The Hamilton Mills Company Cost Accountant Wants to Determine the Cost

Essay

The Hamilton Mills Company cost accountant wants to determine the cost behavior for overhead. Based on observation and discussion with the plant workers, the following accounts have been identified as the most relevant: Supervisor salaries and depreciation are believed to be generally fixed; Indirect labor, Utilities, and Purchasing are generally believed to be variable; Indirect labor primarily is responsible for moving materials; Utility cost is primarily caused by the electricity to run machinery; and Purchasing costs are driven by the number of purchase orders. These accounts and their balances are given below:
Information on the activities is given below:
Required:
1. Why did the cost accountant decide that salaries and depreciation were fixed?
2. Calculate the average account balance for each of the 5 accounts and calculate the average monthly amount for each of the three drivers.
3. Calculate the fixed overhead and variable rates for each of the costs. Write an equation for the total overhead cost.
4. In January, 490 moves; 4,375 machine hours, and 220 purchase orders were expected. What is the amount of overhead predicted?