Question

Cook Company processes and packages frozen seafood. The year just ended was Cook's first year of business and they are preparing financial statements. The immediate issue facing Cook is the treatment of the direct labor costs. Cook set a standard at the beginning of the year that allowed two hours of direct labor for each unit of output. The standard rate for direct labor is $27 per hour. During the year, Cook processed 60,000 units of seafood for the year, of which 4,800 units are in ending finished goods. (There are no work-in-process inventories). Cook used 123,500 hours of labor. Total direct labor costs paid by Cook for the year amounted to $3,087,500.
Required:
a. What was the direct labor price variance and the direct labor efficiency variance for the year?
b. Assume Cook writes off all variances to Cost of Goods Sold. Prepare the entries Cook would make to record and close out the variances.
c. Assume Cook prorates all variances to the appropriate accounts. Prepare the entries Cook would make to record and close out the variances.

Answer 1

Answer:

Cook Company

a. The direct labor price variance and the direct labor efficiency variance for the year:

Direct labor price variance =  (Actual rate - Standard rate) * Actual hours

= $247,000 Favorable

Efficiency variance = (Actual hours - Standard hours) * Standard rate

= $94,500 Unfavorable

b. If all variances are written off to the Cost of Goods Sold:

Journal Entries:

Debit Work in Process $247,000

Credit Direct labor variance $247,000

To record the favorable direct labor price variance.

Debit Direct labor variance $94,500

Credit Work in Process $94,500

To record the unfavorable direct labor efficiency variance.

Debit Direct labor variance $152,500

Credit Cost of Goods Sold $152,500

To close the direct labor price variance.

c. The appropriate accounts are not indicated, though they should be Raw materials, Work in Process, and Cost of Goods Sold.  However, the ratios are not given for prorating.

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Standard direct labor hours per unit = 2

Standard rate per direct labor hour = $27

Production units = 60,000

Ending Finished goods = 4,800

Cost of goods sold units = 55,200

Actual direct labor hours used = 123,500

Standard hours = 120,000 (2 * 60,000)

Actual direct labor costs = $3,087,500

Actual direct labor price = $25 ($3,087,500/123,500)

Standard direct labor costs = $3,240,000 (120,000 * $27)

a. The direct labor price variance and the direct labor efficiency variance for the year:

Direct labor price variance =  (Actual rate - Standard rate) * Actual hours

= ($25 - $27) * 123,500

= $247,000 Favorable

Efficiency variance = (Actual hours - Standard hours) * Standard rate

= (123,500 - 120,000) * $27

= $94,500 Unfavorable

b. If all variances are written off to the Cost of Goods Sold:

Analysis of Journal Entries:

Work in Process $247,000 Direct labor variance $247,000

Direct labor variance $94,500 Work in Process $94,500

Direct labor variance $152,500 Cost of Goods Sold $152,500

($247,000 - $94,500)