Variance analysis

Written by Fmi.Online Thursday November 10, 2022
Variance analysis is an analytical tool that managers can use to compare actual operations to budgeted estimates. In other words, after a period is over, managers look at the actual cost and sales figures and compare them to what was budgeted. Some budgets will be met and some will not.

Explanation :

Most companies create budgets to track financial goals and improve efficiencies in both production and operations. Budgets help management establish benchmarks to measure future improvement. Most budgets start with estimated cost and sales figures. Management can set these estimates aggressively for goals for the company. For instance, management might set a cost budget of 10 percent less than last quarter. The goal is to meet this budget, but some goals are not always met. Managers can track the process of these goals with variance analysis.

In a nutshell :

  • Analysis of variance, or ANOVA, is a statistical method that separates observed variance data into different components to use for additional tests.
  • A one-way ANOVA is used for three or more groups of data, to gain information about the relationship between the dependent and independent variables.
  • If no true variance exists between the groups, the ANOVA's F-ratio should equal close to 1.
top-arrow
Our Courses are designed to boost your career

Launch your career with Fmi’s Learning Pathway

Choose a learning pathway that best meets your needs and ambitions. Not sure which Fmi learning pathway is right for you? Explore our CareerBuddy videos for help and advice.

Investment banking pathway
  • courses-clock60+ hours
  • courses-desktop9 courses

Investment banking offers many exciting career opportunities for students. From Financial Analysts to Investment Management, and Sales & Trading to a wide range of roles in infrastructure such as IT, Risk or Compliance. This pathway is designed to help you understand the investment banking industry, the roles investment banks are recruiting for, and most importantly, help you to develop the practical skills you need to get into the industry and your preferred role whether this be as part of a school leaver, intern or graduate program.

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
55,000+ students currently enrolled
Global markets pathway
  • courses-clock70+ hours
  • courses-desktop10 courses

Global markets provide a range of important products and services to corporates, institutions and governments worldwide from executing trades and managing risk to providing quality research content. A key business area in all investment banks, global markets offers a wide range of career paths for students to consider across all functions and at all levels from school leavers to internships through to graduate programs.

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
85,000+ students currently enrolled
Asset management pathway
  • courses-clock50+ hours
  • courses-desktop8 courses

The asset management industry is a global industry worth over 100 trillion US dollars. It plays a crucial role in managing the assets of retail and institutional investors, offering a wide range of exciting careers in doing so. If you’re looking to forge a career in asset management, our Asset management pathway is perfect for you. We help you build the skills all asset managers are looking for and explore everything you need to know about the industry and the wide range of roles available in the sector

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
100,000+ students currently enrolled