Controlling

Course guarantor:

Petr Petera

Lecturer:

Petr Petera

Tutor:

Petr Petera

Supervisor:

Institute of Economic Studies

Synopsis:

The course introduces controlling as an integrated approach to management accounting and performance management. Students learn how controllers create decision-useful information, coordinate planning and control, and enable strategy execution. Core topics include cost behaviour and cost classifications, costvolumeprofit analysis, cost assignment (incl. service-centre allocation), Activity-Based Costing, customer profitability, budgeting, inventory valuation, standard costing in full/variable cost systems, responsibility accounting, and management control systems with the Balanced Scorecard. The course also covers strategic decision making (incl. investment appraisal) and modern reporting/BI practices, with an outlook on current trends such as digitalization, analytics and sustainability-related metrics.

Requirements:

Attendance at seminars is compulsory. The assessment (zápočet) is awarded for earning at least 80% of the points available in the seminars and is a prerequisite for the examination, which consists of a written test supplemented by an oral examination.

Syllabus of lectures:

Major topics of the course:

1. Evolution of controllers positions in business corporations

2. Cost classifications. Cost behaviour.

3. Cost-volume-profit decisions.

4. Cost assignment and service-department cost allocation

5. Activity-Based Costing

6. Customer Profitability

7. Budgeting process

8. Inventory accounting and valuation

9. Standard Costing in full cost systems/variable cost systems

10. Responsibility Accounting

11. Management Control Systems (incl. Balanced Scorecard)

12. Strategic management decisions (incl. investment decisions)

13. Reporting and business intelligence

14. Current trends in controlling/management accounting

Syllabus of tutorials:

Topics of seminars:

1. Role of controller. Cost classifications. Cost behaviour

2. Cost assignment. CVP analysis

3. Activity-Based Costing. Customer accounting

4. Inventory valuation

5. Absorption costing and variable costing. Budgeting

6. Strategic management decisions

7. Balanced Scorecard and alternative systems

Study Objective:

The objective of the course is to explain the substance of controllers' work the design and use of management control systems in business corporations, including tools such as cost allocation, Activity-Based Costing, budgeting, standard costing, responsibility accounting and the Balanced Scorecard.

Study materials:

Basic literature:

DRURY, C., TAYLES, M. Management and cost accounting. 12th edition. Hampshire: Cengage, 2024. ISBN 9781473791244.

MERCHANT, K. A., VAN DER STEDE, W. A. Management Control Systems: Performance Measurement, Evaluation and Incentives. 4th ed. Harlow: Pearson, 2017. ISBN 9781292110554.

Recommended literature:

DAVILA, T., EPSTEIN, M. J., SHELTON, R.: Making Innovation Work, How to Manage It, Measure It and Profit from It. London: Pearson, 2012. ISBN 9780133092585.

KAPLAN, R.S., ANDERSON, S.R. Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing: A Simpler and More Powerful Path to Higher Profits. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2007. ISBN 9781422101711.

KERZNER, H. Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley; 12th edition, 2017. ISBN 9781119165354.

Note:

The course is taught in English.

Time-table for winter semester 2026/2027:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2026/2027:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans: