Variance reporting is a financial and management accounting process used to analyze the differences between budgeted or expected figures and actual performance results.
It involves comparing the planned or budgeted financial data (such as revenues, expenses, or other key performance metrics) with the actual figures that have been realized during a specific period, such as a month, quarter, or year. The purpose of variance reporting is to understand and explain why these differences, or variances, have occurred.
Key aspects of variance reporting include:
Budget or Target Figures: This is the baseline against which actual performance is compared. These figures can be derived from annual budgets, forecasts, or other financial plans.
Actual Results: These are the real financial results achieved during the reporting period, often obtained from accounting records and financial statements.
Variance Calculation: Variance is calculated by subtracting the actual results from the budgeted or target figures. The result can be positive (favorable) or negative (unfavorable), depending on whether the actual figures exceeded or fell short of the budgeted amounts.
Analysis and Explanation: Once variances are calculated, the next step is to analyze and explain why these differences occurred. This involves identifying the underlying causes, whether they are due to changes in market conditions, internal operational factors, or other influences.
Action and Decision-Making: The insights gained from variance reporting can inform decision-making and help management take corrective actions. If a variance is unfavorable, steps may be taken to address the issues that contributed to it, while favorable variances can highlight areas of strength and efficiency.
Common types of variances include sales variances, cost variances, profit variances, and operational variances. Variance reporting is an essential tool for financial control, performance evaluation, and management decision-making. It helps organizations monitor their financial health, identify trends and patterns, and make adjustments to their strategies and operations as necessary.
Types of variance reporting
There are several types of variance reporting, each focusing on different aspects of an organization's financial performance. The key types of variance reporting include:
Revenue Variance: This type of variance report compares actual revenue earned with the budgeted or expected revenue. Positive revenue variances indicate that actual revenue exceeds the budget, while negative variances indicate a shortfall in revenue.
Cost Variance: Cost variance reporting assesses the differences between actual costs and budgeted costs. Positive cost variances suggest cost savings, while negative variances indicate cost overruns.
Profit Variance: Profit variance reports examine the variance between actual profit (or net income) and the budgeted profit. Positive profit variances mean that the organization has generated more profit than expected, while negative variances indicate a lower-than-expected profit.
Material Variance: This type of variance reporting is common in manufacturing and production industries. It compares the actual costs and usage of materials (e.g., raw materials or components) with the budgeted amounts. Positive material variances often result from cost savings or efficient material usage, while negative variances suggest inefficiency or increased costs.
Labor Variance: Labor variance reports assess the differences between actual labor costs and budgeted labor costs. These variances can be positive if labor costs are lower than expected or negative if labor costs exceed the budget.
Overhead Variance: Overhead variance reporting looks at the differences between actual overhead costs and the budgeted overhead costs. Overhead includes indirect costs like rent, utilities, and administrative expenses. Positive overhead variances may indicate cost savings, while negative variances suggest increased overhead expenses.
Sales Variance: Sales variance reports compare actual sales revenue with budgeted sales revenue. Positive sales variances result from higher-than-expected sales, while negative variances occur when sales fall short of the budget.
Volume Variance: Volume variance specifically looks at the impact of changes in sales or production volume on financial performance. It separates the effects of changes in volume from other factors affecting revenues and costs.
Price Variance: Price variance analysis assesses the impact of changes in product or service prices on financial performance. It separates the influence of pricing changes from other factors affecting revenues and costs.
Efficiency Variance: Efficiency variance reports focus on operational efficiency and examine the differences between the actual input (e.g., labor hours or machine hours) and the budgeted input required for production. Positive efficiency variances indicate that production was more efficient than expected, while negative variances suggest inefficiency.
Mix Variance: Mix variance analysis is common in industries with multiple product lines. It compares the actual mix of products sold or produced with the budgeted mix and assesses the impact of this mix on financial performance.
Market Variance: Market variance reporting looks at the influence of market conditions and external factors on performance. It assesses how changes in market demand, competition, or economic conditions impact financial results.
Variance reporting is a valuable tool for organizations to monitor and control their financial performance, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions based on the analysis of variances. The specific types of variance reporting used can vary depending on the nature of the business and its key performance metrics.
Steps to creation of a budget variance report
Creating a budget variance report involves comparing the budgeted or planned financial figures with the actual results to understand the differences and provide insights into financial performance. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a budget variance report:
Define the Scope: Determine the specific elements of your budget that you want to analyze. This could include revenue, expenses, profit, specific cost categories, or other financial metrics.
Gather Data: Collect the actual financial data for the period you want to report on. This includes the actual revenues, expenses, and other relevant figures. Make sure the data is accurate and complete.
Calculate Variance: Calculate the variances by subtracting the actual figures from the budgeted figures. The formula for variance is: Variance = Actual Amount - Budgeted Amount It's important to note whether the variance is favorable (positive) or unfavorable (negative).
Categorize Variance Types: Group the variances into categories based on your analysis. Common categories include revenue variances, cost variances, profit variances, and specific expense variances. This step helps in identifying the areas where the variances occurred.
Analyze the Variances: Investigate the reasons behind the variances. Ask questions such as:
Why did this variance occur?
Was it due to external factors (e.g., market conditions) or internal factors (e.g., operational inefficiencies)?
Are there any specific events or changes that contributed to the variance?
Create a Variance Report: Prepare a structured report that presents the variance data and your analysis. The report can include tables, charts, and narrative explanations. Use clear headings and labels to make the report easy to understand.
Highlight Key Findings: Emphasize the most significant variances and their impact on the organization's financial performance. You might want to focus on both favorable and unfavorable variances, as they provide insights into areas of strength and areas that need improvement.
Identify Action Steps: If you find unfavorable variances, propose action steps to address the issues that caused them. Likewise, for favorable variances, consider how to leverage strengths or continue efficient practices.
Share the Report: Distribute the budget variance report to relevant stakeholders within your organization, such as department heads, finance teams, and senior management. Ensure that they understand the report and its implications.
Monitor Progress: Regularly update the budget variance report to track progress in addressing variances and achieving budgetary goals. Use it as a tool for ongoing performance management.
Adjust the Budget: If necessary, revise the budget to reflect the lessons learned from the variance analysis. Budget adjustments should be based on the insights gained from the report.
Continuous Improvement: Use the insights gained from variance reporting to implement continuous improvement initiatives. This may involve process changes, cost-saving measures, revenue-enhancing strategies, and more.
Creating and analyzing a budget variance report is a valuable practice for financial control and decision-making. It helps organizations stay on top of their financial performance and make data-driven adjustments to ensure financial goals are met.
