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ACCA budgeting notes
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ACCA notes for the topic budgeting
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The purposes of budgetingA budget is a quantitative expression of a plan of action prepared in advance of the period to which it relates.
earned in future periods.
Budgets set out the costs and revenues that are expected to be incurred or Most organisations prepare budgets
for the business as a whole. The following budgets may also be prepared by organisations:
o Departmental budgets.
o Functional budgets for sales, production, expenditure and so on.
o Statements of profit or loss and Statements of financial position in order to determine the expected
future profits.
o Cash budgets in order to determine future cash flows.
Purposes of budgeting
The main aims of budgeting are:
o Planning for the future - in line with the objectives of the organisation.
o Controlling costs - by comparing the plan or the budget with the actual results and investigating
significant differences between the two.
o Co-ordination of the different activities of the business by ensuring that managers are working towards
the same common goal (as stated in the budget).
Communication - budgets communicate the targets of the organisation to individual managers.
Budgeting
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### The Purposes of Budgeting
A budget is a numerical representation of a plan that outlines expected actions, prepared in advance for a
specific future period. It outlines anticipated costs and revenues for upcoming periods. Most organizations
prepare budgets for the entire business, but they may also create more specific budgets, such as:
- Departmental budgets.
- Functional budgets for areas like sales, production, and expenses.
- Profit and loss statements, as well as financial position statements, to estimate future profits.
- Cash budgets to forecast future cash flow.
### Main Purposes of Budgeting
The primary objectives of budgeting are to:
- **Plan for the future**: Align future plans with the organization's goals.
- **Control costs**: Compare actual results with the budget, and investigate any significant discrepancies.
- **Coordinate activities**: Ensure that different departments and functions are working towards the same overall
objectives, as outlined in the budget.
- **Communicate goals**: Budgets help communicate the organization’s targets to individual managers.
- **Motivate staff**: Budgets can motivate managers to meet or exceed targets, and bonuses are often tied to
beating budget expectations. However, poorly set budgets can also demotivate staff.
- **Evaluate performance**: Managers are often assessed based on how their performance compares with the
budget.
- **Authorize spending**: Budgets serve as a form of approval for expenditures.
In management accounting, the budgeting process is a key component of overall planning.
### Behavioral Aspects of Budgeting
For budgets to be effective, the human factor must be considered—how the system affects people and how
people influence the system. Poor performance and financial results are often due to how a control system is
implemented, rather than the system itself.
Commitment to the budgeting system is essential at all levels of the organization, from senior management down
to operational staff. Budgets can greatly influence managerial behavior, as most managerial decisions have
financial consequences, which are reflected in the comparison between budgeted and actual outcomes. This
comprehensive nature of budgets is one of their key advantages. However, if employees lack confidence in the
budgeting process, it will likely be ineffective as a control mechanism. One common reason for unmet objectives
is when those responsible for operating within the budget are not fully committed to it.
### Participative Budgeting
#### Top-Down Approach
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