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Description

Cost Accounting: Calculating Costs, Comparing Methods and Making Trade-Offs

Build costs that genuinely support decisions rather than fill in an allocation table

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

Many organisations calculate full costs that nobody actually uses: inherited allocation keys, indirect charges spread without economic logic, and a unit cost that cannot be explained to the salesperson sitting at the negotiating table. As a result, pricing, outsourcing and product discontinuation decisions end up being made on instinct.

Two days to master the main costing methods and to select the one that matches the decision at hand. Participants work on quantified data sets and leave with a costing model template adapted to their own activity.

Learning objectives

  • Distinguish direct, indirect, variable and fixed costs in a concrete case
  • Calculate a full cost using the cost centre method
  • Calculate a contribution margin and a break-even point
  • Compare the results obtained depending on the method selected
  • Select the method suited to the decision to be informed

What makes this programme different

All calculations are performed on a spreadsheet using data sets provided
The same decision is examined successively with two different methods
Each participant builds a costing model for their own activity

Programme

1Cost Structure and Costing Architecture

Reclassify before you calculate

  • Distinguish direct from indirect costs
  • Separate the variable and fixed components
  • Move from accounting charges to incorporable costs
  • Define the cost objects relevant to the activity

2Full Costing and Cost Centres

Allocate without losing meaning

  • Break the activity down into cost centres
  • Select defensible allocation bases
  • Handle reciprocal services between centres
  • Calculate a unit cost and an analytical result

3Partial Costing and Decision-Making

The useful cost depends on the question asked

  • Calculate a contribution margin by product
  • Determine a break-even point and a margin of safety
  • Assess an additional order with available capacity
  • Examine a discontinuation or outsourcing decision

4Activity-Based Costing and Implementation

Install a model that will last

  • Identify the activities that consume resources
  • Select representative cost drivers
  • Compare the results with those of conventional full costing
  • Organise data collection and model updates

Who is it for

Accountants, junior management controllers, finance and administration managers and operational managers who need to work with cost figures.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with the structure of an income statement and the ability to read a schedule of expenses.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.