Cost accounting is very useful in companies. However, not all managers are familiar with it and understand why it is so important in their business operations. Today, we will discuss the subject with you. In the following sections, we will explain what cost accounting is all about. We will also briefly discuss some of its benefits.
Cost accounting: an overview
Cost accounting is a specific branch of general accounting. It has a sort of twofold objective. First, it aims to identify, calculate, classify and record the cost of a company's activities in the production and distribution of goods and services. At the same time, it also aims to forecast operating expenses and income, to record their occurrence and to explain the resulting differences.
Who is it intended for?
Cost accounting covers all areas where cost analyses must be carried out. As such, it applies to all businesses and organizations, regardless of the nature of their operations.
What are the advantages of cost accounting?
There are many advantages to cost accounting. First, it determines the cost of a good or service, including the expenses incurred in the production. These expenses may include material, labour and other direct or indirect expenses.
Another advantage of cost accounting is that it allows you to analyze the cost of each activity within a company. It therefore makes it possible to separate all costs and classify them into different categories with the goal of minimizing or optimizing the expenses related to the production of a good or service.
It is also a valuable decision-making tool. Once the costs have been accumulated, classified and analyzed, a manager only has to add the percentage of profit margin he wants to determine the selling price of the specific service or good, based on the profit he wants to make from the transaction.
Cost accounting: essential for any company
As you can see, cost accounting plays a crucial role in companies. While it identifies, calculates, classifies and records the cost of activities involved in the production and distribution of goods and services, it also provides critical assistance to management, who can then make better business decisions.
To find out more about this subject or to have your company's taxes or accounting handled by a firm that specializes in the area, contact T2inc.
Frédéric Roy-Gobeil
CPA, M. TAX
As President of T2inc.ca and an entrepreneur at heart, I have founded many start-ups such as delve Labs and T2inc.ca. A former tax specialist at Ernst & Young, I am also a member of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés CPA and have a master's degree in taxation from the Université de Sherbrooke. With a passion for the world of entrepreneurship and the growth mindset, I have authored numerous articles and videos on the industry and the business world, as well as on accounting, taxation, financial statements and financial independence.
