MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING FOR A PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS TO SUPPORT ORGANISATIONAL VALUE MAXIMISATION

ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The objective of management accounting is to provide management with the financial information that will enable them to make decisions that will result in increased profitability of their organisation. The management accounting of projects in a portfolio as proposed in the literature often presents major problems that prevent the achievement of this objective. These problems include how to estimate value in financial terms during the pre-project phase of the project life cycle as well as the difficulties with financial control of the portfolio of projects as they are conducted. A few case studies are presented highlighting, current practice and the negative effects being experienced. A simple throughput accounting model for the financial management of a portfolio of projects, that could lead to better management decisions and increased profitability of organisations, is proposed. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van bestuursrekeningkunde is om bestuur te voorsien met finansi le inligting wat hulle in staat stel om besluite te maak wat die winsgewendheid van die onderneming sal verbeter. Die bestuursrekeningkunde van 'n portefeulje van projekte wat in die literatuur voorgestel word, het 'n aantal probleme wat die bereiking van hierdie doelwit verhinder. Hierdie probleme sluit in hoe om ramings van waarde in finansi le terme te doen tydens die pre-projek fase van die projeklewenssiklus asook die probleme met finansi le beheer van die projekportefeulje soos dit uitgevoer word. ‘n Aantal gevallestudies word aangebied wat huidige praktyke en die negatiewe effekte wat ondervind word toelig. ‘n Eenvoudige deursetverrekeningsmodel vir die finansi le bestuur van ‘n projekportefeulje word voorgestel wat kan lei tot beter bestuursbesluite wat die winsgewendheid van ‘n onderneming sal verbeter.