The managing director of Business Magazine Ltd has recently introduced a budgetary control system. The accountant drew up budgets for the advertising and editorial departments based on the actual results for the last three years. At the end of the first month of the new financial period, the actual income was higher than planned, but the actual total advertising department costs were higher than budgeted. However, the actual costs for the editorial department were the same as those budgeted, and the actual profit for the period was higher. On receiving the first month’s results, the managing director threatened to dismiss the advertising manager for exceeding the budgeted costs. The advertising manager responded by saying that he would resign unless the budgetary control system was scrapped. The accountant left to join another company.

Questions

You work for the consultant firm that has been asked to advise the company. Prepare a preliminary report covering the guidelines for the operation of a successful and effective budgetary control system, including the recommendations as to what action the managing director of the client company should take.