PM - Sept 22-June 23 - Final Updated LW 28 - 4
PM - Sept 22-June 23 - Final Updated LW 28 - 4
PM - Sept 22-June 23 - Final Updated LW 28 - 4
Performance
Management
(PM)
Syllabus and study guide
Contents
1. Intellectual levels ............................... 3
2. Learning hours and education
recognition............................................. 3
3. The structure of ACCA qualification .. 4
4. Guide to ACCA examination structure
and delivery mode ................................. 5
5. Guide to ACCA examination
assessment ........................................... 7
6. Relational diagram linking
Performance Management (PM) with
other exams .......................................... 8
7. Approach to examining the syllabus .. 8
8. Introduction to the syllabus................ 9
9. Main capabilities .............................. 11
10. The syllabus .................................. 12
11. Detailed study guide ...................... 13
12. Summary of changes to
Performance Management (PM) ......... 19
The other Applied Skills examinations From September 2022, AFM, APM and AAA
(PM, TX-UK, FR, AA, and FM) contain a mix will contain a total of 80 technical marks and
of objective and longer type questions with a 20 Professional Skills marks.
duration of three hours for 100 marks. These
are assessed by a three hour computer- From June 2023, ATX will similarly contain a
based exam. Prior to the start of each exam total of 80 technical marks and 20
there will be time allocated for students to be Professional Skills marks.
informed of the exam instructions.
The question types used at Strategic
The longer (constructed response) question Professional require students to effectively
types used in the Applied Skills exams mimic what they would do in the workplace.
(excluding Corporate and Business Law) These exams offer ACCA the opportunity to
require students to effectively mimic what focus on the application of knowledge to
they do in the workplace. Students will need scenarios, using a range of tools including
to use a range of digital skills and word processor, spreadsheets and
demonstrate their ability to use spread presentation slides - not only enabling
sheets and word processing tools in students to demonstrate their technical and
producing their answers, just as they would professional skills but also their use of the
use these tools in the workplace. These technology available to today’s accountants.
assessment methods allow ACCA to focus
on testing students’ technical and application
skills, rather than, for example, their ability to
perform simple calculations.
Time management
ACCA encourages students to take time to
read questions carefully and to plan answers
but once the exam time has started, there
are no additional restrictions as to when
candidates may start producing their
answer.
This diagram shows links between this exam and other exams preceding or following it.
Some exams are directly underpinned by other exams such as Advanced Performance
Management by Performance Management. This diagram indicates where students are
expected to have underpinning knowledge and where it would be useful to review previous
learning before undertaking study.
All questions are compulsory. The exam will contain both computational and discursive
elements.
Section B of the exam comprises of three case style questions. These each contain five
objective test questions of two marks each which are based around a common scenario.
Section C of the exam comprises two 20 mark constructed response questions. One of the
20-mark questions will come from the performance measurement and control area of the
syllabus and the other will come from the decision-making techniques and/or budgeting and
control areas of the syllabus. These questions may also include requirements related to the
management information systems and data analytics, and accounting for environmental and
sustainability areas of the syllabus. The section A questions and the questions in section B
can cover any areas of the syllabus.
The aim of the syllabus is to develop knowledge and skills in the application of management
accounting techniques to quantitative and qualitative information for planning, decision-
making, performance evaluation, and control.
The syllabus for Performance Management (PM), builds on the knowledge gained in
Management Accounting (MA) and seeks to examine candidates’ understanding of how to
manage the performance of a business. It also prepares candidates for more specialist
capabilities which are covered in Advanced Performance Management (APM).
The syllabus begins by focusing on the information needs, technologies and systems required
by organisations to manage and measure performance in the modern, competitive
environment. It is vital for an accountant to understand how information systems and
developments in technology influence the management accounting techniques employed and
how vital information systems are in the mechanisms of managing and controlling an
organisation.
The syllabus then introduces more specialised costing and management accounting topics.
There is some knowledge assumed from Management Accounting (MA) – primarily overhead
treatments. The objective here is to ensure candidates have a broader background in
management accounting techniques.
The syllabus then considers decision-making. Candidates need to appreciate the problems
surrounding scarce resources, pricing and make-or-buy decisions, and how this relates to the
assessment of performance. Risk and uncertainty are a factor of real-life decisions and
candidates need to understand risk and be able to apply some basic methods to help resolve
the risks inherent in decision-making.
Budgeting is an important aspect of many accountants’ lives. The syllabus explores different
budgeting techniques, including quantitative techniques, and the problems inherent in them.
The behavioural aspects of budgeting are important for accountants to understand, and the
syllabus includes consideration of the way individuals react to a budget. The preparation of
fixed, flexible and incremental budgets is assumed knowledge from Management Accounting
(MA).
Standard costing and variances are then built on. All the variances examined in Management
Accounting (MA) are assumed knowledge in Performance Management (PM). Mix and yield
variances and planning and operational variances are explored here, and the link is made to
performance management. It is important for accountants to be able to interpret the numbers
that they calculate and discuss what they mean in the context of performance.
The syllabus concludes with performance measurement and control. This is a major area of
the syllabus. Accountants should appreciate the importance of both financial and non-financial
performance measures in management and should also appreciate the difficulties in
assessing performance in divisionalised businesses and the problems caused by failing to
consider external influences on performance. This section leads directly to Advanced
Performance Management (APM).
All of the subject areas covered in this syllabus could be examined in either a public sector or
private sector context.
Section F of the syllabus contains outcomes relating to the demonstration of appropriate digital
and employability skills in preparing for and taking the PM examination. This includes being
able to interact with different question item types, manage information presented in digital
format and being able to use the relevant functionality and technology to prepare and present
response options in a professional manner. These skills are specifically developed by
practicing and preparing for the PM examination, using the learning support content for
computer-based examinations available via the practice platform and the ACCA website and
will need to be demonstrated during the live examination.
9. Main capabilities
A Identify and discuss the information, systems and developments in technology required
for organisations to manage and measure performance.
This diagram illustrates the flows and links between the main capabilities of the syllabus and
should be used as an aid to planning teaching and learning in a structured way.
2. Quantitative techniques
3. Standard costing
d) Discuss the principal controls required e) Explain the uses and benefits of big
in generating and distributing internal data, data mining and data analytics,
information.[2] e.g. predictive analytics for planning,
costing, decision-making and
e) Discuss the controls and procedures performance management. [2]
which may be necessary to ensure the
security of highly confidential f) Discuss the challenges and risks of
information that is not for external implementing and using big data and
consumption.[2] data analytics in an organisation.[2]
c) Identify and discuss the direct data b) Calculate costs per driver and per unit
capture and costs of management using ABC.[2]
accounting information.[2]
c) Compare ABC and traditional methods
d) Identify and discuss the indirect costs of of overhead absorption based on
producing information.[2] production units, labour hours or
machine hours.[2]
3. Information systems and data
analytics 2. Target costing
c) Suggest how a target cost gap might be b) Calculate and interpret the break-even
closed.[2] point and margin of safety.[2]
a) Explain the concept of relevant costing.[2] e) Calculate slack and explain the
implications of the existence of slack for
b) Identify and calculate relevant costs for decision-making and performance
specific decision situations from given management.[2]
data.[2] (Excluding simplex and sensitivity to
changes in objective functions)
c) Explain and apply the concept of
opportunity costs.[2] 4. Pricing decisions
2. Cost volume profit analysis (CVP) a) Explain the factors that influence the
pricing of a product or service.[2]
a) Explain the nature of CVP analysis.[2]
b) Calculate and explain the price elasticity 6. Dealing with risk and uncertainty in
of demand.[1] decision-making
a) Explain the issues surrounding make-or- c) Describe the information used in budget
buy and outsourcing decisions.[2] systems and the sources of the
information needed.[2]
b) Calculate and compare “make” costs
with “buy-in” costs.[2] d) Indicate the usefulness and problems
with different budget types (including
c) Compare in-house costs and outsource fixed, flexible, zero-based, activity-
costs of completing tasks and consider based, incremental, rolling, top-down,
other issues surrounding this decision.[2] bottom-up, master, functional).[2]
h) Explain the benefits and difficulties of the b) Explain the wider issues involved in
participation of employees in the changing material mix e.g. cost, quality
negotiation of targets.[2] and performance measurement issues.[2]
j) Explain how budget systems can deal d) Suggest and justify alternative methods
with uncertainty in the environment.[2] of controlling production processes.[2]
a) Analyse fixed and variable cost a) Calculate, identify the cause of, and
elements from total cost data using explain sales mix and quantity
high/low method.[1] variances.[2]
b) Explain and apply analysis techniques b) Identify and explain the relationship of
including correlation, regression and the sales volume variances with the
time series.[2] sales mix and quantity variances.[2]
c) Estimate the learning rate and learning 6. Planning and operational variances
effect.[2]
a) Calculate a revised budget.[2]
d) Apply the learning curve model to a
budgetary problem, including b) Identify and explain those factors that
calculations on steady states [2] could and could not be allowed to revise
an original budget.[2]
e) Discuss the benefits and limitations of
correlation, regression and time series c) Calculate, identify the cause of and
techniques, and, also the reservations explain planning and operational
with the learning curve model.[2] variances for: [2]
c) Analyse past performance and suggest d) Outline Value for Money (VFM) as a
ways for improving financial and non- public sector objective.[1]
financial performance.[2]
e) Describe, calculate and interpret
d) Explain the causes and problems non-financial performance indicators
created by short-termism and (NFPIs) and suggest methods to
financial manipulation of results and improve the performance indicated.[2]
suggest methods to encourage a
long-term view.[2] f) Discuss the difficulties of target setting
in qualitative areas.[2]
e) Explain and interpret the Balanced
Scorecard, and the Building Block g) Analyse past performance and suggest
model proposed by Fitzgerald and ways for improving financial and non-
Moon.[2] financial performance.[2]
f) Discuss the difficulties of target setting h) Explain the causes and problems
in qualitative areas.[2] created by short-termism and
financial manipulation of results and
ACCA periodically reviews its qualification syllabuses so that they fully meet the needs of
stakeholders such as employers, candidates, regulatory and advisory bodies and learning
providers.
The main areas of change to the PM syllabus are summarised in the table below.