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The Global Insight

How is management accounting related to financial accounting?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on February 22, 2026

Management accounting can be viewed as Management-oriented Accounting. Basically it is the study of managerial aspect of financial accounting, “accounting in relation to management function”. It shows how the accounting function can be re-oriented so as to fit it within the framework of management activity.

What are the different facets of managerial accounting?

Managerial accounting encompasses many facets of accounting, including product costing, budgeting, forecasting, and various financial analysis. Product costing deals with determining the total costs involved in the production of a good or service.

What does managerial accounting mean in capital budgeting?

Capital budgeting Capital budgeting is concerned with the analysis of information required to make the necessary decisions related to capital expenditures. In capital budgeting analysis, managerial accountants calculate the net present value (NPV)

How often is financial information presented in management accounting?

Managerial accounting does not have any strict timelines like financial accounting. It is, in fact, a continuous and ongoing process. So financial and other information is presented to the management at regular intervals like weekly, monthly or sometimes even daily.

The management can make decisions efficiently with the help of various Management Information Systems such as Budgets, Projected Cash Flow and Fund Flow Statements, Variance Analysis reports, Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis reports, Break-Even-Point calculation, etc. Management accounting and financial accounting are not to be confused with each other.

What are the main functions of financial accounting?

Management accounting serves the needs of the management in decision makings regarding minimization of the cost factor and enhancing of profit making. Financial accounting serves the needs of shareholders, creditors and financial institutions for ascertaining the financial position of the company.

How are management information systems used in accounting?

The management is able to take decisions efficiently with the help of various Management Information Systems such as Budgets, Projected Cash Flow and Fund Flow Statements, Variance Analysis reports, Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis reports, Break-Even-Point calculation, etc.