Course Outline
Introduction to Cost Centers and Fundamentals of Costing
- The purpose and structural design of cost centers
- Cost classification: fixed, variable, direct, and indirect
- Mapping organizational units to specific cost centers
Establishing and Configuring Cost Centers
- Defining new cost centers and cost center groups
- Assigning responsibilities, hierarchies, and control parameters
- Maintaining master data and managing lifecycle operations
Identifying Cost Drivers and Allocation Procedures
- Selecting and defining appropriate cost drivers
- Determining allocation methods and frequencies
- Maintaining allocation rules and scheduling
Integrating Machine and Labour Hours
- Defining machine hours and operator labour hours
- Capturing runtime metrics and operational logs
- Integrating hours with cost centers for precise cost absorption
Bills of Materials (BOM) and Component Costing
- BOM structures and principles of cost rollup
- Managing multi-level BOMs and phantom assemblies
- Analising component substitution and its impact on costs
Standard Costing, Variances, and Reconciliation
- Establishing standard costs and managing updates
- Recording and analyzing material and overhead variances
- Conducting period-end reconciliation and implementing corrective actions
Activity-Based Costing and Advanced Allocation Methods
- Designing activity pools and assigning costs
- Calculating activity rates and unit costs
- Comparing Activity-Based Costing with traditional allocation approaches
Absorption Costing and Cost Aggregation
- Absorbing machine hours, labour hours, and overheads into product costs
- Performing end-to-end costing for finished goods and services
- Simulating cost scenarios and conducting what-if analyses
Controls, Auditability, and Compliance
- Implementing access controls and change governance
- Maintaining audit trails for cost adjustments and revaluations
- Addressing regulatory and reporting requirements
Performance Optimization and Cost Reduction Strategies
- Identifying high-impact cost drivers and hotspots
- Implementing process improvements and cost-to-serve analysis
- Continuous monitoring and KPI design for cost centers
Conclusion and Recommended Next Steps
Requirements
- A solid understanding of managerial accounting principles
- Familiarity with bills of materials and production processes
- Operational experience with ERP or financial systems
Target Audience
- Cost accountants and financial analysts
- Specialists in product costing and supply chain management
- ERP functional consultants and system integrators
Testimonials (4)
How to manage business financials
surprise mtileni - Hatima Holdings (Pty) ltd
Course - Learning Xero
Good communication, open for discussion, kept it interesting and engaging
Ahmet Keyman - Keytrade AG
Course - Management Accounting and Finance for Non-Finance Professionals
Experience of the trainer and his way of conveying the content
Roggli Marc - Bechtle Schweiz AG
Course - FinOps
The trainer did not leave a single minute unexploited! He was up a storm throughout every lesson and provided much material for whatever he dealt with.
