The purposes of managerial accounting are to provide useful information to aid in:

• A. Auditing the financial records of the company
• B. Filing tax returns with government authorities
• C. Planning, controlling, and decision-making within an organization
• D. Preparing financial statements for external users

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the distinction between managerial accounting and financial accounting. Managerial accounting focuses on internal processes and decision-making, while financial accounting is geared towards external reporting.
2. Recognize the primary purposes of managerial accounting: planning, controlling, and decision-making within an organization. These activities help managers achieve organizational goals effectively.
3. Planning involves setting objectives and determining the best course of action to achieve them. Managerial accounting provides data such as budgets and forecasts to support this process.
4. Controlling refers to monitoring and evaluating the performance of various operations within the organization. Managerial accounting tools like variance analysis help identify deviations from planned outcomes.
5. Decision-making is supported by managerial accounting through the provision of relevant and timely information, such as cost-benefit analysis, to help managers choose between alternatives.