L3 Certificate in Cost and Management Accounting PDF
L3 Certificate in Cost and Management Accounting PDF
L3 Certificate in Cost and Management Accounting PDF
LCCI qualifications
LCCI qualifications are awarded by the IAB, the UK’s largest awarding body offering academic and vocational
qualifications that are globally recognised and benchmarked. For further information, please visit our
qualifications website at https://www.iab.org.uk/iab-qualifications/
About IAB
LCCI qualifications have been offered internationally for over 120 years and were started by the London
Chamber of Commerce and Industry to meet the need for reliable, high-quality standards across
international workforces.
As the way we do business evolves and becomes more fluid on a global scale the demand for internationally
recognised standards has never been greater and is a sentiment that is echoed by the IAB who have been
supporting financial professionals globally for 50 years.
Based on these shared values from September 2023, the IAB and LCCI will join to continue to offer and
develop high-quality, professional qualifications for the finance sector and a range of other professions.
Acknowledgements
This specification has been produced based on consultation with teachers, examiners, consultants and other
interested parties. IAB would like to thank all those who contributed their time and expertise to the
specification’s development.
References to third party material made in this specification are made in good faith. IAB does not
endorse, approve, or accept responsibility for the content of materials, which may be subject to
change, or any opinions expressed therein. (Material may include textbooks, journals, magazines
and other publications and websites.)
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Introduction
LCCI qualifications
LCCI qualifications are widely regarded by employers as preparing students for key functions of modern
international business. Employers, universities and professional bodies such as the Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) recognise them across the world.
This new and engaging range of qualifications has been developed in collaboration with professional bodies,
employers and customers. To ensure that the qualifications develop the breadth and depth of knowledge, skills
and understanding that students need to be effective employees and that they support progression pathways, we
have carried out in-depth, independent consultation.
IAB LCCI offers a wide range of qualifications; they are available at Levels 1 to 4 across the following subject areas:
Business
Marketing
This specification is part of the Financial and Quantitative suite of LCCI qualifications.
any other qualification(s) that a student must have completed before taking the qualification
any prior knowledge and skills that the student is required to have before taking the qualification
any other requirements that a student must have satisfy before they will be assessed or before the
qualification will be awarded
the knowledge, understanding and skills that will be assessed as part of the qualification
the criteria against which a student’s level of attainment will be measured (such as assessment criteria).
Rationale
The IAB LCCI Level 3 Certificate in Cost and Management Accounting meets the following purpose:
The qualification builds on the IAB LCCI Level 2 Certificate in Cost Accounting qualification to give students a
detailed insight into the Cost and Management Accounting principles and techniques they are likely to encounter
in their working lives.
The qualification at level 3 has a practical focus with students applying knowledge to various scenario-based
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situations. The inclusion of much more detailed Management Accounting techniques allows students to gain a
greater breadth and depth of knowledge in this area, opening their progression opportunities to a wider field of
specialism.
Qualification aim
The IAB LCCI Level 3 Cost and Management Accounting is for students who work in, or want to work in,
accounting environments where they will be required to use management accounting techniques which
contribute to effective decision making and control.
This qualification provides the student with the skills, knowledge and understanding of cost and management
accounting which reflects the keys skills required in business for short and long-term decision making, inventory
control, accounting for overheads, working capital management, standard costing and the preparation and
control of budgets.
This qualification is trusted and valued by employers worldwide and recognised by universities and
professional bodies.
This will enhance their employability prospects in the accounting sector and allow progression to the IAB LCCI Level 4
Certificate in Management Accounting qualification.
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Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
LCCI qualifications ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Purpose of the specification ........................................................................................................................... 3
Rationale ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Qualification aim .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Specification at a glance ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Knowledge, skills and understanding .................................................................................................................... 8
Content ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
Delivery guidance ...................................................................................................................................... 19
Assessment summary................................................................................................................................. 19
Assessment Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 21
Performance descriptors ............................................................................................................................ 22
Entry and assessment information .................................................................................................................. 22
Student entry ............................................................................................................................................. 22
Combinations of entry ................................................................................................................................. 23
Age ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
Resitting the qualification............................................................................................................................. 23
Awarding and reporting ............................................................................................................................... 23
Access arrangements, reasonable adjustments and special consideration ..................................................... 23
Access arrangements ............................................................................................................................. 23
Reasonable adjustments ....................................................................................................................... 23
Special consideration ............................................................................................................................. 24
Further information .............................................................................................................................. 24
Equality Act 2010 and IAB equality policy ....................................................................................................... 24
Candidate malpractice ................................................................................................................................ 24
Staff/centre malpractice ............................................................................................................................. 25
Language of assessment ............................................................................................................................... 25
Other information............................................................................................................................................. 25
Total Qualification Time (TQT) and Guided Learning Hours (GLH) .................................................................... 25
Student recruitment .................................................................................................................................. 26
Prior learning and other requirements ......................................................................................................... 26
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Progression ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Exemptions ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Codes ......................................................................................................................................................... 26
Support, training and resources ....................................................................................................................... 27
Training ..................................................................................................................................................... 27
Specifications, Sample Assessment Materials and Teacher Support Materials ................................................. 27
Appendix 1: Glossary of International Accounting Standards terminology ....................................................... 27
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Specification at a glance
The IAB LCCI Level 3 Certificate in Cost and Management Accounting consists of one online examination.
Overview of content
1. Inventory management
2. Short-term decision making
3. Accounting for overheads
4. Budgetary planning and control
5. Working capital management
6. Standard costing and variances
7. Costing methods
8. Long-term decision making
9. Management Information Systems
10. Accounting Systems
Overview of assessment
• One online, externally set and marked examination, contributing to 100% of the overall grade of the
qualification.
The examination will be 3 hours
Students will be graded Pass/Merit/Distinction. A result of Fail will be recorded where students do
not achieve the required marks for a Pass
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Knowledge, skills and understanding
Content
To prepare students for the final assessment of this qualification, the following content must be covered.
1. Inventory management
Subject content What students need to learn
1.1 Materials and inventory a) The benefits and limitations of inventory management and control
control
b) The calculation of the quantity and cost of materials needed to meet the
production plan, considering process wastage and products rejects
c) The calculation of the quantity and cost of opening and closing inventory
levels after considering the production plan, with process wastage and
production rejects
average inventory
g) The inventory ordering costs and inventory holding costs for discrete
order quantities to select the optimal order quantity without using the
EOQ formula
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Subject content What students need to learn
2.1 Short-term cost behaviour a) The key terms used in decision making, examples and their
definitions:
sunk cost
differential/incremental cost
opportunity cost
avoidable cost
relevant cost
b) The calculation and use of the high/low method
c) The calculation of costs per period or unit from fixed, variable, semi-
variable or stepped patterns
2.2 Break-even a) The calculation of the contribution/sales (C/S) ratio for a single product
analysis and the weighted C/S ratio for a mix of products
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Subject content What students need to learn
d) The calculation of the margin of safety in units and revenue and the
output required to achieve a targeted profit
conventional break-even
contribution break-even
profit-volume (PV)
g) The determination of the break-even point and the profit and the
margin of safety from a chart
2.3 Marginal and absorption a) The definition and use of the terms ‘marginal costing’ and ‘absorption
costing costing’
3.1 Overhead absorption a) The meaning and importance of the following terms: allocation,
apportionment, re-apportionment and absorption
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Subject content What students need to learn
d) The re-apportionment of production overheads from service cost
centres to production cost centres using repeated distribution
method
3.2 Activity based costing a) The principles of activity-based costing (ABC) and the contrast between
ABC and traditional approaches
b) The calculation and application of cost driver rates and unit production
costs based on ABC principles
production (units)
5.1 Managing cash flow a) The preparation of detailed cash budgets on a monthly or quarterly
basis and its benefits when managing cash flow
This refers to forecasted cash budgets and not statements of cash flow
(IAS7)
b) The implications of, and ways to deal with, a cash surplus or deficit
g) The reasons why liquidity and cash flow management are important
for the successful operation of any business
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6. Standard costing and variances
Subject content What students need to learn
attainable standard
standard cost
b) The calculation and application of the standard cost
c) The calculation of the total direct material variance and analysis of this
into the materials price variance and the material usage variances
d) The calculation of the total direct labour variance and analysis of this into
the labour rate variance and the labour efficiency variances
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7. Costing methods
Subject content What students need to learn
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8. Long-term decision making
Subject content What students need to learn
8.1 Investment appraisal a) The features of long-term and short-term decision making
c) The meaning and purpose of Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate
of Return (IRR)
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9. Management Information Systems
Subject content What students need to learn
10.1 Accounting Systems a) The main features of integrated and non-integrated accounting
systems
non-integrated system
d) Prepare a profit reconciliation statement in a non- integrated system
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The following skills should be developed throughout the course of study.
c) Understand the key terms used in short term decision making, and their
definitions
d) Apply calculations including the high low method and limiting factors
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t) Understand the terms and the purpose of process costing
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Delivery guidance
In delivering this qualification, teachers are encouraged to use a variety of examples and scenarios drawn from
the business environment.
Business scenarios and short case studies can be useful when used in small-group work as they give students
the opportunity to work with their peers to identify key issues and how they can be addressed. This is
particularly useful in developing the skills required when analysing different approaches to specific business
contexts. Examinations for this qualification will use the dollar ($) as standard currency.
Assessment
Assessment summary
Overview of content
1 Inventory management
2 Short-term decision making
3 Accounting for overheads
4 Budgetary planning and control
5 Working capital management
6 Standard costing and variances
7 Costing methods
8 Long-term decision making
9 Management Information Systems
10 Accounting Systems
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Overview of assessment
• One online, externally set and marked examination, contributing to 100% of the overall grade of the
qualification.
The examination will be 3 hours
Students will be graded Pass/Merit/Distinction. A result of Fail will be recorded where students do
not achieve the required marks for a Pass
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Assessment Objectives
% of qualification
Students must:
AO1 Memorise 8
Recall the facts of cost accounting in business Recall costing terms
and definitions
Recall costing methods and procedures
AO2 Perform 68
Record business cost transactions Carry out
computations
Prepare financial and costing statements
AO4 Analyse 10
Compare and analyse costing and management information Interpret cost and
management data and information Recognise patterns and correlations
Predict consequences
AO5 Evaluate 4
Weigh up evidence in order to build a reasoned decision Draw conclusions
Total 100
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Performance descriptors
Grade Descriptor
Pass Candidates can recall and demonstrate their understanding of basic elementary facts
of cost accounting, costing terms and definitions, costing methods, procedures, and
techniques.
Candidates can carry out complex computations and prepare costing and financial
statements
Candidates can prepare financial and costing statements
Candidates can interpret costing and management data and information to predict
consequences
Candidates can draw basic conclusions
Decisions and recommendations made with limited supporting evidence
Distinction Candidates can recall and demonstrate an understanding of complex facts of cost
accounting, costing terms and definitions, costing methods, procedures, and
techniques.
Candidates can present and display costing and management data in
appropriate formats with high precision
Candidates can carry out complex, multistage computations and prepare costing and
financial statements with precision
Candidates can compare and analyse costing and management information,
recognising any patterns and correlations to predict consequences
Candidates can weigh up evidence to build a reasoned judgment and make
recommendations
Student entry
Details on how to enter candidates for the examination for this qualification can be found through contacting
our awarding team at [email protected] or the website https://www.iab.org.uk/lcci/
The closing date for entries is approximately six weeks before the start of each examination series. Centres should
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refer to the published examination timetable for examination dates.
Combinations of entry
There are no forbidden combinations of entry for this qualification.
Age
Students must be at a minimum of 16 years old to be entered for this qualification.
Access arrangements
Access arrangements are agreed before an assessment. They allow students with special educational needs,
disabilities, or temporary injuries to:
show what they know and can do, without changing the demands of the assessment.
The intention behind an access arrangement is to meet the particular needs of an individual student with a
disability, without affecting the integrity of the assessment. Access arrangements are the principal way in which
awarding bodies comply with the duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make ‘reasonable adjustments’.
Access arrangements should always be processed at the start of the course. Students will then know what is
available and have the access arrangement(s) in place for assessment.
Reasonable adjustments
The Equality Act 2010 requires an awarding organisation to make reasonable adjustments where a person with
a disability would be at a substantial disadvantage in undertaking an assessment. The awarding organisation is
required to take reasonable steps to overcome that disadvantage.
A reasonable adjustment for a particular person may be unique to that individual and therefore might not be in the
list of available access arrangements.
Whether an adjustment will be considered reasonable will depend on a number of factors, which will
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include:
the likely impact of the adjustment on the student with the disability and other students.
An adjustment will not be approved if it involves unreasonable costs to the awarding organisation, has untenable
timeframes or affects the security or integrity of the assessment. This is because the adjustment is not
‘reasonable’.
Special consideration
Special consideration is a post-examination adjustment to a student's mark or grade to reflect temporary injury,
illness, or other indisposition at the time of the examination or assessment, which has had, or is reasonably
likely to have had, a material effect on a candidate’s ability to take an assessment or demonstrate their level of
attainment in an assessment.
Further information
Please see the website for further information about how to apply for access arrangements and special
consideration.
For further information about access arrangements, reasonable adjustments and special consideration please
refer to the JCQ website: www.jcq.org.uk.
students with a protected characteristic (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) are not, when they are
undertaking one of our qualifications, disadvantaged in comparison to students who do not share that
characteristic
all students achieve the recognition they deserve for undertaking a qualification and that this
achievement can be compared fairly to the achievement of their peers.
You can find details of how to make adjustments for students with protected characteristics in the policy
document Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations, awarding team at
[email protected] or the website https://www.iab.org.uk/lcci/
Candidate malpractice
Candidate malpractice refers to any act by a candidate that compromises or seeks to compromise the process of
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assessment or which undermines the integrity of the qualifications or the validity of results/certificates.
Candidate malpractice in examinations must be reported to IAB awarding team by email [email protected] clearly
identifying the title or posted to the registered office 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY. Please provide as
much information and supporting documentation as possible. Note that the final decision regarding
Staff/centre malpractice
Staff and centre malpractice includes both deliberate malpractice and maladministration of our qualifications.
As with candidate malpractice, staff and centre malpractice is any act that compromises or seeks to compromise
the process of assessment, or which undermines the integrity of the qualifications or the validity of
results/certificates.
All cases of suspected staff malpractice and maladministration must be reported immediately, before any
investigation is undertaken by the centre, to IAB awarding team by email [email protected] clearly marked
malpractice or posted to the registered office 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY. Please provide as
much information and supporting documentation as possible. Note that the final decision regarding
appropriate sanctions lies with IAB.
Failure to report malpractice itself constitutes malpractice.
More detailed guidance on malpractice can be found in the latest version of the document General and
Vocational Qualifications Suspected Malpractice in Examinations and Assessments Policies and
Procedures, available at:
www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/malpractice.
Language of assessment
Assessment of this specification will be in English only. Assessment materials will be published in English only
and all work submitted for examination must be in English only.
Other information
Student recruitment
IAB follows the JCQ policy concerning recruitment to our qualifications in that:
They must be available to anyone who can reach the required standard
They must be free from barriers that restrict access and progression
Exemptions
We are continuously gaining new and updated exemptions for our LCCI qualifications from professional bodies
and organisations. For the latest list of agreements, and to check this specific qualification, please visit the IAB
LCCI website: at [email protected] or the website https://www.iab.org.uk/lcci/
Codes
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This qualification is approved by Ofqual and meets the Ofqual General Conditions for inclusion on the Register of
Regulated Qualifications. The Qualification Number (QN) is: **************.
The subject code for IAB LCCI Level 3 Certificate in Cost and Management Accounting is: **********. The subject
code is used by centres to enter students for a qualification. Centres will need to use the entry codes only when
claiming students’ qualifications.
Training
IAB offers support and training to teachers on standard of delivery and preparing students to meet the assessment
requirements.
Statement of profit or loss and other Trading and profit and loss account
comprehensive income
Revenue Sales
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Inventory Stock
Profit for the year before tax or after tax Net profit
Inventory Stock
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Trade payables Creditors
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Other terms
June 2023
For more information on LCCI qualifications
please visit our website: https://www.iab.org.uk/iab-qualifications/
Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers. Registered in
England No.01119378 Registered Office: 110 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4AY.
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