The book builds knowledge in incremental steps, allowing students to develop the framework required to conceptualise the technicalities of cost accounting. It refers to the specifics of accounting practice in the South African context where relevant, developing students' competence for their workplace. Principles of cost accounting offers a holistic approach to understanding the work of a cost accountant and incorporates decision-making and communication skills.

This book is one of the few English language texts devoted to the subject of quality costing. The material is based on research work carried out by the authors at the Manchester School of Managememt, UMIST, over the last nine years or so. The research has been mainly in manufac turing organizations but work has also been conducted in non-manufac turing concerns (e. g. marketing and service operations, and commerce). The book will provide managers with sound practical advice on how to define, collect, analyse, report and use quality costs. The text covers all the main aspects of quality costing and an attempt has been made to structure the book in the sequence by which organizations should set about a quality costing exercise. The book opens by examining the background of quality costing. This is followed by chapters on definitions of quality costs, collection of quality costs, analysis and reporting of quality costs, and the uses of quality costs. Examples from manufacturing organizations and non manufacturing situations are used throughout the first five chapters to illustrate the key points discussed in the text. The next four chapters are case studies which provide considerable detail on quality costing in companies from the mechanical and electronics industries. To preserve anonymity the companies are not referred to by name.

Risk, Opportunity, Uncertainty and Other Random Models (Volume V in the Working Guides to Estimating and Forecasting series) goes part way to debunking the myth that research and development cost are somewhat random, as under certain conditions they can be observed to follow a pattern of behaviour referred to as a Norden-Rayleigh Curve, which unfortunately has to be truncated to stop the myth from becoming a reality! However, there is a practical alternative in relation to a particular form of PERT-Beta Curve. However, the major emphasis of this volume is the use of Monte Carlo Simulation as a general technique for narrowing down potential outcomes of multiple interacting variables or cost drivers. Perhaps the most common of these in the evaluation of Risk, Opportunity and Uncertainty. The trouble is that many Monte Carlo Simulation tools are 'black boxes' and too few estimators and forecasters really appreciate what is happening inside the 'black box'. This volume aims to resolve that and offers tips into things that might need to be considered to remove some of the uninformed random input that often creates a misinformed misconception of 'it must be right!' Monte Carlo Simulation can be used to model variable determine Critical Paths in a schedule, and is key to modelling Waiting Times and cues with random arisings. Supported by a wealth of figures and tables, this is a valuable resource for estimators, engineers, accountants, project risk specialists as well as students of cost engineering.

Best Fit Lines and Curves, and Some Mathe-Magical Transformations (Volume III of the Working Guides to Estimating & Forecasting series) concentrates on techniques for finding the Best Fit Line or Curve to some historical data allowing us to interpolate or extrapolate the implied relationship that will underpin our prediction. A range of simple 'Moving Measures' are suggested to smooth the underlying trend and quantify the degree of noise or scatter around that trend. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed and a simple way to offset the latent disadvantage of most Moving Measure Techniques is provided. Simple Linear Regression Analysis, a more formal numerical technique that calculates the line of best fit subject to defined 'goodness of fit' criteria. Microsoft Excel is used to demonstrate how to decide whether the line of best fit is a good fit, or just a solution in search of some data. These principles are then extended to cover multiple cost drivers, and how we can use them to quantify 3-Point Estimates. With a deft sleight of hand, certain commonly occurring families of non-linear relationships can be transformed mathe-magically into linear formats, allowing us to exploit the powers of Regression Analysis to find the Best Fit Curves. The concludes with an exploration of the ups and downs of seasonal data (Time Series Analysis). Supported by a wealth of figures and tables, this is a valuable resource for estimators, engineers, accountants, project risk specialists as well as students of cost engineering.

Probability, Statistics and Other Frightening Stuff (Volume II of the Working Guides to Estimating & Forecasting series) considers many of the commonly used Descriptive Statistics in the world of estimating and forecasting. It considers values that are representative of the 'middle ground' (Measures of Central Tendency), and the degree of data scatter (Measures of Dispersion and Shape) around the 'middle ground' values. A number of Probability Distributions and where they might be used are discussed, along with some fascinating and useful 'rules of thumb' or short-cut properties that estimators and forecasters can exploit in plying their trade. With the help of a 'Correlation Chicken', the concept of partial correlation is explained, including how the estimator or forecaster can exploit this in reflecting varying levels of independence and imperfect dependence between an output or predicted value (such as cost) and an input or predictor variable such as size. Under the guise of 'Tails of the unexpected' the book concludes with two chapters devoted to Hypothesis Testing (or knowing when to accept or reject the validity of an assumed estimating relationship), and a number of statistically-based tests to help the estimator to decide whether to include or exclude a data point as an 'outlier', one that appears not to be representative of that which the estimator is tasked to produce. This is a valuable resource for estimators, engineers, accountants, project risk specialists as well as students of cost engineering.

Developing Skills for the classroom and beyond: Fundamentals of Cost Accounting lets the student see the development of cost accounting tools and techniques as a natural response to decision making. Using a procedural approach, the material in the text is presented from the perspective of both the preparer of information and the user of the information. This allows both accounting majors and those students planning other careers to appreciate the issues from both sides.

Traditional accounting systems have become inadequate for today's increasingly competitive global manufacturing environment. They are too complex and too focused on past performance. As manufacturing techniques change and become less labor intensive, accounting methods must also evolve. Regardless of what you call it, Lean accounting is a management accounting system that should be part of every worker's daily activities. The Controller as Lean Leader: A Novel on Changing Behavior with a Lean Cost Management System delineates the differences between cost accounting and cost management. It uses a story format to present a compilation of experiences; some good, some bad, and some humorous. The story follows a fictional manufacturing entity embarking on a Lean change management journey for the second time-having failed at its first attempt at Lean implementation a few years earlier. As the story progresses, readers gain an understanding of what the company will do differently this time around to ensure it doesn't slip backward again as the transformation unfolds. Illustrates the various approaches to Lean implementation Explains Target Costing and describes how to use it to get your budget right the first time around Examines the concept of systems and the importance of defining values in your business Describes what the purpose of a Lean Human Resources (HR) system should be Introduces, with visuals, the little-known importance of the timing of the implementation and integration of the four integral parts of the Lean Cost Management System with the five Lean principles The main character, the Lean Controller, presents her ideas with visuals throughout the book. Discussions between the Lean controller and employees at various levels of the organization illustrate valuable lessons. The many faces of the Lean Controller as expressed through the many examples and stories provide you with the vision and tools to instill the desire to make a difference in workers across your entire organization. While there is no recipe to follow for a Lean change management transformation, the book provides invaluable tips and unveils three new principles to help ensure success in any endeavor.

Proper cost accounting and financial management are essential elements of any successful construction job, and therefore make up essential skills for construction project managers and project engineers. Many textbooks on the market focus on the theoretical principles of accounting and finance required for head office staff like the chief financial officer (CFO) of a construction firm. This book's unique practical approach focuses on the activities of the construction management team, including the project manager, superintendent, project engineer, and jobsite cost engineers and cost accountants. In short, this book provides a seamless connection between cost accounting and construction project management from the construction management practitioner's perspective. Following a complete accounting cycle, from the original estimate through cost controls to financial close-out, the book makes use of one commercial construction project case study throughout. It covers key topics like financial statements, ratios, cost control, earned value, equipment depreciation, cash flow, and pay requests. But unlike other texts, this book also covers additional financial responsibilities such as cost estimates, change orders, and project close-out. Also included are more advanced accounting and financial topics such as supply chain management, activity-based accounting, lean construction techniques, taxes, and the developer's pro forma. Each chapter contains review questions and applied exercises and the book is supplemented with an eResource with instructor manual, estimates and schedules, further cases and figures from the book. This textbook is ideal for use in all cost accounting and financial management classes on both undergraduate and graduate level construction management or construction engineering programs.

Written for students taking courses in building and surveying, 'Estimating for Builders and Surveyors' describes and explains the method used by the estimator to build up prices or rates for items described in the SMM7 format. Each chapter is a self-contained unit related to a particular element in the building. Worked examples throughout reflect both traditional and up-to-date technology. Written by an author team of academics and professional surveyors, this book continues to be an invaluable introduction to the subject of estimating.

* Written in line with The Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works to provide professional relevance
* Worked examples throughout ensure the student can practice the techniques described
* Comprehensive coverage of the trades gives the reader a complete picture

This practical guide to cost studies of buildings has been updated and revised throughout for the 6th edition. New developments in RICS New Rules of Measurement (NRM) are incorporated throughout the book, in addition to new material on e-business, the internet, social media, building information modelling, sustainability, building resilience and carbon estimating. This trusted and easy to use guide to the cost management role: Focuses on the importance of costs of constructing projects during the different phases of the construction process Features learning outcomes and self-assessment questions for each chapter Addresses the requirements of international readers From introductory data on the construction industry and the history of construction economics, to recommended methods for cost analysis and post-contract cost control, Cost Studies of Buildings is an ideal companion for anyone learning about cost management.

Cost-Benefit Analysis provides accessible, comprehensive, authoritative, and practical treatments of the protocols for assessing the relative efficiency of public policies. Its review of essential concepts from microeconomics, and its sophisticated treatment of important topics with minimal use of mathematics helps students from a variety of backgrounds build solid conceptual foundations. It provides thorough treatments of time discounting, dealing with contingent uncertainty using expected surpluses and option prices, taking account of parameter uncertainties using Monte Carlo simulation and other types of sensitivity analyses, revealed preference approaches, stated preference methods including contingent valuation, and other related methods. Updated to cover contemporary research, this edition is considerably reorganized to aid in student and practitioner understanding, and includes eight new cases to demonstrate the actual practice of cost-benefit analysis. Widely cited, it is recognized as an authoritative source on cost-benefit analysis. Illustrations, exhibits, chapter exercises, and case studies help students master concepts and develop craft skills.

Cost-Benefit Analysis provides accessible, comprehensive, authoritative, and practical treatments of the protocols for assessing the relative efficiency of public policies. Its review of essential concepts from microeconomics, and its sophisticated treatment of important topics with minimal use of mathematics helps students from a variety of backgrounds build solid conceptual foundations. It provides thorough treatments of time discounting, dealing with contingent uncertainty using expected surpluses and option prices, taking account of parameter uncertainties using Monte Carlo simulation and other types of sensitivity analyses, revealed preference approaches, stated preference methods including contingent valuation, and other related methods. Updated to cover contemporary research, this edition is considerably reorganized to aid in student and practitioner understanding, and includes eight new cases to demonstrate the actual practice of cost-benefit analysis. Widely cited, it is recognized as an authoritative source on cost-benefit analysis. Illustrations, exhibits, chapter exercises, and case studies help students master concepts and develop craft skills.

Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) awards are entry-level, core-skill focused qualifications from ACCA. They provide flexible options for students and employers, and as an ACCA Approved Content Provider, BPP Learning Media s suite of study tools will provide you with all the accurate and up-to-date material you need for exam success.

Take control of overhead, budgeting, and profitability with cost accounting Cost accounting is one of the most important skills in business, and its popularity as a course in undergraduate and graduate business and management programs speaks to its usefulness. But if you've ever felt intimidated by the subject's jargon or concepts, you can stop worrying. Cost accounting is for everyone! In Cost Accounting For Dummies, you'll be taken step-by-step through the basic and advanced topics found in a typical cost accounting class, from how to define costs and how to allocate them to products or services. You'll learn how to determine if a capital expenditure is worth it and how to design a budget model that forecasts changes in costs based on activity levels. Whether you're a student in your first cost accounting course or a professional trying to get a grip on your books, you'll benefit from: Simple methods to evaluate business risks and rewards Explanations of how to manage and control costs during periods of business change and pivots Descriptions of how to use cost accounting to price IT projects Cost Accounting For Dummies is the gold standard in getting a firm grasp on the challenging and rewarding world of cost accounting.

The bestselling Purchasing Chessboard (R) concept, used by hundreds of corporations worldwide to reduce costs and increase value with suppliers, is the topic of this successful professional book now published in its third edition. The 64 squares on the Purchasing Chessboard provide a wealth of methods that can be applied either individually or in combination. And because many of these methods are not customarily used by procurement, the Purchasing Chessboard is also the perfect tool for helping procurement professionals to think and act outside the box and find new solutions. A well tested concept that works across all industries and all categories in any given situation, it is little wonder that business leaders and procurement professionals alike are excited by, and enjoy strategizing around, the Purchasing Chessboard. It encourages greater rigor and creativity and the building of world class capabilities. The explosive growth in analytics and the rise in the number of specialists in procurement practice have taken the application of the Purchasing Chessboard to new levels. This third edition of the book includes a rich assortment of case examples to reflect the lessons learned across geographies and industries. Some of the chapters have also been updated to accurately reflect these trends.

Practical, easy-to-follow ABC guidelines for small and mid-sized businesses

Incorporating activity-based costing (ABC) concepts into your business without relying on the usual complex ABC jargon can be a daunting task–even for the most experienced accountant. In Activity-Based Costing: Making It Work for Small and Mid-Sized Companies, professional accountant Douglas Hicks shows you how to sharpen your competitive edge while bringing you the "total package" of cost information–not just the computational elements. Using an approach developed while solving problems for small and mid-sized companies, Hicks has created a reader-friendly, comprehensive narrative covering every aspect of the ABC industry, including step-by-step instructions for building a cost accumulation and distribution model for any size business. With examples taken from Fortune 1000 companies, readers will find a wealth of information on ABC features, including:

• The logic behind ABC and its cost flow-down steps
• How to get the maximum benefits from ABC for your small or mid-sized business
• Case studies on emerging cost flow-down structures
• The most appropriate ways to change to multiple costing rates and bases
• Using ABC to perform "what if" analyses
• The danger of measuring costs using generally accepted accounting principles
• Applying decision costing and long-term contracts to your business

If your company is looking to dramatically improve its current cost information systems, this book is a must-read. You can have that crucial competitive edge. Activity-Based Costing: Making It Work for Small and Mid-Sized Companies will show you how.

Praise for Project Management Accounting

"Let me start with what the Second Edition of Project Management Accounting is not....it is not an inch wide and a mile deep. Instead, it provides multiple lenses to anticipate both intended and unintended consequences through sound principles of Project Management and accounting as well as inquiry focused on both risks to the project and reputational capital. It should be on every decision makers bookshelf to pick up and remind them of their essential foundation when they face a major project or the risk of mental myopia." --Barry van Dyck, PhD, Recruiting and Admissions Director, EMBA, Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame

Acquire the accounting knowledge and skills to become a top-performing Project Management professional

Project Management accounting involves much more than just understanding how project income and expense impact the general ledger. To truly succeed in today's competitive business environment, project managers must also understand how to budget resources, determine ROI, and track costs and expenses for projects as well as become adept at strategy and executive decision making and portfolio management. With its focus on accounting, Project Management Accounting: Budgeting, Tracking, and Reporting Costs and Profitability, Second Edition is designed to enhance the business skills of project managers at all levels of experience.

Now in a fully updated second edition, Project Management Accounting clearly explains step-by-step how project expensing (for both internal projects and outside vendors) should be capitalized or expensed in order to keep the budget on track and improve profitability. The proficient author team of Callahan, Stetz, and Brooks culls their decades of experience to show readers how to achieve the greatest tax/cost savings by helping them determine what portion of the project can be capitalized.

This Second Edition of Project Management Accounting includes current case studies and sample checklists to help professionals hit the ground running by immediately applying concepts to their own business scenarios. Here, CFOs, controllers, project managers, and accounting managers will discover how to:

Understand risk assessment from an accounting and auditing perspectiv

Maximize project outcomes by leveraging accounting and financing tools and principles

Improve each project's profitability by understanding its costs and benefits

Analyze their business's financial information to choose the right project, every time

Apply proper accounting principles to a project

Develop a project budget based on a company's financial performance and needs

Project Management Accounting provides the knowledge and skills to become proficient in Project Management and maximize the profitability and ROI of any project.

In the concrete jungle, there are seasons of rain and plenty, followed by seasons of drought and scarcity. Whether or not we survive depends on how prepared we are for these changes, and how willing we are to evolve in order to remain relevant. Leaders who ignore the shifting seasons will soon find themselves and their firms fading into obscurity.

Whether we shy away from it or actively seek it out, change is never easy. In these rapidly changing times, surviving means stepping away from the herd and venturing out onto the road less traveled. It means sharpening your claws and taking a bird’s eye view of where your business is at, and learning and evolving during the times of plenty before the season of drought and hunger returns. This may mean taking down predators, it may mean diversifying or specializing, and it may even mean seeking out new hunting grounds. Whatever it is, the secret is never to lose hope.

Join us on an African safari as Gary Sturisky, a world-renowned transformation consultant, takes you on a journey through the vast open plains of the Serengeti and down the narrow corridors of the concrete jungle to uncover practical tools to help your company evolve into the CPA firm of the future.

Stop living from paycheck to paycheck. Achieve Financial Independence. Retire Early. Join the FIRE movement that’s igniting the world.

Everybody wants to scrape together enough money to escape the rat race and live their dreams. But very few people are willing to put in the effort and make the sacrifices required for this to happen.

Building wealth is not about buying expensive toys.

Nor is building wealth the same as making money. That’s like saying that having children is the same as going on a date.

And to extend that analogy, as far as salaries are concerned, it’s not the size that matters, it’s what you do with it.

Learn how you can save money every month, no matter who you are, or how much you earn.

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This is no get-rich-quick scheme. It won’t be easy. That’s why it’s called Hard Money.

Work while they sleep. Learn while they party. Save while they spend. Then live like they dream.

You have a very slim chance of winning the lottery. You have a better chance of building wealth slowly. If you have the right attitude.

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"Cost Accounting for Managerial Planning, Decision Making and Control" emphasizes the analysis and evaluation of cost accounting information for managerial planning, control, and decision-making. Our goal is to help students (future managers) understand how cost accounting information adds value to an organization in a highly competitive business environment. The philosophy underlying the development of this book is that providing cost accounting information is primarily a logical process, rather than a procedural one. It is most important that students first understand the basic concepts and objectives, and then gain some experience in applying these concepts in different environments. Through this approach, students will be better equipped to deal with the unforeseen situations they will encounter in professional practice or on professional examinations. This philosophy is evident in each chapter, as basic concepts are presented and then illustrated with examples and a wide variety of homework problems.
This text is intended for use in undergraduate and graduate courses in cost accounting at both the basic and advanced levels. It provides a complete and concise coverage of topics commonly included in a basic course, with an in-depth coverage of selected topics more appropriate for an advanced course in cost accounting. Modular coverage of these topics permits the instructor to adapt the text to his or her own preferences for course content. Plus, an extremely clear writing style contributes to the ease with which students will comprehend the contents of each chapter. By emphasizing the differing uses for cost accounting information, our intent is to make the student an intelligent provider, user, and interpreter of this information.
Woody M. Liao is a Professor of Accounting at University of California - Riverside. He received his Ph.D. in Accounting from University of Florida, and his MBA from Illinois State University. Dr. Liao is a CPA and CMA. He has been invited and served as speaker and visiting scholar at University of Hawaii, Naval Postgraduate School, National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Dr. Liao has published numerous papers in leading accounting journals, and was named a Prolific Author in Accounting in 2002.
Andrew Schiff, CPA, is a Professor of Accounting in the College of Business and Economics at Towson University. He received his M.S. in Accounting from SUNY at Albany, and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. His previous professional experience includes serving as an audit manager, assistant controller and controller in various organizations. Dr. Schiff has published in numerous academic and professional journals, and has coauthored or edited two other textbooks.
Hsihui Chang is the KPMG Professor and Department Head of Accounting in the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University. He obtained his Bachelor degree from the National Changhua University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Chang has published more than 60 articles in leading academic journals, and has received numerous awards for his research articles and one award for his outstanding teaching. He is professionally qualified as a CPA and a CMA, and has served as a consultant to several for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Stacy Kline, MBA, CPA has been a Clinical Associate Professor of Accounting at Drexel University for over fifteen years. Prior to joining the faculty at Drexel, she earned her MBA from Temple University and worked in public accounting for over nine years. Professor Kline has published articles, authored CPE courses and has served as a reviewer for a number of other CPE courses."