involved in the identification, measurement, analysis, interpretation and communication of information that aids the management of a company in its managerial functions. This is in contrast to financial accounting that typically provides similar information to external parties. Back to: ACCOUNTING, TAX, & REPORTING How does Managerial Accounting Work?Managerial accounting involves the step by step analysis of various events and operational metrics by managerial accountants in order to facilitate the translation of the data into serviceable information. The management of the company then leverages this information in their decision-making process. Managerial accountants typically analyze the company's individual line of products, operating activities, facilities, and other similar parameters. These accountants especially focus on the costs of products or services purchased by the company as well as its actual results vis--vis its various budgets, in order to quantify the company's plan of operation. Other topics for analysis during the managerial accounting process include ratio analysis, cost behavior and cost-volume-profit analysis, job order costing, process costing, and standard costing and variance analysis. Although managerial accounting is akin to financial accounting in that both procedures report the performance of the company's financial transactions, there is one principal attribute that essentially differentiates the two while financial accounting is concerned with reporting the company's financial performance to external parties such as investors and lenders, etc., managerial accounting utilizes the same (or similar) data internally in order to aid in management decision-making processes. According to the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), management accounting explicitly serves the following three domains:
Techniques in Managerial AccountingManagerial accounting utilizes various standard techniques in order to achieve the goals of the organization. These are:
Reporting and Managerial AccountingManagerial accounting focuses on internal users of accounting information. These internal users include executives, product managers, sales managers, and any other company personnel who use accounting information to make decisions. Note: Managerial accounting information is assembled to best fit company use. It does not have to conform with U.S. GAAP standards. Managerial accounting generally focuses on organizing information to a high level of details. It may be used to make projections for segments of a company. As such, the information recorded may take the form of non-financial measures. Related Topics
What is directly associated with management accounting?According to the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA): "Management accounting is a profession that involves partnering in management decision making, devising planning and performance management systems, and providing expertise in financial reporting and control to assist management in the formulation and ...
Which accounting is mainly useful to the management?Managerial accounting, also called management accounting, is a method of accounting that creates statements, reports, and documents that help management in making better decisions related to their business' performance. Managerial accounting is primarily used for internal purposes.
What is management accounting also known as?Management accounting is also referred to as managerial accounting and is a discipline that is helpful in providing the management with financial information and the appropriate resources that will help managers in decision making.
Is managerial accounting related to financial accounting?Managerial accounting focuses on an organization's internal financial processes, while financial accounting focuses on an organization's external financial processes. Managerial accountants focus on short-term growth strategies relating to economic maintenance.
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