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Standard Costing and Variance Analysis for Production Environments

Manufacturers and processors across the continent rely on standard costs to price products and control the shop floor, yet many teams set standards poorly and never investigate the variances that result. This course equips cost accountants and production finance staff to set credible standards, calculate material, labour and overhead variances, and turn variance reports into operational action that protects margins.

What you will be able to do

  • Set realistic material, labour and overhead standards for products and processes.
  • Calculate price, usage, rate and efficiency variances accurately.
  • Interpret variances to identify their operational root causes.
  • Distinguish controllable variances from those outside management influence.
  • Prepare variance reports that drive corrective action on the shop floor.
  • Review and update standards as input prices and processes change.

Course outline

  1. 01Purpose and Limits of Standard Costing
  2. 02Setting Material, Labour and Overhead Standards
  3. 03Material Price and Usage Variances
  4. 04Labour Rate and Efficiency Variances
  5. 05Overhead Spending and Volume Variances
  6. 06Linking Variances to Operational Causes
  7. 07Variance Reporting for Management Action
  8. 08Reviewing and Revising Standards

Who should attend

Cost accountants, management accountants, production finance staff and operations managers in manufacturing, processing and assembly environments.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendar
17 to 19 Aug 2026Cairo3US$1,500
24 to 26 Aug 2026Accra3US$1,500
31 Aug to 2 Sep 2026Lusaka3US$1,500
7 to 9 Sep 2026Kigali3US$1,500
14 to 16 Sep 2026Nairobi3US$1,500
21 to 23 Sep 2026Durban3R13,000
28 to 30 Sep 2026Johannesburg3R13,000
12 to 14 Oct 2026Mauritius3US$1,500
19 to 21 Oct 2026Dubai3US$1,500
26 to 28 Oct 2026Lagos3US$1,500
2 to 4 Nov 2026Harare3US$1,500
9 to 11 Nov 2026Kampala3US$1,500
16 to 18 Nov 2026Dar es Salaam3US$1,500
23 to 25 Nov 2026Pretoria3R13,000
30 Nov to 2 Dec 2026Cape Town3R13,000
14 to 16 Dec 2026Online3US$900
21 to 23 Dec 2026Mozambique3US$1,500

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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