CPA Services - Profitability Analysis Hy and Lowe is a public accounting firm that offers two primary services, auditing and tax preparation. A disagreement has developed between the partners who head up the two services as to who is contributing the most to firm profitability. The area of contention is the assignment of overhead. The tax partner argues for assigning overhead on the basis of 40% of direct labor cost. The audit partner argues for implementing activity‐based costing. The partners agree to use next year's budget data for analysis and comparison. The following data are collected:   Audit Tax Revenues 2,300,000 1,200,000 Employee labor 1,000,000 800,000   Activity Cost Driver Estimated Overhead Employee training direct labor cost $ 216,000 Typing and secretarial number reports/forms 76,200 Computing number of minutes 204,000 Facility rental number of employees 142,500 Travel per expense reports 81,300   Total $ 720,000     Expected activity (expected act.) (expected act.) Activity Cost Driver Audit Tax Employee training direct labor cost $ 1,000,000 $ 800,000 Typing and secretarial reports/forms 600 1,900 Computing minutes 25,000 35,000 Facility rental employees 22 18 Travel (direct) $ 56,000 $ 25,300 Required: Compare the traditional costing using the direct labor cost as an allocation base with activity based costing. Classify each of the activities as Value Added or Non‐Value Added. Make a recommendation on a costing system based on your analysis (use some type of return r

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
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ISBN:9781259964947
Author:Libby
Publisher:Libby
Chapter1: Financial Statements And Business Decisions
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CPA Services - Profitability Analysis

Hy and Lowe is a public accounting firm that offers two primary services, auditing and tax preparation. A disagreement has developed between the partners who head up the two services as to who is contributing the most to firm profitability. The area of contention is the assignment of overhead. The tax partner argues for assigning overhead on the basis of 40% of direct labor cost. The audit partner argues for implementing activity‐based costing.


The partners agree to use next year's budget data for analysis and comparison. The following data are collected:

  Audit Tax
Revenues 2,300,000 1,200,000
Employee labor 1,000,000 800,000

 

Activity Cost Driver Estimated Overhead

Employee training

direct labor cost $ 216,000
Typing and secretarial number reports/forms 76,200
Computing number of minutes 204,000
Facility rental number of employees 142,500
Travel per expense reports 81,300
  Total $ 720,000

 

  Expected activity (expected act.) (expected act.)
Activity Cost Driver Audit Tax
Employee training direct labor cost $ 1,000,000 $ 800,000
Typing and secretarial reports/forms 600 1,900
Computing minutes 25,000 35,000
Facility rental employees 22 18
Travel (direct) $ 56,000 $ 25,300

Required:
Compare the traditional costing using the direct labor cost as an allocation base with activity based costing.


Classify each of the activities as Value Added or Non‐Value Added. Make a
recommendation on a costing system based on your analysis (use some type of return ratio or margin ratio to help support your decision).

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