Assignment: Expense Forecasting and Benchmarking
Looking Ahead:Application Assignment: Expense Forecasting and Financial Analysis Cycle
You will begin this assignment in Week 9 and it will be due by Day 7 of Week 10.
Throughout this course youve examined the importance of anticipating financial fluctuations that may impact your organizations ability to provide services. While financial managers have no time machines or crystal balls theydohave expense forecasts. Expense forecasting is one of the preeminent tools that financial managers can use to prepare their organizations for future fiscal turbulence. In this Assignment you will examine a scenario and generate a corresponding expense forecast in Excel.
Before pursuing an opportunity or making a major purchase financial decision makers must first ascertain if the expenditures are justified. Determining whether a new process system or purchase will yield worthwhile returns is no easy task. However managers have a variety of tools to help them decide whether the new expenditure is warranted. Analyzing a ventures benefit/cost ratio marginal profit and loss statement and break-even points enable nurse managers to make educated decisions about how they choose to commit their funds.
Note:For those Assignments in this course that require you to perform calculations you must:
A title and reference page are NOT needed in this assignment. Put your name and assignment at the top of the Excel spreadsheet.
For those not comfortable with the use of Microsoft Excel this weeks Optional Resources suggest several tutorials.
To prepare:
Review the information in the Week 9 and 10 Learning Resources dealing with expense forecasting profit and loss break-even analysis and benefit and cost ratio analysis. Focus on how they are calculated and how they can be used in decision making.
View the following tutorial videos provided in this weeks Learning Resources.
o Week 10 Application Assignment Tutorial: Benefit Cost Ratio
o Week 10 Application Assignment Tutorial: Breakeven Analysis
o Week 10 Application Assignment Tutorial: Expense Forecasting
o Week 10 Application Assignment Tutorial: Profit and Loss Scenario
Use theWeek 10 Application Assignment Template provided in this weeks Learning Resources to complete this assignment. Carefully examine the information in each of the scenarios and provide the necessary calculations.Using this information will help you answer the questions.Note: All the scenarios will be submitted as one document.Each scenario will be on a different tab in the spreadsheet.
Expense Forecasting
In this Application Assignment you calculate scenarios focusing on benefit/cost ratio analysis marginal profit and loss statements and break-even analysis. For these scenarios you will utilize the provided figures to perform calculations and then make recommendations about the viability of the investment opportunities
Expense Forecasting Scenario
Your department has performed 20000 procedures during the first six months (JanuaryJune) of 20X1. Spending during that period of time was $210000 for fixed expense items and $1200000 for variable expense items. Of those amounts $50000 of fixed expense money was spent on preparing for a Joint Commission survey. Volume is anticipated to be 10% higher in the second half of the year. On November 1st two new procedure technicians will begin work. The salary and fringe benefit costs for each are $96000/year. Based on the information provided prepare an expense forecast for 20X1.
Financial Analysis Cycle
Marginal Profit and Loss Statement Scenario
You are examining a proposal for a new business opportunity a new procedure for which demand is expected to be 1400 units the first year growing by 600 units a year thereafter. The price charged per procedure is $1000. The collection rate is anticipated to be 80%. Each procedure consumes $300 of supplies. Salary cost is estimated to cost $540000 each year fringe benefits are 25% of salaries rent for the facility is $55000/yr and operating cost are $120000/yr.
Questions:
1. Develop a marginal profit and loss statement for this business opportunity.
Based on that analysis should this opportunity be pursued?
Break-Even Analysis Scenario
You can charge $1075 for a new service. Demand is anticipated to be 8000 units a year. Your business is able to handle up to 16500 units annually so capacity should not be a problem. The average collection rate is 80%. The new service has annual fixed costs of $4700000. Variable cost per unit of service is $420.
Question: Use break-even analysis to determine if this new service is financially viable. If the business is not financially viable what steps could you take to make a case to proceed with implementation? Explain your decision.
Benefit/Cost Ratio Analysis Scenario
You are considering the acquisition of a new piece of equipment with a useful life of five years. This new technology will make your clinical operation more efficient and allow for a reduction of 10 FTEs. The equipment purchase price is $4500000 plus 10% installation fee. The purchase price includes service for the first year an item that has an annual cost of $10000. There is a potential for additional volume of 150000 units in the first year growing by 30000 each year thereafter. The price charged per unit is $15.00 with a 50% collection rate. The staff being eliminated are paid $12.50 per hour. The fringe benefits rate is 20%. The hurdle rate is 7.5%.
Questions: After reviewing Dr. Ward’s Video and the calculations below please answer the following questions:
What is meant by benefit/cost ratio average payback period and ROI and why are the all important to understand when purchasing new equipment?
Based on this information would you pursue this opportunity?
Explain your decision in 250-500 words in the text box below.
Link to video:Laureate Education (Producer). (2012).Expense forecasting.Baltimore MD: Author.
Link