ACCA PM
Performance Management
For exams in September 2022, December 2022,
March 2023 and June 2023
1
Syllabus
A
Information, technologies and systems for
organisational performance
B
Specialist cost and management accounting
techniques
C
Decision-making techniques
D
Budgeting and control
E
Performance measurement and control
F
Employability and technology skills
The PM specimen exam and past exams can be found on ACCA's website.
2
Main capabilities
On successful completion of this exam, candidates should be able to:
A
Identify and discuss the information, systems and developments in
technology required for organisations to manage and measure
performance.
B
Explain and apply cost and management accounting techniques.
C
Select and appropriately apply decision-making techniques to facilitate
business decisions and promote efficient and effective use of scarce
business resources, appreciating the risks and uncertainty inherent in
business and controlling those risks.
D
Identify and apply appropriate budgeting techniques, including
quantitative techniques, and methods for planning and control and use
standard costing systems to measure and control business
performance and to identify remedial action.
3
Main capabilities
On successful completion of this exam, candidates should be able to:
E
Assess the performance of an organisation from both a financial and
non-financial viewpoint, appreciating the problems of controlling
divisionalised businesses and the importance of allowing for external
aspects.
F
Demonstrate required employability and technology skills
4
The syllabus
A
Information, technologies and systems for organisational
performance
1. Managing information 2. Sources of information 3. Information
systems and data analytics
Specialist cost and management accounting techniques
B
1. Activity-based costing 2. Target costing 3. Life-cycle costing 4.
Throughput accounting 5. Environmental accounting
Decision-making techniques
C
1. Relevant cost analysis 2. Cost volume profit analysis (CVP) 3.
Limiting factors 4. Pricing decisions 5. Make-or-buy and other shortterm decisions 6. Dealing with risk and uncertainty in decisionmaking
5
The syllabus
Budgeting and control
D
1. Budgetary systems and types of budget 2. Quantitative
techniques 3. Standard costing 4. Material mix and yield variances
5. Sales mix and quantity variances 6. Planning and operational
variances 7. Performance analysis
Performance measurement and control
E
1. Performance analysis in private sector organisations 2. Divisional
performance and transfer pricing 3. Performance analysis in not-forprofit organisations and the public sector 4. External considerations
and the impact on performance
6
The syllabus
Employability and technology skills
F
1. Use computer technology to efficiently access and manipulate
relevant information. 2. Work on relevant response options, using
available functions and technology, as would be required in the
workplace. 3. Navigate windows and computer screens to create
and amend responses to exam requirements, using the appropriate
tools. 4. Present data and information effectively, using the
appropriate tools.
7
Approach to examining the syllabus
The syllabus is assessed by a three-hour computer-based examination
in 3 sections A, B and C. Prior to the start of the exam candidates are
given an extra 10 minutes to read the exam instructions.
All questions are compulsory.
The exam will contain both computational and discursive elements.
Candidates are provided with a formulae sheet.
8
Exam format
Section
A
B
C
Marks
30
30
40
Question Type
CBE: 15 objective test (OT) questions
3  10 mark questions which relate to 3
separate scenarios.
(15 objective test questions)
2  20-mark questions on Decision-making
techniques (C), Budgeting and control (D) or
Performance measurement and control (E).
They may also include requirements related
to the information systems area of the
syllabus.
9