Reconcile

• Getting two things to correspond/agree.

Reconciliation

In accounting, reconciliation is the process of ensuring that any two related values agree after taking into consideration the data relating to possible variances.

Theoretically we can reconcile any two values whose relationship can be expressed in the form of a mathematical equation.

What is Reconciled in Variance Analysis?

The idea of reconciliation is used in relation to this topic to reconcile the standard and actual data/costs.

If we go through the formulae for all the labour/labor variances, we come across various standard and actual values. The simplest reconciliation is between two values whose difference is a variance.

Eg : We can reconcile Standard Cost of Standard Quantity for Actual Output and Standard Cost of Actual Quantity.

Labor/Labour Usage/Gross-Efficiency Variance (LUV/LGEV)

=	SC(AO) − SC(AQ) Standard Cost for Actual Output − Standard Cost of Actual Time

Reconciliation may involve data relating to one or more variances

The reconciliation between two costs/values may involve the data relating to

1. A single variance (which would be that variance which is the difference of the two costs/values)

   Eg : LUV/LGEV = SC(AO) − SC(AT)

   In reconciling the Standard Cost for Actual Output [SC(AO)] and Standard Cost of Actual Time [SC(AT)], we may use the data relating to LUV/LGEV.

2. More than one variance (which would be those variances in whose terms the difference of the two costs/values can be expressed)

   Eg : LUV/LGEV = SC(AO) − SC(AT)

   LCV = LRPV + LUV/LGEV

   ⇒ LCV − LRPV = SC(AO) − SC(AT)

   In reconciling the Standard Cost for Actual Output [SC(AO)] and Standard Cost of Actual Time [SC(AT)], we may use the data relating to LCV and LRPV.

   LUV/LGEV = LMV/LGCV + LYV/LSEV

   ⇒ LMV/LGCV + LYV/LSEV = SC(AO) − SC(AT)

   In reconciling the Standard Cost for Actual Output [SC(AO)] and Standard Cost of Actual Time [SC(AT)], we may use the data relating to LMV/LGCV and LYV/LSEV.

The information relating to the two values being reconciled and the reason for the differences between the two values are presented in the form of a statement called the reconciliation statement.

The statement starts with one of the values being reconciled and arrives at the other value by making appropriate adjustments of the reasons for differences

Statement of reconciliation

Particulars	Amount	Amount
Standard Cost for Actual Output (−) Labour/Labor Cost Variance	− 6,175	63,825 − 6,175
Actual Cost		69,500

Preparation of a reconciliation statement requires us to start with one of the two costs/values we intend to reconcile and arrive at the other cost/value by adjusting (adding or subtracting) the variances involved.

The following steps would help us create the statement.

1. Consider the two costs/values to be reconciled

   Say, Standard Cost for Actual Output SC(AO) or more specifically Standard Cost of Standard time for Actual Output) and Actual Cost (AC)

2. Identify the formula involving the two costs and a variance

   The variance would be the difference of the two costs that we have to reconcile.

   If we are considering SC(AO) and AC, then it would be

   LCV = SC(AO) − AC

3. Make the Cost to arrive at, the Subject of the Formula

   The subject of a formula is that variable which is defined in terms of the other variables in the formula.

   By convention we place the subject on the LHS with a positive sign. For the purpose of deriving the statement, place the subject of the formula on the RHS.

   1. SC(AO) − AC = LCV

      ⇒ LCV is the Subject

   2. SC(AO) − LCV = AC

      ⇒ AC is the Subject

   3. LCV + AC = SC(AO)

      ⇒ SC(AO) is the Subject

   In the reconciliation statements we start with one cost/value and make adjustments to arrive at another cost/value. The cost other than the cost that we start with would be made the subject of the formula.

   Say, if we are to start with SC(AO) and arrive at AC then the rewritten formula would be

   SC(AO) − LCV = AC

   Alternatively, if we are to start with AC and arrive at SC(AO) then the rewritten formula would be

   AC + LCV = SC(AO)

4. Prepare the Statement based on the rewritten formula

   The logical flow of the statement from top to bottom can be interpreted starting from the first term on the LHS and ending with the term on the RHS of the re-written formula.

   • SC(AO) − LCV = AC

     Statement of reconciliation

     Particulars	Amount	Amount
     Standard Cost for Actual Output (−) Labour/Labor Cost Variance	–	– –
     Actual Cost		–

     Where there are two or more labour/labor types involved in the production process we may use the total variance or show the individual variances in its place providing a greater detail.

     Statement of reconciliation

     Particulars	Amount	Amount
     Standard Cost for Actual Output (−) Labour/Labor Cost Variance Skilled Unskilled	– –	– –
     Actual Cost		–

     Note

     The Negative sign indicating deduction here is distinct from the sign that we attribute to Cost variance to indicate its nature i.e. whether it is favourable/favorable or adverse. The Cost Variance should be considered along with its sign (+ if positive and − if negative).

   • AC + LCV = SC(AO)

     Statement of reconciliation

     Particulars	Amount	Amount
     Actual Cost (+) Labour/Labor Cost Variance	–	– –
     Standard Cost for Actual Output		–

     Where there are two or more labour/labor types involved in the production process we may use the total variance or show the individual variances in its place providing a greater detail.

     Statement of reconciliation

     Particulars	Amount	Amount
     Actual Cost (+) Labour/Labor Cost Variance Skilled Unskilled	– –	– –
     Standard Cost for Actual Output		–

     Note

     The Positive sign indicating addition here is distinct from the sign that we attribute to Cost variance to indicate its nature i.e. whether it is favourable/favorable or adverse. The Cost Variance should be considered along with its sign (+ if positive and − if negative).

This is the method adopted for reconciling two costs/values using the data relating to a variance which is the difference of the two costs/values being reconciled.

The following steps would help us create the statement in cases where there are two or more variances to be considered for reconciliation.

1. Consider the two costs/values to be reconciled

   Say, Standard Cost for Actual Time SC(AT) and Actual Cost (AC)

2. Identify the formula involving the two costs and a variance

   The variance would be the difference of the two costs that we have to reconcile.

   If we are considering SC(AT) and AC, then it would be

   LCV = SC(AT) − AC

3. Rewrite the variance in terms of other variances whose data is known

   To be able to do this, we need to know the interrelationships between the variances. We need to identify the relationship which gives the variance in terms of the variances whose data is given.

   LCV = LRPV + LUV/LGEV

   ⇒ LRPV = LCV − LUV/LGEV

   Thus,

   LCV = SC(AT) − AC

   ⇒ LCV − LUV/LQV = SC(AT) − AC

4. Make the Cost to arrive at, the Subject of the Formula

   The subject of a formula is that variable which is defined in terms of the other variables in the formula.

   By convention we place the subject on the LHS with a positive sign. For the purpose of deriving the statement, place the subject of the formula on the RHS.

   In the reconciliation statements we start with one cost/value and make adjustments to arrive at another cost/value. The cost other than the cost that we start with would be made the subject of the formula.

   Say, if we are to start with SC(AT) and arrive at AC then the rewritten formula would be

   SC(AT) − LCV + LUV/LGEV = AC

   ⇒ AC is the Subject of the Formula

   Alternatively, if we are to start with AC and arrive at SC(AT) then the rewritten formula would be

   AC + LCV − LUV/LGEV = SC(AT)

   ⇒ SC(AT) is the Subject of the Formula

5. Prepare the Statement based on the rewritten formula

   The logical flow of the statement from top to bottom can be interpreted from the terms on the LHS of the re-written formula.

   • AC + LCV − LUV/LGEV = SC(AT)

     Statement of reconciliation

     Particulars	Amount	Amount
     Actual Cost (+) Labour/Labor Cost Variance Skilled Unskilled (−) Labour/Labor Usage/Gross-Efficiency Variance Skilled Unskilled	– – – –	– – –
     Standard Cost for Actual Time		–

     Note

     The Positive/Negative signs indicating addition/deduction here are distinct from the signs that we attribute to variances to indicate their nature i.e. whether they are favorable or adverse. The Variances should be considered along with their sign (+ if positive and − if negative).

The variance that we take into consideration are the variances which can be obtained as a difference of the two costs/values that we have to reconcile. Since all labour/labor variances are difference between two values, we can reconcile any two values whose difference is a variance.

• LCV = SC(AO) − AC
  • SC(AO) = Standard Cost of Actual Output
  • AC = Actual Cost
  • LCV = Labour/Labor Cost Variance
• LRPV = SC(AT) − AC
  • SC(AT) = Standard Cost of Actual Time
  • AC = Actual Cost
  • LRPV = Labour/Labor Rate of Pay Variance
• LUV/LGEV = SC(AO) − SC(AT)
  • SC(AO) = Standard Cost for Actual Output
  • SC(AT) = Standard Cost of Actual Time
  • LUV/LGEV = Labour/Labor Usage/Gross-Efficiency Variance
• LEV = SC(AO) − SC(PT)
  • SC(AO) = Standard Cost for Actual Output
  • SC(PT) = Standard Cost of Productive Time
  • LEV = Labour/Labor Efficiency Variance
• LMV/GCV = SC(AI) − SC(PT)
  • SC(AI) = Standard Cost of Actual Input
  • SC(PT) = Standard Cost of Productive Time
  • LMV/GCV = Labour/Labor Mix/Gang-Composition Variance
• LYV/LSEV = SC(AO) − SC(AI)
  • SC(AO) = Standard Cost of Actual Output
  • SC(AI) = Standard Cost of Actual Input
  • LYV/LSEV = Labour/Labor Yield/Sub-Efficiency Variance

Note

Labour/Labor Idle Time Variance (LITV) is missing from the list as LITV is found out just as a value and not as a difference between two values.

However, LITV can appear as a part of a reconciliation statement when a variance is written in terms of other variances, like LCV = LRPV + LEV + LITV