West Virginia University
Acct 431 – Cost Management
Fall 2009 Syllabus
This document is subject to revision, either verbally, written, or electronically. It is your
responsibility to note any and all changes.
Instructor:
Scott Fleming, PhD, CPA, CMA
Assistant Professor
Class:
CRN 85950 MWF 11:30 - 12:20 Rm 230
CRN 85951 MWF 12:30 - 1:20 Rm 230
Office:
313 B&E Building
Phone:
293-7896 (office)
636-7669 (home)
614-3573 (cell)
Office Hours:
MW 1:30 – 2:30 pm, T 8:30 – 9:30 pm. Additionally, I will utilize the Facebook group
“WVU Cost Accounting” for questions and answers – times to be provided. Appointments
for additional times and days are available. Appointments are strongly suggested, even for
scheduled office hours
e-mail: Scott.Fleming@mail.wvu.edu
web:
http://www.be.wvu.edu/divacctg/sfleming/
Required Texts: Cost Accounting 13th ed., Horngren, Datar, Foster, Rajan, & Ittner. Pearson Prentice Hall
2009; Student Solutions for Cost Accounting 13th ed.; and MyAccountingLab
(www.myaccountinglab.com).
Description:
Accounting 431 is intended to expose students to the basic terms, concepts, analyses, uses,
and procedures used in cost accounting. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to
examine how cost accounting is used for planning and controlling and is a managerial tool
for business strategy, decision making, and implementation. Other topics include
multinational considerations in cost accounting, an examination of fraudulent cost
accounting schemes, and the profession’s code of ethics. Current topics will be drawn into
the discussions as applicable.
Objectives:
To provide students with an opportunity to gain basic knowledge of the concepts and
techniques used for decision making and in the control of product and service costing.
Expected Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to have an understanding of
the following concepts in the accounting environment and their application:
 The Institute of Management Accountants’ Code of Ethics
 Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
 Budgeting
 Variance Analysis
 Information for decision making
 Cost allocation
 Process costing
 Capital budgeting
 Transfer pricing
 Performance measurement
Professionalism: Students are expected to attend class regularly. Failure to do so may negatively impact the
final grade. As noted below, students will have various homework assignments and at least
one group presentation. Homework will often be reviewed in class, and attendance is
certainly required for the presentation. Additionally, changes or alterations may be made to
the syllabus which may be communicated only in class. Treat class as though you would a
job, only instead of a paycheck, you will receive a grade. There is a strong likelihood that
attendance and grades will move in parallel.
Punctuality is a learned habit and one that is necessary in the workplace. You will be
expected to show up for class on time and make meetings at the appointed hour.
Cell phones are to be either turned “off” or put to “vibrate” before entering the classroom,
and there will be no “texting” during class. Failure to do so may result in a reduction of the
participation grade. Students may quietly excuse themselves from the classroom to take
important calls or for other personal matters.
Grading:
The course grade will be based on the following:
Exams
Project
Homework and quizzes
Participation and attendance
Final Exam
Scale:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
75 %
5%
5%
5%
10 %
91 to 100 %
90 to < 91 %
89 to < 90 %
81 to < 89 %
80 to < 81 %
79 to < 80 %
71 to < 79 %
70 to < 71 %
60 to < 70 %
< 60 %
In this and other courses, you are taught the skills necessary to become an accountant. Therefore, at a
minimum, you should be able to maintain your own copies of papers, keep track of your own points, be able
to calculate your own grade, and understand what is necessary for you to achieve your grade goal. This is
bookkeeping at the simplest of levels.
Project: Students will be assigned to groups for the opportunity to collectively work on a particular cost
accounting problem. Each group (with the involvement of each member) will then present to the
class the problem, the method of solving the problem, the data used, and the final solution in report
fashion. The group will also field questions from the class. A select group from each class will be
chosen to present the material to professionals from the accounting field during an evening exercise
(date to be determined). All class members are expected to attend to achieve full credit. This
exercise is designed to enhance the capabilities of the students in accounting concepts, team work,
decision making, and presentation skills.
Exams: Students are expected to take exams on the scheduled exam date. Students who must miss a
regularly scheduled exam for any reason have the opportunity to take the make-up exam on the
scheduled exam make-up date during the week before finals week. Each student will have the same
amount of time for each exam, unless directed otherwise by an accommodation letter from the Office
of Disability Services.
Homework:
Homework assigned is expected to be completed and turned-in during class or via on-line through
myaccountinglab.com as denoted. Those assignments deposited under my door or via e-mail will be
not be accepted. The assignments are designed to reinforce techniques and topics discussed in class
and to prepare the student for the examinations.
Quizzes:
Quizzes are designed to further reinforce the materials assigned and to assist the students in
preparation for the examinations. In general, quizzes will be unannounced and cannot be made up if
missed.
Participation:
Participation is measured by a number of factors, including but not limited to class attendance,
interaction in discussions, and attendance and participation in limited evening seminars.
Academic Integrity:
A student’s signature on a paper or examination attests to his or her completion of the work in an
ethical and professional manner. Cases of academic dishonesty will be handled in accordance with
University policy. Refer to the Student Handbook section on Academic Honesty.
Social Justice Statement:
West Virginia University is committed to social justice. The instructor of this course concurs with
that commitment and expects to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open
communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our University does not discriminate on
the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color, or national
origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class will
be appreciated and given serious consideration.
If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to
participate in this class, please advise the instructor and also make appropriate arrangements with
Disability Services (293-6700). Students with accommodation letters must make an appointment
with the instructor to discuss appropriate accommodations. Additionally, instructors must now sign
and date all accommodation letters.
Date
Topic
Readings and Exams
8/24
8/26
8/28
8/31
9/2
9/4
9/7
9/9
9/11
9/14
9/16
9/18
9/21
9/23
9/25
9/28
9/30
10/2
10/5
10/7
10/9
10/12
10/14
10/16
10/19
10/21
10/23
10/26
10/28
10/30
11/2
11/4
11/6
11/9
11/11
11/13
11/16
11/18
11/20
11/23
11/25
11/27
11/30
12/2
12/4
12/6
12/3
12/5
12/15
12/17
Course & Syllabus Overview; Ch. 1; IMA Code of Ethics
Ch. 2 An Introduction to Cost Terms and Purposes
Ch. 3 Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
Examination #1
Project Introduction
Ch. 4 Job Costing
Labor Day Recess
Ch. 4 Job Costing
Ch. 6 Master Budget and Responsibility Accounting
Ch. 6 Master Budget and Responsibility Accounting
Examination #2
Ch. 7 Flexible Budgets, Direct-Cost Variances, and Management Control
Ch. 7 Flexible Budgets, Direct-Cost Variances, and Management Control
Ch. 7 Flexible Budgets, Direct-Cost Variances, and Management Control
Out of class assignment
Ch. 8 Flexible Budgets, Overhead Cost Variances, and Management Control
Ch. 8 Flexible Budgets, Overhead Cost Variances, and Management Control
Out of class assignment
Examination #3
Ch. 9 Inventory Costing and Capacity Analysis
Ch. 9 Inventory Costing and Capacity Analysis
Ch. 10 Determining How Costs Behave
Ch. 10 Determining How Costs Behave
Ch. 11 Decision Making and Relevant Information
Ch. 11 Decision Making and Relevant Information
Ch. 12 Pricing Decisions and Cost Management
Ch. 12 Pricing Decisions and Cost Management
Examination #4
Ch. 14 Cost Allocation, Customer-Profitability Analysis, and Sales-Variance Analysis
Ch. 14 Cost Allocation, Customer-Profitability Analysis, and Sales-Variance Analysis
Ch. 15 Allocation of Support-Department Costs, Common Costs and Revenues
Ch. 15 Allocation of Support-Department Costs, Common Costs and Revenues
Ch. 16 Cost Allocation: Joint Products and Byproducts
Ch. 16 Cost Allocation: Joint Products and Byproducts
Ch. 17 Process Costing
Ch. 17 Process Costing
Examination #5
Final Presentation for Project
Ch. 21 Capital Budgeting and Cost Analysis
Thanksgiving Recess
Thanksgiving Recess
Thanksgiving Recess
Ch. 21 Capital Budgeting and Cost Analysis
Ch. 22 Management Control Systems & Transfer Pricing
Ch. 22 Management Control Systems & Transfer Pricing
Ch. 23 Performance Measurement & Compensation
Ch. 23 Performance Measurement & Compensation
Exam Make-up Day
Final Exam
3:00 – 5:00 pm (CRN 85951 MWF 12:30-1:20)
Rm 230
TUE
Final Exam
8:00 – 10:00 am (CRN 85950 MWF 11:30-12:20)
Rm 230
TH
Tentative Homework Assignments
Note: Only limited homework will be covered in class. Given the time constraints, it is most likely that the
even-numbered problems will not be covered, particularly since the solutions may be found in the Student
Solutions for Cost Accounting 13th ed., a required text. Students are, however, responsible for the homework
and concepts covered.
Homework to be collected for a grade may be either announced in advance or randomly selected. Additional
homework will also be assigned through MyAccountingLab. Please check MyAccountingLab for problem
assignments and due dates.
Chapter 1
18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, Note: Please examine and work the first MyAccountingLab
assignment. The first assignment will be due by the end of the week, but it is set to allow
you as many tries as necessary. This is the only assignment with this feature.
Chapter 2:
Chapter 3:
Chapter 4:
Chapter 6:
Chapter 7:
Chapter 8 :
Chapter 9 :
Chapter 10 :
Chapter 11 :
Chapter 12 :
Chapter 14 :
Chapter 15 :
Chapter 16 :
Chapter 17 :
Chapter 21 :
Chapter 22 :
Chapter 23 :
18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32
16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 25, 31, 35, 37, 44
16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 26, 32
16 – 20, 30, 31
16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 34
16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 29, 30
16, 18, 20, 21, 23
16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25
16, 18, 19, 21, 24, 26
16, 17, 23, 24, 35
17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
16, 17, 18, 21
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
16, 17, 21, 30, 31
19, 20, 21, 23
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25