Standard Costing & Cost Performance Analysis

About this course

Learn how to analyze cost performance and improve business efficiency using standard costing and variance analysis. Build practical skills to identify cost deviations and support better financial decisions. This course provides a structured introduction to standard costing and variance analysis, helping you understand how organizations set cost standards and evaluate actual performance against expectations. You will learn key concepts such as types of standards, cost control techniques, and the role of variance analysis in managerial decision-making. Through practical examples, you will calculate and interpret material variances, including mix and yield variances, and understand how production efficiency impacts costs. The course also covers sales and overhead variances, enabling you to evaluate performance across different areas of business operations. You will develop the ability to analyze differences between planned and actual results, identify inefficiencies, and provide actionable insights for improving operational performance. By the end of the course, you will be able to confidently apply variance analysis techniques to assess cost performance, enhance efficiency, and support strategic decision-making in accounting and finance roles.

Course objectives

• improve business efficiency through cost analysis
• support strategic decision-making in accounting and finance roles