A basic budget plan is knowing how much income you will have, how much money you will spend, and how much money, if any, will be left over. The definition of budget is an estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period in the future. A total sum of money that is set aside or to be used for a specific purpose. The budget is a financial plan that incorporates assumptions based on personal or business conditions. It is an extremely important tool which serves as a plan of action to achieve objectives, a standard for measuring performance, and a device for dealing with unexpected situations. By allocating resources, monitoring and reporting the results against the budget, businesses have the necessary details to make informed decisions and any necessary adjustments. No matter the size whether is it personal or for business, budgeting is essential for financial management. As a Financial Analyst at Cornell University, the institutional priorities, policies, and metrics related to the University’s core mission are used for operational planning and financial management. The key is to strike a balance between mission requirements and the resources available.
A budget should include the income along with the expenses required to be successful in reaching the goals set forth for the next year. Estimating the income, expenses and potential profits, is necessary to determine if funds will be available for capital improvements or for purchasing new equipment. Starting with revenue, the estimates must be as accurate as possible. For a personal budget this may be as simple as calculating the annual income. At Cornell University, funds are allocated based on numerous factors which may include facility ...
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The budget should operate according to the mathematical equation, profit = total income – expenses. The information in the budget should be used to adjust plans or expectations as the year progresses. Each month the budget can be updated with actual income and expenses so it can be determined if the intended budget is on target. If the target set out in the budget is off, troubleshoot once again by figuring out how expenses can be reduced. Can overtime be cut? Can the purchase of new computers be delayed? Take time to readjust figures. This may mean less new supplies in the coming year or not being able to travel as planned. Factor in these adjusted costs to get the budget back on track. Budgeting is not an exact science but it's important to use realistic figures so the budget will be a sound guide through the budget year.
Operating budgets are budgets that deal mainly with the day-to-day operations of a facility. This may include wages, utilities, rent, and items purchased that have the intent of lasting less than a year (Johnston, n.d). This type budget provides the needed information regarding the cash on hand needed to operate the facility during a fiscal year. Capital expenditure budgets deal with more long term items such as equipment or property. As stated by Johnston (n.d.), it is necessary to have a capital budget for continued growth of the business. You complete this task by purchasing assets that produce an income. Capital expenditure budget have the potential to cover a five- to ten-year period (Baker & Baker, 2014, p.174). Items included in the capital expenditure budget may also include loan interest and bondholder's interest. The operating budget and the capital expenditure budget interact with one another. To demonstrate an example: a healthcare facility purchases a chemistry analyzer for its clinical laboratory. The chemistry analyzer is placed in the capital expenditure budget, but the maintenance for the analyzer is placed in the operational budget. The capital expenditure expense is the chemistry analyzer, but the materials used to maintain the chemistry analyzer are operational expense.
Cy-Fair’s Business and Financial department develops the budget for school administrators. Once the budget summary has been developed the Principal then can decide within the budget how he would like to spend the money given by the district. Certain areas of the budget are to be spend on specific items, for example the budget for “GT/Horizon Supplies” can only be spend on GT instructional needs. On the other hand the budget for “Instructional Supplies” is more flexible. Primary example the after the Principal analyzes what are his campus needs, he then may decide on the materials he would like to spend the money on as long as it supports the needs of his campus. Although the principal is limited on how he
On January 14, 2015 the Local Finance Board (LFB), which is part of the Division of the Local Government Services in the State of New Jersey adopted Rule: N.J.A.C. 5:30-3.8, which requires municipalities in the State to complete on an annual basis a User-Friendly Budget document. As a result of this new requirement, for fiscal year 2015 beginning with calendar year municipalities (January 1 to December 31), New Jersey municipalities must submit as part of their annual budget package to the State, a User-Friendly Budget document. Additionally, the State of New Jersey is requiring that municipalities incorporate the User-Friendly Budget into the introduced municipal budget, as well as the final adopted municipal budget. Therefore with this requirement
VACPA. (2011, September). Budgeting: A Guide for Small Nonprofit Organizations. Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Retrieved from
Budgets are the financial requirements and consequences of plans. Budgets are made with specific goals in mind. Budgets can be used to lower living expenses, increase savings, or to save for a purpose such as: education or retirement. Budgeting is a process that involves these actions: defining goals, gathering information, forming expectations, reconciling goals and data, monitoring goals and variances, adjusting budgets, and redefining goals.
(Cronkhite, 2013) All organization requires specific planning and a clear understanding of the organization object. (McHatton, Bradshaw, Gallagher, & Reeves, 2011) With the budgeting which ensures that the funds necessary to carry out the organizational activities and once the budget is approve operational activities are conducted within the approved plan. (Cronkhite, 2013) The Capital budget contains large items since as location or a new building. (Cronkhite, 2013) This type of budgeting is done until the organization or project is complete. (Cronkhite, 2013) Line item budget is those items that are needed yearly in order to the organization to operate. (Cronkhite, 2013) This includes employee salaries all the way down to office basic stationery. (Cronkhite, 2013) The budgeting process is not something that is done once a year; it is a continual process of regular review and in some case possible for revision. (Cronkhite, 2013) In some case a zero based budgeting comes into play. This type of budgeting is also known as the “died of its own weight”. (Cronkhite, 2013) This is only done if there is a reduction in the organization by at 5%, 10% or 20% on how the essential programs would continue to function. (Cronkhite,
First off, past data must be looked at. Financial records from previous years are a great indicator of future trends and so they must be taken into account. These records would contain any activities that must be continued or are being discontinued and so those should definitely be considered. After this a general review of one’s organization’s goals is important. Making sure that the budget reflects what the hospital wants to achieve is crucial, including any upcoming new projects and their priority.
Budgeting Assignment A company's budget serves as a guideline in planning and committing costs in order to meet tactical and strategic goals. Tactical goals such as providing budgetary costs for daily operations, and strategic objectives that include R&D, production, marketing, and distribution are all part of the budgeting process. Serving as a guideline rather than being set in stone, the budget is a snapshot of a manager's "best thinking at the time it is prepared." (Marshall, 2003, p.496)
McGee, includes tracking monthly performance relative to plans and targets. In terms of steps, it is the most important thing to develop a plan that forecast the cost needed to run the department. The budgeting process is planned for each fiscal year. Each department manager looks at last year expenses, needs, and wants. In this facility, a nurse manager in each department plans for a three year plan regarding priority of requested items.
Provides advice, assistance, and guidance on budgeting and related information to program managers and budget-related personnel in subordinate organizations. Conducts analyses, reviews, and special studies of budget and/or related information.
Quantitative plans are called budgets. Budgets are prepared to impose cost controls on the activities of an organization (Chenhall, 1986).Budgets are then used to evaluate the performance of the management and budget itself is considered as a standard to evaluate the performance Solomon, 1956). The purpose of the budget is also to implement the strategy of the organization and communicate it to the employees of the organization Rickards (2006). The change in the external environment has led to the change in the budgeting approaches from the initial cash based budgets to the zerio based budgets (Bovaird, 2007).
A budgetary estimate is used to allocate money into an organization's budget. Many organizations develop budgets at least two years into the future. Budgetary estimates are made one to two years prior to the software project completion. The accuracy of budgetary estimates is typically ten percent below to twenty-five percent above the actual final cost of the project.
Making a personal budget can be a very simple or a very arduous task, depending on how one goes about it. One must find stable monthly expenses, such as rent, and manage the rest of their income around that amount. Depending on the steps an individual takes, this can be a very simple process. For this project, I was assigned to make three personal budgets for three different situations. This paper will outline the first.
As time goes on, you will find that your original budget has some slaws. Some areas of budget planning might be overestimated, and some areas might be underestimated. Some of the flaws in budget making, for instance, are unemployment because if a person gets unemployed he has to have a strict budget to follow. For example making home food and not going out because that will result him in debt. Some of the other flaws are increase in rent, increase in car insurance because of accidents occurring, credit card payments, groceries, and eating out with friends. All of these flaws can cause a person to be more in debt and cau...
It requires an adequate and sound organizational structure, that is, there must be a definite assignment of responsibility for each function of the enterprise. Budgeting compels all the members of management, from the top to bottom to participate in the establishment of goals and plans. Budgeting compels departmental managers to make plans in harmony with the other departments and of the entire enterprise. Budgeting helps the management to put down in figures what is necessary for a satisfactory performance. Budgeting helps the management to plan for the most economical use of labor, material and capital. Budgeting tends to remove the cloud of uncertainty that exists in many organizations, especially among lower levels of management, relative to basic policies and objectives. Budgeting promotes an understanding among members of management of their co-workers' problems. Budgeting force management to give adequate attention to the effects of general business conditions. Budgeting aids in obtaining bank credit as banks commonly require a projection of future operations and cash flows to support