Cost Analysis, Control and Optimization

Why Attend

Cost management is an important topic in accounting and finance as its effects stretch to all departments and impact the financial position of the organization. Cost management covers several cost concepts such as job and batch orders and absorption costing. The pinnacle of any cost management training is activity-based costing which helps in making better decisions. Among these decisions are whether to drop or keep a product, make or buy, and replace or keep a piece of equipment. Moreover, cost management includes allocating costs of service departments internally. Also covered in this course are cost estimations and transfer pricing. The course will close with evaluating performance and a brief discussion on the balanced scorecard and managing scarce resources.

Course Methodology

This course aims at making this advanced subject easier for participants to understand by covering the material using several examples and exercises. In addition, there will be explanations from the subject matter expert and a sharing of knowledge between participants.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Discover the importance of analyzing and managing costs
  • Develop important tools for planning and decision making
  • Explain Activity-Based Costing (ABC) and Activity-Based Management (ABM)
  • Estimate costs and allocate them properly
  • Evaluate and manage performance through strategic cost management

Target Audience

Financial managers or directors, accountants, financial assistants, budget accountants, analysts, budget and planning managers and coordinators, operations managers, facilities managers and professionals interested in cost management.

Target Competencies

  • Distinguishing relevant costs
  • Analyzing costs
  • Allocating costs
  • Calculating product costs using different methods
  • Assessing value-adding costs
  • Choosing between cost alternatives
  • Advising management to buy or manufacture
  • Evaluating performance

Location:

South Africa

Training Dates:

Each course starts every Monday of each week. Please book your training on a date that is a Monday.

Course Duration:

Unit Standard:

NQF Level:

Number of Credits:


Course Fees

Note: Please fill in the online application form on the left or bottom if this page to receive a quotation with detailed pricing from AATICD.

How to Apply:

To Apply Simply Fill in the Online Enquiries / Applications form on the Right Sidebar or Bottom of this website https://www.aaticd.co.za

NB:

When filling the online application form; please take note of your desired Training Month, Duration in Weeks and Training Session. This will give us the exact dates you will be attending your classes.

Also note that Tuition Fees must be paid upfront on or before training start date. This is to ensure that all resources are made availabe for you before you start. You will not be allowed into training if fees are not paid and verified.

Also note that Tuition Fees Cancellations must be made 14 business working days before the starting date of training. This will allow us to do a 50% refund of the total amount paid. If cancellations are made thereafter note that no refund will be made to delegates.

Tuition Fees include teas and lunch as well as either a laptop or tablet which a delegate will take home free of charge.

Tuition Fee DOES NOT include Accommodation, Dinners and other Extra Curricular Activities or Incidentals. Delegates are expected to fund this on their own. AATICD will not be held accountable for any incidents to delegates.

In-House Trainings are also available for 3 or more delegates for any duration. Please consult with our Administration for such In-House training bookings.


Course Outline

  • Strategic need for analyzing and managing costs
    • Definition of cost management
    • Dimensions of cost management
    • Product costing systems: concepts and design issues
    • Cost behavior, types, and hierarchy
    • Cost accumulation job shop
    • Batch production operations
    • Variable versus absorption costing
  • Cost management decisions
    • Decision-making process
    • Identifying relevant costs
    • Evaluating alternatives
    • Outsourcing decisions: make or buy
    • Add or drop product or business line
    • Replacing equipment
    • Special order pricing decisions
  • Activity-based management
    • ABC systems
    • Analyzing value-added versus non-value-added activities
    • Activity-based management
    • Managing customer profitability
    • Managing quality and time to create value
  • Cost estimation and transfer pricing
    • Cost estimation techniques
      • Identifying and choosing a cost driver
      • Simple regression analysis
      • Multiple regression analysis
      • High-low method
      • Applications in Microsoft Excel
    • Allocating costs of support departments
      • Direct method
      • Step method
      • Reciprocal method
    • Inter-group transfer pricing issues
  • Evaluating and managing performance
    • Cost, volume, profit analysis
    • Breakeven point
    • The breakeven point for multiple products
    • Target income
    • Operating leverage
    • Margin of safety
    • Managing scarce resources
    • Flexible budget
    • Activity-based budgeting
    • Strategy, balanced scorecards, and performance measurement