VARIANCE Definition

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VARIANCE, in accounting, is the difference between a projected number and the actual number, e.g. 1. a budget variance is spending either more or less from the amount that was budgeted; and 2. a cost variance is the difference between actual cost and standard cost in the categories of direct material, direct labor, and direct overhead.

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COST PER OUTPUT see OBJECT COST.

CONTRA ACCOUNT is a. the reduction to the gross cost of an asset to arrive at the net cost; also known as a valuation allowance; e.g., accumulated depreciation is a contra account to the original cost of a fixed asset to arrive at the book value; or, b. reduction of a liability to arrive at its carrying value; e.g., bond discount, which is a reduction of bonds payable.

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