← The FP&A libraryPractice · 16 questions → Build my 2027 budget →Meet your AI CFO →
Variance analysis
The flexible budget
The budget re-stated at the actual level of activity, so cost variances are judged against what the costs should have been at that volume, not at the planned volume.
Owned by: Senior analystTest band: Senior analyst
In practice
If sales were 20% over plan, variable costs should be too. Compare against the flexed budget or every good month looks like a cost overrun.
The kind of thing the test asks
- Volume came in 20% above plan and variable costs are 15% over budget. Against a flexed budget, variable costs are…
More in variance analysis
Free · no account · no card
Get your 2027 budget built from your QuickBooks — P&L, balance sheet and cash flow, in Excel.
Knowing the method is half of it. Wauvel runs it on your QuickBooks, every day.
$99/mo, everything included. Free for 14 days, no card.