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What is the difference between Financial Accounting & Cost Accounting?

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Question added by kamran khalid , Head Of Finance , Pace College
Date Posted: 2016/10/20
عبد الرحمن ابراهيم محمد العمايره
by عبد الرحمن ابراهيم محمد العمايره , معلم , وزارة التربية والتعليم

The relationship between cost accounting and financial accounting

 

Although there is considerable overlap between cost accounting and management accounting and the adoption of each and every one of them at Wal other part activities but in general, the main objective of cost accounting is a measure of the cost of production, which occurred in the previous period in order to determine selling and measuring the profit margin rates in addition to evaluating stocks last term . But this data is limited in order to assist the administration in planning, control and decision-making and this Matqqh management accounting through the data and information provided by senior management, which is based in most cases to the data provided by cost accounting. Also, management accounting concerned with future events, and this became tangible when you see the evolution system (ABM) and Honzam administration on the basis of the activities as well as a system (ABB) system budgets on the basis of activities.

Rules costing system design

1. cost units: a means by which to measure the different units of the cost depending on the nature of the activity is expressed in costs, whether productive activity Aonchat

There is a service units number, height, weight, area, volume, time, and this difference is due to the reasons are:

A-difference in the nature of the services provided.

(B) the multiplicity of products offered to consumers.

(C) the nature of Alamlyatalantegeh, marketing and professional.

As for the choice of unit costs there are controls governing the choice of which of them technical and practical because the absolute determination of these units will lead to inaccurate results and thus improper distribution expenses, the choice of

Unit cost is too small will lead to do big calculations and Baltalisov benefits envisaged to be less than the benefit costs, but that the selection of units very large cost will lead to rounding in the extraction results

 

2. Costs centers: know the simplest forms as the youngest part of the activity or area of ​​responsibility, which accumulate faithful costs may be the place people as is the case in the student division or department or machines and other centers and integrated accounting system identified costs centers centers of production and service centers production and Mrakzaltsuiqih centers management and financing

Centers capitalist operations. The importance of identifying cost centers will enable to obtain cost figures accurately and help in the preparation of planning budgets can find a sound basis for allocation of expenses and achieving efficiency in the control of the project activity.

 

3. The cost elements: (cost items) is in the materials, wages, and expenses. Unified by the accounting system it has been dubbed the name uses elements.

 

4. Cost period: The time limit on the basis of costs and assembly for the purpose of Qils the cost of the product or service cost may be daily, weekly, monthly or semi-annual or annual depending on the nature of the activity.

 

5. Tgariralamserven and observers: be very short periods of time (daily, monthly)

And be quarterly rather than report the raw materials used in production, wages of workers, Tgariraelloukt Ordinary and Extraordinary lost.

 

There was special reports are periodic reports as reports of this activity was commissioned, the control of current activity reports, statistical reports.

There are special reports exceptional emergency Ktaqariran production stopped Mphajy.taqarir for unusual information, for example information on the storage material incorrectly or committees procurement problems, reports Storekeepers, reports replace the production line and these reports are very important because it addresses an extraordinary things and not routine.

Wilfredo Quito
by Wilfredo Quito , Accounting Manager , DDC LAND INC.

 

Thanks for Invitation:

 Difference between COST and FINANCIAL Accounting

 Cost Accounting

It is the process of recording, analyzing and classifying of expenditure for the

purpose of product / departmental costing to assist cost control. 

Financial Accounting

 The branch of accounting concerned with classifying, measuring, and recording the transactions of a business. At the end of a period, usually a year but sometimes less, a profit and loss account and a balance sheet are prepared to show the performance and position of the business. Financial accounting is primarily concerned with providing a true and Financial Accounting view of the activities of a business to parties external to it. To ensure that this is done correctly considerable

 Major Differences:

 Principal objective

 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING - Stewardship of business for benefit of  shareholders

 COST ACCOUNTING – seek to improve economy Users of accounting information

 Cost accounting – provision of information to managers to help them in decision-making, planning and control.

 Financial accounting – provision of information to external users outside the business.

 Report recipients:

 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING – External/outsiders namely the shareholders and government (tax)

 COST ACCOUNTING – internal parties like directors and company managers Outputs

 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING - Summary (usually annual) -profit and loss

 

Abdullatif Mohamed
by Abdullatif Mohamed , Senior Accountant , Olaat Development

cost accounting simply measures the unit cost of producing financial accounting measure the all company work results.

Nazmul Islam CMA
by Nazmul Islam CMA , Manager , Robi Axiatal Ltd.

The main function & objective of financial accounting is to prepare financial statements so internal & external stakeholders can have access to the entity's financial position. On the other hand cost accounting provides information to the management regarding the product costing , profitability analysis, controlling overheads so that decision for inclusion or exclusion of products can made.

محمد داود محمد محسن
by محمد داود محمد محسن , رئيس قسم مالي / رئيس قسم تدقيق داخلي / رئيس قسم حسابات / رئيس قسم محاسبة تكاليف , امانة عمان الكبرى

Financial accounting is accounting concerned with the financial transactions of the entity any recording financial transactions of the entity, analyze, interpret, summarize and display the results on who is interested It aims to find out the rights and obligations and financial position of the entity and the result of the profit and loss and financial accounting aims to recognize the result of the activity established a total manner that does not take care of the details of production expenses and administration expenses

 

The cost accounting are concerned with cost analysis of Universal materials, wages and expenses of the other elements in order to determine and find out the cost of the product and thus determine the selling price

 You can  open an account for each type of goods in quantities and not the financial terms

Such as the expense of raw materials and goods under the operating expense and the expense of finished goods made   

manseer muhammed ali
by manseer muhammed ali , Accountant General , Royal Lighting L.L.C & Royal Furnishing LLC

The Differences are as follows 

Audience. Financial accounting involves the preparation of a standard set of reports for an outside audience, which may include investors, creditors, credit rating agencies, and regulatory agencies. Cost accounting involves the preparation of a broad range of reports that management needs to run a business.

Format. The reports prepared under financial accounting are highly specific in their format and content, as mandated by either generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards. Cost accounting involves creating reports that can be in any format specified by management, with the intention of including only that information pertinent to a specific decision or situation.

Level of detail. Financial accounting primarily focuses on reporting the results and financial position of an entire business entity. Cost accounting usually results in reports at a much higher level of detail within the company, such as for individual products, product lines, geographical areas, customers, or subsidiaries.

Product costs. Cost accounting compiles the cost of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods inventory, while financial accounting incorporates this information into its financial reports (primarily into the balance sheet).

Regulatory framework. The structure of financial accounting reports are tightly governed by either generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards. There is no regulatory framework governing cost accounting reports.

Report content. A financial report contains an aggregation of the financial information recorded through the accounting system. The information in a cost accounting report can contain both financial information and operational information. The operational information can come from a variety of sources that are not under the direct control of the accounting department.

Report timing. Financial accounting personnel issue reports only at the end of a reporting period. Cost accounting staff may issue reports at any time and with any degree of frequency, depending upon management's need for the information.

Time horizon. Financial accounting is only concerned with reporting the results of reporting periods that have already been completed. Cost accounting does this too, but also can be involved in a variety of projections for future periods.

Ahmed Mostafa
by Ahmed Mostafa , Manager, Forensics , KPMG ME

The financial accounting is to record and report the financial events , and the cost accounting is to specify and measure the product cost

Anil Lalwani
by Anil Lalwani , Chief Accountant , Al Ahli Hospital

Many Thanks for invitation:

Below is answer:

  • Meaning: Cost Accounting is an accounting system, through which an organization keeps the track of various costs incurred in the business in production activities. Financial Accounting is an accounting system that captures the records of financial information about the business to show the correct financial position of the company at a particular date.                
  • Information type: Cost Accounting Records the information related to material, labor and overhead, which are used in the production process. Financial Accounting Records the information which are in monetary terms.
  • Which type of cost is used for recording: Under Cost Accounting Both historical and pre-determined cost, Under Financial Accounting, Only historical cost.
  • Users: Information provided by the cost accounting is used only by the internal management of the organization like employees, directors, managers, supervisors etc.Users of information provided by the financial accounting are internal and external parties like creditors, shareholders, customers etc.
  • Valuation of Stock: Under Cost Accounting At cost. Under Financial Accounting Cost or Net Realizable Value, whichever is less.
  • Mandatory: For Cost Accounting No, except for manufacturing firms it is mandatory. For Financial Accounting Yes for all firms.
  • Time of Reporting: Details provided by cost accounting are frequently prepared and reported to the management. Financial statements are reported at the end of the accounting period, which is normally1 year.
  • Profit Analysis: Under Cost Accounting Generally, the profit is analyzed for a particular product, job, batch or process. Under Financial Accounting Income, expenditure and profit are analyzed together for a particular period of the whole entity.
  • Purpose: Cost Accounting- Reducing and controlling costs. Financial Accounting-Keeping complete record of the financial transactions.
  • Forecasting: Cost Accounting-Forecasting is possible through budgeting techniques. Financial Accounting-Forecasting is not at all possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Frank Mwansa
by Frank Mwansa , ACCOUNTING LECTURER , FREELANCER

Thanks for invitation 

Financial accounting is concerned with the provision of information to external parties outside the organization while management accounting is concerned with the provision of information to people within the organization to help them make better decisions and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing operations.. Financial  accounting reports describe the whole of the business while cost accounting focuses on small parts of the organization for example the cost and profitability of products,services, customers and activities. Information measures the economic performance of decentralized operating units, such as divisions and departments. In sort management accounting could be called internal accounting and financial accounting could be called external accounting.

Mohamed Azmy
by Mohamed Azmy , Regional Accounting Manager , YAS Holding

  • Cost accounting is a process of collecting, recording, classifying, analyzing, summarizing, allocating and evaluating various alternative courses of action & control of costs. Its goal is to advise the management on the most appropriate course of action based on the cost efficiency and capability.
  • Financial accounting is the field of accounting concerned with the summary, analysis and reporting of financial transactions pertaining to a business. This involves the preparation of financial statements available for public consumption. Stockholderssuppliersbanks, employees, government agencies, business owners, and other stakeholders are examples of people interested in receiving such information for decision making purposes.

Saifullah Saifi
by Saifullah Saifi , Accountant , United Brothers Trader

Point of Differences

Financial Accounting

Cost Accounting

Meaning

Recoding of transactions is part of financial accounting. We make financial statements through these transactions. With the help of financial statements, we analyze the profitability and financial position of a company.

Cost accounting is used to calculate cost of the product and also helpful in controlling cost. In cost accounting, we study about variable costs, fixed costs, semi-fixed costs, overheads and capital cost.

Purpose

Purpose of the financial statement is to show correct financial position of the organization.

To calculate cost of each unit of product on the basis of which we can take accurate decisions.

Recording

Estimation in recording of financial transactions is not used. It is based on actual transactions only.

In cost accounting, we book actual transactions and compare it with the estimation. Hence costing is based on the estimation of cost as well as on the recording of actual transactions.

Controlling

Correctness of transaction is important without taking care of cost control.

Cost accounting done with the purpose of control over cost with the help of costing tools like standard costing and budgetary control.

Period

Period of reporting of financial accounting is at the end of financial year.

Reporting under cost accounting is done as per the requirement of management or as-and-when-required basis.

Reporting

In financial accounting, costs are recorded broadly.

In cost accounting, minute reporting of cost is done per-unit wise.

Fixation of Selling Price

Fixation of selling price is not an objective of financial accounting.

Cost accounting provides sufficient information, which is helpful in determining selling price.

Relative Efficiency

Relative efficiency of workers, plant, and machinery cannot be determined under it.

Valuable information about efficiency is provided by cost accountant.

Valuation of Inventory

Valuation basis is ‘cost or market price whichever is less’

Cost accounting always considers the cost price of inventories.

Process

Journal entries, ledger accounts, trial balance, and financial statements

Cost of sale of product(s), addition of margin and determination of selling price of the product.

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